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O.T. Passages Relating To Revelation

The language of the book of Revelation is deeply rooted in the Old Testament. Oddly enough, there is not one direct statement that is quoted from a given passage; but a count of the significant “allusions” which are traceable both by verbal resemblance and by contextual connection to the Old Testament number over four hundred.

An “allusion” consists of one or more words which by their peculiar character and general content are traceable to a known body of text, but which do not constitute a “complete” reproduction of any part of it. With these thoughts in mind, let us look at some passages relating to Revelation that are “rooted” in the Old Testament:

Revelation 1

The description of the Son of Man (Daniel 7:9-14; Daniel 10:5-6; Ezekiel 1:7,26-28; Ezekiel 43:2).

Revelation 2

Observe such Old Testament expressions as:

1) Tree Of Life (Genesis 3:22, 24; Proverbs 3:18; Proverbs 11:30; Proverbs 13:12; Proverbs 15:4).
2) Paradise Of God (Genesis 2:9).
3) Balaam and Balak (Numbers 24:14; Numbers 25:1; Numbers 31:16).
4) Jezebel (1 Kings 16:31; 1 Kings 21:25; 2 Kings 9:1-10).
5) Rod Of Iron (Psalm 2:8-9; Psalm 110:2).

Revelation 3

1) Book Of Life (Exodus 32:33; Psalm 69:28; Malachi 3:16).
2) Key Of David (Isaiah 22:22).

Revelation 4

1) A Throne Set In Heaven (Isaiah 6:1; Ezekiel 1:26-28).
2) The Four Living Creatures (Ezekiel 1:10; Ezekiel 10:14; Isaiah 6:1).

Revelation 5

1) The Scroll (Ezekiel 2:9; Zechariah 5:1-3).
2) The Lion Of Judah (Genesis 49:9; Isaiah 11:10).

Revelation 6

The Horses And Their Riders (Psalm 45:3-4; Zechariah 1:8; Zechariah 6:1-3).

Revelation 7

1) Sealing (Ezekiel 9:4).
2) Blessedness Of The Redeemed (Isaiah 25:8; Isaiah 49:10; Jeremiah 2:13; Jeremiah 31:16; Ezekiel 34:23).

Revelation 8; Revelation 9

The Trumpets Of Judgment (Exodus 7-12 – The Plagues).

Revelation 10

1) Angel Swearing (Daniel 12:7).
2) The Little Book (Ezekiel 2:9; Ezekiel 3:1-4).

Revelation 11

1) The Measuring Reed (Ezekiel 40:3; Zechariah 2:1-5).
2) The Two Witnesses (Zechariah 4).

Revelation 12

1) The Woman, Child, Dragon (Genesis 3:15; Psalm 2:9).
2) Michael (Daniel 10:13,21).

Revelation 13

The Beast Out Of The Sea (Daniel 2:31-45;7; Isaiah 17:12-13).

Revelation 14

1) The White Cloud – One Like Unto The Son Of Man (Ezekiel 1:26-28; Daniel 7:13.
2) The Wine-Press (Isaiah 63:3).

Revelation 15

The Song Of Moses (Exodus 15).

Revelation 16

Har-Magedon (ASV-1901) – Armageddon (KJV) – (Judges 5; 2 Kings 23:29; 2 Chronicles 35; Zechariah 12:11).

Revelation 17-19

1) The Fall Of Babylon (Isaiah 13; Isaiah 14; Isaiah 21; Isaiah 46-48; Jeremiah 25; Jeremiah 50-51; Daniel 2; 7; Habakkuk 3). Also compare Ezekiel 27 – The Fall Of Tyre.
2) Invitation To The Birds (Ezekiel 39:16-20).

Revelation 20

1) Gog And Magog (Genesis 10:2; Ezekiel 38-39).
2) The Books Of Judgment (Exodus 32:32; Psalm 69:28; Daniel 7:10; Daniel 12:1).

Revelation 21

1) The New Heaven And Earth (Isaiah 65:17-25; Isaiah 66:22-24).
2) The New Jerusalem (Isaiah 52:1; Ezekiel 48:30-35).

Revelation 22

1) River Of Water Of Life (Ezekiel 47:1; Zechariah 14:8).
2) The Tree Of Life (Genesis 2:9; Genesis 3:22).

Conclusion

It must be understood that the book of Revelation is “rooted in” and is “in full harmony” with the rest of the sacred scriptures and must be explained on the basis of that clear teaching using the “totality” of scripture (Psalm 119:142, 144,151,160,172; Psalm 139:17; Matthew 4:4; 2 Timothy 3:16).