The Exodus Motif in Revelation 15–16

Abstract

"In the last century, considerable attention has been given to the use of the OT in the NT. However, the book of Revelation seemed to be neglected up to the 1980s in comparison with the rest of the NT books.1 Thus E. Schüssler Fiorenza could say that “a thorough study of the use of the Old Testament by the author of Revelation is not available.”2 The main reason for this is seen in the nature of John’s use of the OT.3 Although Revelation does not directly quote the OT, it is well known that it contains more allusions to it than any other NT book.4 Thus the lack of explicit quotations and the ambiguity of the allusions make it difficult to compare Revelation with the OT material, for John did not so much focus on particular books and authors, but on themes to guide his choice of material. In the last two decades, G. K. Beale, J. M. Vogelgesang, J. Paulien, J. -P. Ruiz, J. Fekkes, and R. J. Bauckham, whose investigations centered primarily on the exegetical methods of the author and the hermeneutical approaches of the interpreters, explored the most prominent OT traditions found in Revelation, such as Daniel, Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Zechariah"