Postmillennialism and the Covenantal Structure of the Book of Revelation

The most natural expectation that a reader can have is that a book's conclusion will actually conclude the story. After investing hours into a plotline, the reader should expect that the end of a book will bring the book to an end. Chronologically speaking, the final pages of a book are supposed to describe the final events in the story arc. And yet, contrary to our expectations, this is not how the book of Revelation functions in the Biblical canon.

The Purpose of the Vision

We come to the last book of the Bible, expecting it to tell us about the final moments of human history; however, this is not its purpose. Because it contains the final chapters of the Bible story, we assume it must deal with the final moments of human history, which is why so many people become confused by this book. Instead of being a conclusion for our story or describing the future end of all material reality, Revelation describes the end of the Jewish age.

Revelation envisions, through apocalyptic imagery, how Jesus fully and totally brings the old covenant world of types and shadows to a climactic end and unleashes upon the earth a new world, a new city, a new temple, and a new covenant era where He will redeem everything that was lost. If you do not understand this feature, the book of Revelation will be sorely confusing.

Comparison of Narrative Arcs

• Revelation 1-19: Tells the explosive ending of the old covenant world and the conclusion of the story of Adam and Israel.
• Revelation 20-22: Describes the beginning of a new world, the world of Jesus and His Church, that will eventually transform everything that was broken, twisted, and mangled as a result of the fall.
• Matthew 24:2-3: Jesus prophesies about the end of the Jewish age and the destruction of the Temple brick by brick.

The Tolkien Analogy and Narrative Structure

This structure is reminiscent of storytelling techniques seen in literature and popular media, such as J.R.R. Tolkien's The Fellowship of the Ring. In this first volume of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, the primary plotline—Frodo's journey and the formation of the fellowship—reaches a resolution. However, the book doesn't end there. Instead, it sets up new challenges and unresolved issues, leaving the reader with a cliffhanger leading to the next volume.

Similarly, Revelation concludes the story of the Old Covenant world by chapter 19. Instead of closing out the story, it immediately begins a new narrative arc by establishing a new world, thus bridging the past with the future in a way that both concludes and continues aspects of the Biblical narrative. This approach helps us understand that Revelation, while being the final book in the Bible, serves as both a conclusion to the old story and the glorious introduction of Christ and His Church.

Contextualizing the Olivet Discourse

Another aspect that makes the book of Revelation understandable is exploring what John is attempting to accomplish. Consider that John's Gospel is the only Gospel that does not contain an Olivet Discourse. This is the section of the Gospels where Jesus is prophesying about the end of the Jewish age (Mt. 24:3), where the Temple will be destroyed brick by brick (Mt. 24:2). By understanding the structure of the book of Revelation, we see how that proves a postmillennial vision. It serves as the bridge between the explosive ending of the old covenant world and the beginning of a new narrative arc where Jesus redeems everything that was lost.