R

eaders may have seen articles by

Greg Uttinger in the Chalcedon
Report. In this short book he gives an
overview of the book of Revelation.
Publisher, Gerald Nordskog writes,
I, too, was one who was inuenced
three decades ago by the interpretation
of Hal Lindseys theoretical theological
views in Te Late Great Planet Earth,
a strange version of the futurist view-
point of the end times. In Te Gospel
According to Revelation, Greg Uttinger
sees much of the book of Revelation
fullled in Gods covenant acts in the
rst century, but also recognizes that
its prophesies hold out a glorious future
for the kingdom of Christ before He re-
turns in glory.
Jim West, Associate Professor, City
Seminary, Sacramento, Ca., writes in the
Forward, Mr. Uttingers book provides
a framework by which we can read the
entirety of the Revelation with prot.
Te book of Revelation is indeed a rev-
elation, a revelation for all of Gods peo-
ple. A Whole New World shows how this
is true.
Uttinger discusses in brief com-
pass 13 topics relating to the book of
Revelation. A book so rich in imagery is
not really taken literally by any school
of interpretation. For an explanation of
the imagery, we should look to the Bible
itself (as in Old Testament Prophets)
rather than the newspaper headlines.
Paying attention to the book it-
self leads us to believe John was writ-
ing about things that would shortly
take place. Many of the most dramatic
prophecies would come to pass in the
lifetime of the original readers. Te
same indicators of the timing within
this generation are given in the gos-
pels. Uttinger identies the Babylon
Greg Uttinger
A whole New World:
Te gospel according
To revelation
Reviewed by Dr. Don Crowe
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Councel of Chalcedon Issue 2 2009
26
of Revelation as Jerusalem for the same
reasons named by Dr. Ken Gentry. For
example, who but Jerusalem would be
considered guilty of adultery and har-
lotry? No other city was ever consid-
ered as Gods covenant bride. Babylon
is distinct from the cities of the Gentiles
in Rev. 16.19. Uttinger gives 15 reasons
why he makes this identication.
Te book of Revelation was written
to the church. It is rich in symbolism.
Te temples seven branched lampstand
will go out, but the seven churches now
each had their lampstand. Te Lord
Jesus is the Shenikah glory incarnate,
present among his churches.
Te Opened Book with seven seals
in Revelation 4 concerns the deed of in-
heritance, who shall inherit the prom-
ised kingdom. Te false bride, apostate
Israel, is disinherited and the true bride,
those whom Christ has redeemed, are
recognized. Te 144 thousand are the
redeemed of the Lord, the rst-fruits
of Gods New Covenant Israel. Follow-
ing that, the judgments fall on apostate
Israel. Te last trumpet sounds the de-
struction of Jerusalem and her temple.
Te triumph of Christ marks the King-
doms of the world becoming the King-
dom of our Lord and of His Christ.
Te Radiant woman in Revela-
tion 12 is the Old Testament church.
Te Woman brings forth the promised
Messiah of Gen. 3:15, born to rule the
world with a rod of iron, Psalm 2.
Te Beast from the Sea is the Ro-
man Empire; the land Beast is apostate
Israel whose leadership encouraged
Romes persecution of Christians. Ro-
man Caesar Neros persecution lasts
approximately 42 months.
Te Mark of the Beast - 666- Ut-
tinger writes, must be delivered from all
the volumes of nonsense that has been
written about it. Its signicance must
be found in the Bible, not in the news-
papers. Uttinger associates the number
6 with several references in the Old and
New Testaments, associating it particu-
larly with Solomon (1 Kings 10:14) and
Nero. Tat Solomon received 666 tal-
Titus Raiding the Temple
Nero Nero
A Whole New World Review
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27 Councel of Chalcedon Issue 2 2009
ents of gold, may be interesting, but not
conclusive, however. We cannot pro-
nounce with certainty that this number
of talents has anything to do with the
same number in Revelation.
Te sign or mark on the forehead
has an OT history and signicance that
is carried on in Revelation. [Tere is
everything from the mark of Cain to
the exhortation to let the Word of God
be on your forehead, the high priests
headbandholiness to the LORD.
Te woman Babylon appears as a nega-
tive of the high priest, for on her fore-
head is Mystery Babylon, mother of
harlots.] If a specic person be in-
tended by 666 it would be a rst cen-
tury persecutor of Christians, internal
evidence points to NERO. We should
therefore reject countless attempts to
calculate the numerical value of notori-
ous 20
th
or 21
st
century persons.
Te Blood and Wine in Revela-
tion 13-14 concerns the war against the
saints. Tere is no rapture or miracu-
lous escape; many Christians suered
and many died. BUT the Lamb is in the
midst of His people and Jerusalem the
harlot is doomed. Victory is certain. In
Revelation 18 heaven rejoices at Baby-
lons fall. Te true bride is vindicated.
Revelation 19, the marriage supper of
the Lamb, celebrates His victory, the
deliverance of His people.
Te millennial kingdom, Rev-
elation 20, the rst resurrection, is the
reign of the saints, a present reality,
based on the victories of the Lord Jesus
Christ. First of all we read of the be-
lievers victory over the world, the esh
and the devil. For in Christs kingdom
spiritual dominion must precede cul-
tural dominion. Te Church will see a
gradual but progressive increase in do-
minion through history before the end.
Revelation 21-22 is about A Whole
New World. Gods covenant with His
people is all embracing. Involving us in
God directed restructuring of our own
personal lives is only the beginning. We
must think Christs thoughts about all
things, about every issue, every endeav-
or. Tere is nothing outside the Lordship
of Christ where neutrality can prevail.
What is Uttingers conclusion? Te
living Christ reigns and His church
reigns with Him, ruling not by sword or
politics, but by worship and the gospel.
Political action and social reform are
important as outworkings of our faith,
but the weapons of our warfare are not
carnal but mighty through God to the
pulling down of strongholds.
The last items of the
book include
1. An overview of Revelation
consisting of a one sentence
summary of each chapter.
Reformers & Martyrs
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Councel of Chalcedon Issue 2 2009
28
2. A blank verse pentameter
poem Apocalypse by Brittney
Todd.
3. Recommended reading list.
Te books recommend include authors
Roderick Campbell, David Chilton, Ken
Gentry, and James Jordan.
Te author brings up various key
topics and sets forth his understanding
of the symbolism. Obviously one must
be brief in a 65 page book, so those
whose interest is stirred by a dierent
(historic Reformed instead of pop-
dispensational) way of looking at the
book of Revelation can be directed to
resources for further study.
In general Uttinger interprets the
book of Revelation in much the same
way as Ken Gentry as far as the date of
Revelation and the identity of Babylon
the harlot. Some of Chiltons inter-
pretive maximalism enters into the
discussion of 666, however. Does this
mean that everywhere 6 or 60 or 666
are mentioned we are to see a symbolic
meaning? Chiltons commentary on
Revelation introduces several specula-
tive ideas, many derived from Austin
Farrer. For example: It is true of course
that 6 x 6 is 36. It is also true that if you
put down a line of 36 stars, then build a
triangle-pyramid with one fewer star in
each row until you reach the one star at
the topyou would have a total of 666.
Such things may be interesting (or not!)
curiosities, but some of us fail to see
how that is sound exegetical practice.
What hidden meaning should we nd
in the fact that Solomon received 666
talents of gold each year? 2 Chronicles
9:13, Te weight of gold that came to
Solomon yearly was six hundred and
sixty-six talents of gold.
But surely we cannot draw some
sinister conclusion every time the num-
ber six occurs in the Bible (117 times).
If we multiply the number of times six
appears in the Bible by SIX, then sub-
tract the SQUARE of 6, we get 666: (117
x 6) (6 x 6) = 666. Is it bad that the
seraphim have SIX wings? Would seven
be better? Should Solomon have insti-
tuted an across the board tax increase
in order to raise revenue to the 777 tal-
ents of gold per year level?
Some suggested
controls on imagery
thinking:
Insist on the historical reality of the
account. Maybe the reason the bible re-
ports 666 talents of gold is that it is ex-
actly the amount he received each year.
For there to be an OBJECTIVE
meaning for Scripture, we need to give
rst place to the historical-grammat-
ical interpretation. Te theologico-
imagino-guessico method gives about
as many interpretations as there are
interpreters.
Donald D. Crowe
Ph.D. American University
of Biblical Studies
M.Div. Pittsburgh
Teological Seminary
B.A. Asbury College
His book Creation without Compromise
is due to be released this summer from
Creation Ministries International,
publishers of Creation magazine.
A Whole New World Review
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