’n Ondersoek na die martelare van Openbaring 6–20

Abstract

An investigation into the martyrs of Revelation 6–20. Revelation 20 presents a theological minefield, with three firmly entrenched eschatological positions. While two contradictory statements cannot both be true at the same time and in the same sense, two of the three millennial positions must be false. Adopting an indirect approach to the millennial debate, this article’s research question is: When will the martyrs of Revelation 6–20 pass away? A-millennialists and postmillennialists undeniably imply that these martyrs die during a symbolic 1000-year period, experience a form of spiritual first resurrection, and reign spiritually with Christ during the inter-advent period. To assess this claim, the identity of the ‘inhabitants of the earth’ (or ‘earth-dwellers’) was established, along with the period in which they will live. This study found that the term ‘inhabitants of the earth’ functions as a technical term for unbelievers who will live during the eschatological ‘hour of trial’ that will come upon the whole world. During this global hour of trial, or tribulation period, martyrs will be killed by earth-dwellers, the great harlot, the beast that ascends from the bottomless pit, and the false prophet. The ‘great tribulation’, a period out of which some martyrs will come, was also analysed, together with the timing of the beheading of believers for their witness. Only during the final phase of the hour of trial, namely the great tribulation, will it be possible to worship the beast or his image, take the mark of the beast, or refuse to do so and face beheading. Contrary to non-chiliasts, the martyrs of Revelation 6–20 will not die throughout a symbolic 1000-year period (i.e. the inter-advent period) but will rather be martyred during the hour of trial. It is therefore anachronistic to identify those in contact with the earth-dwellers as living outside this eschatological hour of trial.
Contribution: As it is incorrect to suggest that the martyrs of Revelation 6–20 will die during a symbolic 1000-year period, when in reality they will pass away during the specific eschatological hour of trial, both a-millennialism and post-millennialism must be considered false.