Eternal Life Without Clouds: Rethinking Revelation 20–22
Eternal Life Without Clouds: Rethinking Revelation 20–22 When people read Revelation 20–22, it’s easy to picture believers floating away to heaven, sitting on clouds, and ruling with Jesus in a far-off realm. But that’s not necessarily how the first-century audience understood it—and that’s where things get interesting. The Jews of John’s day didn’t think of “heaven” as our final destination. Instead, they thought in terms of vindication —God stepping in to set the record straight, honor the faithful, and crush their enemies. That’s the heartbeat of these chapters. The Backstory: Daniel 7 Revelation’s language comes straight from Daniel 7, where “the saints” suffer under a brutal empire but are eventually given the kingdom when God judges their oppressor. This wasn’t about moving somewhere else. It was about public victory —God declaring them right all along. God’s Throne = God’s Courtroom When John says the martyrs stand before God’s throne, it’s not a tour of heaven. In Jewish ...