Signs

Revelation uses the word “sign” (semeion) seven times, all between chapters 12 and 20. This is John’s second book of signs, matching the early part of his gospel. Through these seven signs, new creation arrives.

There are three overlapping variations in the passages that deal with signs – the grammatical number (singular or plural), the location of the sign, and the one who signifies.

The grammatical number alternates: S-S-P-P-S-P-P. This corresponds exactly to the location of the sign. Each time the semeion appears in the singular, the sign is qualified by the phrase “in heaven” (12:1, 3; 15:1). The plural signs are explicitly or implicitly on earth. The land beast performs signs to receive (13:13-14); the frog spirits perform signs to gather the kings of the oikoumene (16:14); the last reference to “signs” mentions the “false prophet who performed the signs” in the presence of the sea beast (19:20). As far as Revelation is concerned, we can formulate this principle: Heavenly signs are singular; earthly signs are plural.

More implicitly, the grammatical number and location of the sign also overlap with the performer of the sign. The signs in heaven are implicitly signs from God – a woman in labor, a dragon waiting to devour, seven angels with the seven last plagues. Earthly signs are performed by beasts or demons. We can formulate this additional principle: God signifies singularly; demonic signs are multiple.

[This pattern does not hold in the rest of the Bible. The false prophet of Deuteronomy 13:1-2 gives a “sign or a wonder.” God often gives a singular sign – the sign of Cain (Genesis 4:15), the rainbow (Genesis 9:12-13), circumcision (Genesis 17:11), the leprous hand and the serpentine staff (Exodus 3:12; 4:8), Passover blood (Exodus 12:13), the Sabbath (Exodus 31:13), Aaron’s rod (Numbers 17:10), the Torah on the hand and forehead (Deuteronomy 6:8). But He also sets up plural signs in the heavens (Genesis 1:14) and does many signs in Egypt.]

We might, finally, attempt to link the seven signs with the signs of John’s gospel, or the seven days of creation. We might, for instance, see an analogy between the seventh use of “signs” (the judgment of the false prophet who performed signs) and Yahweh’s Sabbatical enthronement on the seventh day.