Brief Study on "The Land" in Revelation

Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr., Th.D.

In Revelation John often employs the term g as a reference to the Land of Israel.
Unfortunately, it is translated "earth" in every appearance in the book. I would point out that the
interlinear translations of Revelation 1:7 by Robert Young and Alfred Marshall properly translate
it "land."
A proper understanding of Revelation requires that we see the importance of a correct
translation of this term. Of course, not every occurrence of g should be translated "Land,"
referring to the Promised Land of Israel. This should be obvious in that lexically the word can
mean either "earth" (the world as such) or "land" (a particular region), according to the BaurArndt-Gingrich-Danker Lexicon (196). Sometimes in Revelation it appears with qualifying
clauses showing that no particular land is meant, as for example, when John writes "no man in
heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth" (5:3; cp. 5:13), when he is declared to be the maker
of "the heaven and the earth and the sea" (14:7; 10:6), when "earth and heaven" flee from God's
presence (20:11), or when he creates "a new heaven and a new earth" (21:1).
1. The following commentators argue that the word should be translated "the Land" in many
places in Revelation:
Desprez (11-16, 36) provides the most sustained argument. But see also Beagley (68),
Stuart (2:236), Russell (380, 410), Charles (1:289-90), Chilton (282), Carrington (157),
Ford (180), Malina (61-62), Rick Van De Water (245-61), and Leonard (96).
2. R. H. Charles (Revelation, 1:289)) sees the phrase as an adaptation of the Hebrew which refers
to the inhabitants of Israel in references in Hos 4:1; Joel 1:2, 14; 2:1; Jer 6:12; 10:18. We should
also note the Israel judgment passage in Eze 7:7 focuses on "the inhabitant of the land" (ton
katoikounta tn gn).
3. Rev 1:7 warns of judgment upon "those who pierced him" which causes "the tribes of the
land" to mourn." Acts blames the Jews (Ac 4:1-3; 5:17-18, 27-33, 40). Christ's judgment oracle
against the Temple warns of such: "Woe to those who are with child and to those who nurse
babes in those days; for there will be great distress upon the land [epi ts gs], and wrath to this
people" (Lk 21:23).
4. When g is associated with katoikountes ("ones who dwell") it always signified the "Land
dwellers," the Jews of Israel. This language appears in 3:10; 6:10; 8:13; 11:10 (2x); 13:8, 12; 14
(2x); 14:6; 17:8. We are certain of this due to the following:
a. Rev 3:10 distinguishes the "world" (oikumens) from the "land dwellers."
b. Rev 11:9-10; 13:7-8 and 14:6 distinguish "every nation and tribe and tongue and people" from
the "land dwellers."
c. When the two prophets are slain in Jerusalem (11:8) during the siege of the temple (11:1-2),
the land dwellers rejoice (11:10).

5. The "kings of the earth" (1:5; 6:15; 17:2) are not called "the kings of the whole world" (16:14)
or "the kings of the East" (16:12). They are distinguished from "all the nations" (18:3). They are
not "the kings of the nations" (Lk 22:25). They are the "kings of the earth" such as Herod and
Pilate (Ac 4:26).
6. The cry of the martyrs in 6:10 reflects Matt 23:34-36.
"Therefore, behold, I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes; some of them you will
kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city
to city, that upon you may fall the guilt of all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of
righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the
temple and the altar. Truly I say to you, all these things shall come upon this generation"
Matt 23:32: "Fill up [plrsate] then the measure of the guilt of your fathers," cp. Rev 6:11 "until
the number of their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, should be completed
[plrthsin] also."
7. When God holds back the "four winds of the earth" (7:1) it is so he can seal the 144,000 from
the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel (7:3-4). These are later called those "who had been
purchased from the earth" (14:1). They are immediately contrasted to an uncountable multitude
from "every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues" (7:9).
8. The early date of Revelation (before the temple's destruction, 11:1-2) and while Nero is alive
(17:9-10), along with the time frame (1:1, 3; 3:10; 6:11d; 10:6d; 11:14; 12:12d; 22:6, 10, 12, 20)
strongly suggests a "Land" focus (Rev 6:11; cp. 1:1, 3).
Bibliography
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Role of the Church's Enemies. New York: Walter de Gruyter, 1987.
Carrington, Philip. The Meaning of Revelation. London: S.P.C.K., 1931.
Charles, R. H. The Revelation of St. John (International Critical Commentary). 2 vols.
Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1920.
Chilton, David. The Days of Vengeance: An Exposition of the Book of Revelation. Fort Worth:
Dominion, 1987.
Desprez, Phillip S. The Apocalypse Fulfilled in the Consummation of the Mosaic Economy and
the Coming of the Son of Man: An Answer to the Apocalyptic Sketches and The End by Dr.
Cumming. London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longman's, 1855.
Ford, J. Massyngberde. Revelation. Garden City, N.Y.: Anchor, 1975.

Leonard, J. E. Come Out of Her, My People: A Study of the Revelation to John. Chicago:
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Van De Water, Rick. "Reconsidering the Beast from the Sea (Rev 13.1)." New Testament Studies
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