Revelation, like most of the New Testament epistles, is “occasional.” An occasional writing deals directly with the historical occasion and circumstances of the original audience. For instance, in 1 Corinthians, Paul directs the Corinthian church in how to handle the various problems that have so buffeted their community. When he writes that someone there has his own father’s wife (1 Cor. 5:1), he is not declaring a universal principle prevailing in all churches. Indeed, it is a rather rare occurrence,