From Metaphor to “Vision�

[RevLDT72]

I intend to spend time processing the movement from the use of shepherd as metaphor in the old testament and through most of the new testament to John’s visions of the shepherd lamb in the book of Revelation. Particularly, in the former, the shepherd is always an image or type of something else - king, prophet, priest, etc. but in the latter, an actual shepherd is in view doing the work of leading and tending to the sheep.

My curiosity is how much of John’s visions were influenced by the shepherd metaphors from the prophets as opposed to the vision being an actualization of what was foretold by the prophets. More precisely, were John’s visions continuations of the prophecies, manifestations of those prophesies, or were they materialization of John’s subconscious which was overly influenced by his belief in and expectation of the coming shepherd king? This may be more of a psychological question than a theological one, as it queries possible subconscious influences to John’s visions.