Apocalypse
Apocalypse (Revelations)
Differences in the prophetic and apocalyptic traditions *In the prophetic tradition people suffer because they have sinned *In apocalyptic the suffering is caused by cosmic evil forces *In the prophetic tradition the people must repent *In apocalyptic the people must remain faithful & wait for God *In the prophetic tradition God is the punisher because the people have sinned *In apocalyptic the cosmic forces are the punishers
Apocalypse (Revelations)
-Apocalyptic put the idea of resurrection in the center of theology *Resurrection means vindication rather than protection
Apocalypse (Revelations)
-Apocalyptic wittings try to do three things *Console people in times of persecution *Present an interpretation of historical events that focus on the justice & sovereignty of God & the triumph of good over evil *They persuade the hearers to keep covenant with God & live in a way that ensures they will be among God's elect in the end time
Apocalypse (Revelations)
-Apocalyptic writings are cosmic in nature—they speak of heaven & earth
Apocalypse (Revelations)
-Apocalyptic writings tended to appear in times of persecution -People were experiencing hard times because of their faithfulness
Apocalypse (Revelations)
-Differences in the prophetic and apocalyptic traditions *In the prophetic tradition when the people repent God shows mercy *In the apocalyptic God must intervene *In the prophetic tradition God is in charge of the world & events happen in history *In the apocalyptic evil rules the present world & God's victory is in the age to come
Apocalypse (Revelations)
-It is written in highly symbolic language w/bizarre visions & symbols -The language is coded so that insiders can understand it but outsiders can't
Apocalypse (Revelations)
-Note the numerology of Revelation & the attention to colors *The letters to the seven churches are Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea
Apocalypse (Revelations)
-The mark of the beast, 666, is likely Nero Redivivus, Domitian -144,000=12 x 12 x 1000—perfection too numerous to count
Apocalypse (Revelations)
-The present is in the hands of evil but the future belongs to God
Apocalypse (Revelations)
-The word apocalyptic means revelation, unveiling, disclosure *Apocalyptic likely originated in Persian Zoroastrianism
Apocalypse (Revelations)
-They are eschatological—they speak of this age & the age to come
