Book of Revelation Review;
Describe and discuss the imagery in Rev 4. What effect does it have and what theological point(s) are accomplished by it?
the theological heart of revelation God rules supreme God is the source and keeper of order Revelations 4 is the throne vision Temple imagery from the tabernacle Tamed sea at God's feet related to bronze sea at the foot of the temple and tabernacle altars
Explain the canonical background Rev 6-7.
Zechariah 6 references four horses pulling chariots, called the four spirits of heaven, and they look like the horses with riders in Rev 6 that are given power over a fourth of the earth. The sixth seal and the collapse of nature is a scene from Joel 2. The 144,000 sealed in Rev 7 is a scene from Isaiah 64-66 where God destroys everything but not all of his servants.
Describe how the ideas of the rapture and the anti-Christ come out of the Bible. What kind of assumptions about the nature of the Bible inform these ideas?
theology of terror, worried that the next generation will not be good Christians
Sixth Seal
worldwide earthquake, sun turns black, moon turns to blood moment of silence for 30 minutes
Bablyon
"bad" and sexual imagery
Seventh Trumpet
1/3 is destroyed, loud worship
sixth trumpet
1/3 is killed
First Four Seals
1st Seal: Rider on a white horse--victory/ conquest. Jesus rides the white horse. 2nd Seal: Rider on a red horse--bloody war 3rd Seal: Rider on a black horse--famine 4th Seal: Rider on a pale green horse--death
Throne room in heaven
24 elders on thrones, 4 creatures covered in eyes and 6 wings. all singing and worshipping holy holy holy
7 bowls of wrath
7 angels will pour seven bowls of wrath on the earth
First thing John sees
7 golden lampstands walking around · Person or figure · Holding 7 stars
What are the two "interludes" presented in Revelation 4-14? What is their content? What is meant by calling them interludes, and what do they do in the overall message of Revelation?
7:1-17 Interlude 1: the sealing of the people of God 10:1-11 Interlude 2a - John's Prophetic Call 11:1-13 Interlude 2b - Witnesses' prophetic activity Interlude = jumps into the middle of the action and then stops 10:1-11 Interlude 2a - John's Prophetic Call 11:1-13 Inte 10:1-11 Interlude 2a - John's Prophetic Call 11:1-13 Interlude 2b - Witnesses' prophectivity Interludes are a pause in the progression of the seals and trumpets between the 6th, the penultimate, and the 7th, the ultimate. They build the tension on the brink of an incomplete series into a complete series.
The occasion of revelation
Addressing the individual matters Individual commitment Individual 'purity' Addressing communal matters Accommodation and boundary maintenance Economic imagery Leaders and influencers
What is the social and historical context that gives rise to apocalyptic literature within Judaism? Why do you think this happened?
Apocalyptic literature emerged within Judaism around the 3rd c BCE when the Jews were being dominated by yet another empire. The Jews asked the theodicy questions of why these bad things were happening to them even in their attempts to follow God's law, so apocalypses related their concerns to what they thought was really going on behind the scenes in the supernatural plane. Apocalypses and their symbolic style also provided a way for Jews to speak in a sort of code about their oppressors and urge each other not to give up the faith.
Chapter 19
Celebration for lamb
Give and discuss three of the rhetorical features of Revelation explained by Resseguie, using an example from Revelation for each.
Chiasm 2-step progression Antithetical 2-step progression Metaphor Inclusio Verbal thread Numbers Hysteron-proteron (last-first)
List and describe each component of the letter pattern in Rev 2-3. Explain how this structure is a comedic plotline.
Comedic plot line - u shaped Letter pattern (3 ears then promise, 4 switched) Address to angel Prophetic formula and self-description of Christ "I know" statement (past and current reality) Command and diagnosis (positive and/or negative) 'Listening ears' Promise to overcomers (allusion to new Jerusalem)
example of angelic interpreter
Enoch is taken on a tour of Heaven by an angel, and additionally seeks to intercede on behalf of the fallen angels in discussion with the Watchers.
7 letters to the 7 churches order
Ephesus Smyrna Pergamum Thyatira Sardis Philadelphia Laodicea
example spatial aspect
In the Testament of Levi, he ascends into heaven with the angels, and it is revealed to him all of the levels of Heaven
example of temporal aspect
all of time and end of time described as the Lord's day in Revelation, beginning of sin a long time ago in 1 Enoch
Beginning of Revelation
John is on the island of Patmos preaching about Jesus Christ. Writing a vision and a book of prophecies
Example of Narrative Framework
John tells the seven churches his vision in a letter, Levi describes his dream and some of his related actions
What happened in chapters 17 and 18?
Judgement of Babylon
How will we read Revelation in our class? What kinds of considerations play into what we are doing? What proposal would you make for best practices in reading the Bible, especially Revelation?
Largely historical perspective that we are reading from, while occasionally considering idealist and futurist perspectives as well. Consider when this text was written, 70 CE ish or 95 CE ish, along with the unique faith situations Jews were in at that time, a time of persecution and struggle.
Occasion of Revelation pt 2
Local persecution and social alienation are important to these letters. Although at this time there were no empire-wide killings, Jews and Christians would not participate in celebrations of other gods, and may have found themselves more on the fringes of society due to their religious choices. The idea that any statement about God can be reflected in the nature of humans and vice versa. This may play into the idea of perseverance, that God rewards perseverance and hardship because he knows his people, if they remain faithful, are capable of living through it.
What are Wright's three options for what the Bible is? Evaluate them and either agree with one or make your own proposal.
Option 1 - bible is within the created world; special, unique, one of a kind Option 2 - like it just dropped out of heaven; like all the words are precisely from God Option 3 - Middle ground; Wright/ Boyles preference You Cannot pull apart God's words and the words of the authors.
who was worthy to open the scroll?
lamb/lion that looks slain
Discuss the ways in which the description of the Son of Man in 1:9—20 is reflected in the letters to the seven churches.
The Son of Man is described as a powerful figure firmly planted in the center of the 7 lampstands/churches. Then, in the letters to the seven churches, the prophetic formula and self-description of Christ recapitulates one of his descriptors each.
what we call apocalyptic, John calls...
prophecy
Fifth Seal
shows those who are martyred for their faith questioning how long until avenged
The 7th bowl
speeding up and the one of the throne speaks
Give the two common views of the structure of Revelation and explain each using an example from the book of Revelation.
View 1: linear/progressive, the seals, trumpets, and bowls take place in that order and build on each other in significance/destruction as the end approaches View 2: nonlinear/recapitulation, the seals, trumpets, and bowls take place like a 3-ringed circus where they happen simultaneously
Explain how the "point of view" in Revelation connects the reader with the writer and his message.
We are witnessing these events through his eyes and hearing the occasional interpretation from the angel or from the writer along with him
Sixth Bowl
Euphrates dries up to allow antichrist's enemies to invade Jerusalem.
Name and describe the two different ways for understanding the seven seals and seven trumpets. Which one do you think is correct? Defend your answer using the text of Revelation and/or other OT and apocalyptic texts.
First perspective: the linear perspective looks at the sequence of events as a progressing line of occurring events. This concept assumes that each seal and then each trumpet blast progresses one after the other. Second perspective: The recapitulated perspective sees the events of the seals and trumpets as a nonlinear progression of events, that either they are happening at the same time, or at different intervals on the same timeline, all at once, a cacophony of woes and events.
Fifth trumpet
First woe Release creatures (aka the destroyer)
Temporal Aspect
Happened for a long time (circular motion),or how oftenEx: waited for a long time, studied for a long time.
Discuss three different approaches to interpretation of the book of Revelation. Describe each one and explain how it differs from others.
Historical: the purpose is to disclose the truth about what was happening at that time Idealist: the purpose is to provide spiritual insight in a symbolic way that applies to all times and places Futurist: the purpose is to predict that will come in the future
In chapter 20...
Satan is bound 1000 years Released and the last battle at Armegaddon
Discuss the visions in chapters 4 and 5 and how these two chapters relate to each other and the book. Take into consideration the function of the hymns in these chapters.
Setting the scene in heaven Both visions U shaped plot (chapter 4 was good then he wept who to open the scroll then they open the scroll) Chapter 5:12 "power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory and praise" he is completely worthy VERBAL THREAD repeated to provide emphasis
What are the relationships among the dragon and the two beasts of Revelation 13? How can these be connected to the life of the Roman Empire and its relationship to the larger society and to the Christians?
The dragon has the first beast as its mascot to be worshipped by humanity and the second beast hypes up the first beast. In terms of the Roman Empire, the first beast is the Roman Empire and its economy and the second beast is the imperial cult. Christians are causing problems within the empire because they're not sacrificing to the cult in order to participate in the economy, which supposedly messes up the empire's success.
Revelation ends with
The last vision (new heaven, new earth) A warning Last word is a prayer (come quickly, amen)
How are the people of God described in Revelation? What terms are used to identify them and what actions do they do (or not do) which sets them off as God's people? How are they contrasted with those who are not the Redeemed?
The people of God are sealed and protected, but still undergo the suffering of these events. They wear white and praise God. In contrast, the unredeemed do not repent when the end comes.
What features of the "Great Harlot" in Rev. 17 identify who she is, and why she is punished? Compare and contrast with the "Bride" who comes from heaven.
The statement on her forehead, "BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH" Her clothed in purple and scarlet, indicative of a kind of perverse luxury. She sits on a scarlet beast (perverse luxury again) who has blasphemous names on its head, once again indicating the perverse nature of her position Punished for her sexual immorality imagery - that she has defiled herself with many things not pleasing to God. Name of Babylon, she is marred by the sins of her people who are economically corrupted along with mentally and physically
Discuss the two witnesses of Revelation 11. What do they do? How do they relate to each other? What are suggestions about whom they may represent?
The witness comes and prophecies for 3 and ½ years then they will be killed and sent to heaven. They have power to send plagues, stop rain, and kill their enemies by breathing fire The witness's may be Elijah and Moses The witness's may be Paul and Peter
Discuss the problem of theodicy and how it relates to apocalyptic thinking and writing. Give two examples from apocalypses you read (Revelation, Daniel 7-12, 1 Enoch, and some material to be read on Tuesday).
Theodicy asks why bad things happen, specifically to good people, and why bad things happen for doing good. The supposed debate is between God's supreme power and his supreme goodness. However, apocalyptic thinking and writing responds to the problem of theodicy by showing how the bad things we are experiencing are a part of God's plan and progression toward the end of days, when everything will be remade. In Revelation, the 144,000 are sealed and protected by God even though they still suffer through the events of the book. In 1 Enoch, the origin of evil is explained by humans' interactions with angels and subsequent behaviors like meat eating, so God's action will be required to eventually right this wrong.
Compare the description of the seven bowls in Revelation 16 with the seven seals and seven trumpets. What are the similarities and the distinctive features of the bowl visions?
There is a distinct lack of an interlude in the bowl visions There is a distinct mention of the people refusing to repent after the fourth and fifth bowls which does not occur in the other two sets of 7 The end of the bowls is marked by an "It is done" and much thunder and a large earthquake.
How many witnesses were in chapter 11 and what happened to them?
They were killed and then resurrected to heaven
Using either Daniel 7, Psalm 2, or Ezekiel 1-2, make comparisons with three ideas presented in Revelation.
Throne room imagery Ezekiel 1 - 4 creatures (similar description), 4 vs 6 wings, movement of creatures Ezekiel 3:1 and revelations 10 sweet as honey in the mouth and bitter in the stomach Daniel 7 the four beasts like in Revelations 6
Discuss three connections made to the Old Testament with the book of Revelation (not including from the book of Daniel).
Throne room imagery Ezekiel 1 - 4 creatures, 4 vs 6 wings, movement of creatures Isaiah 6 - song, 6 wings, figure of throne, temple Zech 6:1-8 : the horses in Revelations 6 Ezekiel 3:1 and revelations 10 sweet as honey in the mouth and bitter in the stomach