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New Testament

New Testament. BCM 103 Dr. Dave Mathewson Gordon College/Denver Seminary. Revelation. Two possible response to Revelation

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New Testament

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  1. New Testament BCM 103Dr. Dave MathewsonGordon College/Denver Seminary

  2. Revelation

  3. Two possible response to Revelation • Reject it or ignore it because it is so strange book, peculiar, vision of locusts with human heads… bloodshed, variety of ways it’s been read. “Off limits” sign; Calvin skipped it in his NT commentaries • Become obsessed with it—center of their thinking…Left Behind etc.

  4. Left Behind!

  5. Revelation in it’s context • Author writing the book to address his book to a specific problem/situation in the 1st century – same as we’ve taken all the other books in the NT • What problem was the author addressing? • Must work with this before applying the text to our situation

  6. Background Issues • Author and Date: John wrote it, he identifies himself as John … which John? Strong tradition Apostle John, • No identification as an apostle or authority of an apostle speaks as OT prophetic authority • He knew he was writing Scripture • When it was written? – 95-96 AD –Domitian emperor

  7. Features of Revelation • Symbolism: 7 headed beasts, locusts with human heads with crowns, numbers, visionary quality • When we interpret it we won’t interpret it strictly literal

  8. Why was it written? • Why would John write a book like this? • Rome was over the whole world • Roman domination made it uncomfortable for Christians emperor worship spread widely and common to deify even to living emperors • Ephesus had temple to Domitian • Local leaders show their loyalty via these types of temples

  9. Background • Revelation often associated with persecution but most of info. on 7 churches in Asia Minor • Out of those 7 letters to churches only 2 churches were suffering persecution, most of the persecution was at the local level not Domitian

  10. Background • The other 5 churches main problem was compromising with Roman rule both worship Caesar and Christ at the same time • Antipas was killed but most of it was local persecution • All cities had temple built in honor of the emperor, emperor was savior  compromise

  11. Plight of Christians • Some suffering persecution for refusal to worship the Emperor • Primary problem is compromise among these cities in the context of imperial Roman rule

  12. Emperor Worship

  13. Literary Genre • Revelation is an apocalypse • First person narrative of someone’s visionary experience, written down • Not so much predict the future but help readers make sense of their present situation • Watching a play you see what’s presented; however behind the curtain all sorts of things happening; • Apocalypse unveils or lifts curtain so you can see what is going on behind the scenes

  14. John sees throne—so Rome rules but now I know behind the scenes God is on the throne ruling over all moving to a new creation now see the present in a new light (Caesar is not the final authority)

  15. Genre • Letter Form: it begins and ends just like one of Paul’s letters • So Revelation is addressing a specific problem • Revelation is communicating a letter giving them a solution to Roman rule and emperor worship

  16. Reading Revelation Sensibly • Revelation is symbolic, not literal, not CNN more like an art gallery, feel it • The meaning must be what John intended and his readers understood • Don’t lose sight of the forest for the trees • Don’t miss the main purpose-exhortation to holy living • HUMILITY!

  17. Approaches to Revelation • Preterist: Revelation refers to events that took place in the 1st Century • Historical: Revelation is a forecast of the entirety of human history • Idealist: Revelation is a symbolic portrayal of the struggle between good and evil • Futurist: Revelation refers to events that will take place right before and during the coming of Christ at the end of history

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