“Going down the rabbit hole!” Revelation

 Reign of Emperor Domitian (81–96 CE) Dated to 95 CE Or, the reign of Emperor Nero (54–68 CE)  Purpose: to reveal “what must soon take place” (1:1) Encourage obedience in difficult circumstances Arouse indignation at social injustice in Empire Provoke repentance in the lax Christians Inspire praise of God Date and Purpose

 John the Seer, on the island Patmos “Because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus” (1:9) Different “John” from other NT figures  Jewish Christian prophet From Palestine? Known to Asia Minor churches  Writes Greek as an Aramaic speaker  Knows Jewish scriptures  Knows Jewish apocalypses and prophets Author and Place

 Seven churches of Asia Minor  Local persecution and social alienation No evidence of empire-wide persecution in first century Local pressures are strong Christians did not participate in imperial cults, state celebrations, or public honoring of gods Historical Setting

 Letter(s) To seven churches  Prophecy Social, political and economic critique of the prophet’s situation Does not predict events in a distant future Uses imagery and themes from Jewish prophetic tradition  Apocalyptic (see box 29.1) Dualistic view of time and space Symbolism  Numbers  Creatures  Names, Cities Fantastic creatures Transcendent reality Genre

 Historical: refers to first-century context Letters are correspondence with local churches Number of beast = Nero (emperor in 54–68 CE)  Idealist: describes “universal themes and symbols” Letters offer generic advice Number of beast = supreme evil (in general)  Futuristic: predicts future times/events Letters describe situation of future churches Number of beast = code for some future evil leader How to Read This Book

 Unveiling of the really real God’s power is more real than the emperor’s  Human society is corrupt Imperial economic system exploits the poor Priests, leaders, merchants are unjust  God’s judgment is coming Injustice will end Righteousness will win  God is in control, even in a chaotic world  WORSHIP GOD Key Themes

 Blessing, salutation, John’s vision (1:1–10)  Son of Man and seven letters (chaps. 2–3)  View of heaven (chaps. 4–11) Throne of God, Lamb and scrolls, angels and trumpets, thunders and eating of little scroll  View of earth from heaven (chaps. 12–20) Woman and dragon, worship of beast, judgment of Babylon the whore, funeral banquet of whore  Heaven come to earth (chaps. 21–22) New heaven and earth, wedding banquet of the Lamb, new Jerusalem on earth to worship God Outline