This message was given to the churches in Asia Minor by the end of the first century as they went through crises due to internal divisions and external pressures from society. The emphasis on theocentrism is foundational to Revelation’s message. The impression given, as Alan Johnson notes, is that “Nothing happens, nothing exists-in the past, present, or future-apart from God’s intention. He is never dramatized as a figure actively involved in the course of events, conveying not passivity but rather a strong theocentricity. God is closely associated with His throne, which functions as the axis mundi, the immovable center of reality and, though things on earth happen as the result of decisions made in the heavenly temple, God remains seated. 1:4–6)-sends greetings to the recipients, the seven churches, but God is surprisingly silent throughout almost the whole book. In the opening salutation, He-together with Jesus Christ and the Spirit (Rev. While all the divine interventions and judgments in Revelation are seen as coming from the heavenly temple, God the Father generally does not speak. 3 The title occurs 12 times in the book in slightly different grammatical forms, 4 the number of completeness, the perfection of God’s sovereign authority over human history. The focus in the formula is “on the throne” itself which, in accordance with the Old Testament background, is the symbol of divine rulership. The key title of God in Revelation is “the One sitting on the throne.” This formula functions as “a circumlocution for the name of God” 2 because His naming and description are avoided. However, the book’s auditory aspects also deserve close attention because the voices and speeches determine, to a significant degree, the book’s theological outlook. The book of Revelation is an apocalyptic work with vivid visual symbolism, which is why interpreting the book’s imagery is important for understanding its message.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |