Wait till your father gets home! Disturbing Scenes in Revelation Today: 7 Items 1. Prologue and Greeting Rev 1:1 8 2. First Vision Rev 1:9 20 3. Letters to the Churches Rev 2 3 4. Heavenly Throne Vision Rev 4 5. The Lamb and the Scroll Rev 5 6. Disturbing Scenes Seals, Trumpets, Bowls 7. Interlude Scenes The Elect Rev 7 www.ceorockford.org + Adult Faith Formation 1
Reviewing Last Week Proper interpretation of Revelation necessitates knowing the context: Historical Rome, 90s, imperial cult, persecution, addressed to 7 churches in Asia Minor Theological God reigns supreme vs. Empire; good will triumph, persevere in faith despite trials Literary Apocalyptic Literature in OT and NT, cf. Dan 7, Zeph 1, Lk 21 Apocalyptic Literature in OT and NT Heavenly secrets about a cosmic struggle and eschatological victory are revealed in symbolic word pictures as presented by angels to a seer who writes down God s message which is intended to promote repentance among the sinful and consolation and encouragement to the faithful who will ultimately share in God s glorious salvation Apocalyptic Mindset in the NT Present Age Age to Come Day of the Lord as Parousia The End Times Have Begun with the Life, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ www.ceorockford.org + Adult Faith Formation 2
3 Conclusions from Session 1 1. John s communities were at odds with its surrounding culture. Christianity is incompatible with the idolatrous demands + practices of the Empire 2. The rejection, trials and persecution believers experience are temporary; so, remain firm in your commitment to Christ, the slain + Risen Lamb. He has already conquered sin and death 3. God, who is the Supreme Ruler and Lord of all creation, deserves our worship + fidelity, and will reward the faithful, whereas those who compromise and follow the Empire of Evil, symbolized as the Unholy Trinity will suffer severely Prologue: Rev 1:1 3 1. Who is addressing us? God Risen Christ Angel John = divine certitude + authority 2. 1:3 Beatitude = read aloud, listen, heed 3. Appointed time is near limited time to accomplish necessary repentance Greeting: 1:4 8 1. Seven Churches = both local/universal Church 2. God was/is to come timelessness + eternal 3. 7 Spirits = fullness of God s activity in world 4. 1:5 3 pertinent titles for Risen Christ from Psalm 89 + 3 actions Christ has/is doing wh/ deserve our praise 5. Coming on the clouds Dan 7:9 14 = Apocalyptic Son of Man 6. pierced Zech 12:10 = suffered but triumphant, is also God, evokes remorse www.ceorockford.org + Adult Faith Formation 3
First Vision 1:9 20 1. Patmos penal county 50 miles off coast from Ephesus, exiled for proclaiming Gospel 2. Ecstatic experience, trumpet = sound of God, cf. Ex 19:16 19 3. Commanded to write to 7 churches = 7 lampstands see 1:20 4. Vision of glorified Christ = priestly/royal majestic, divine identity Messages to 7 Churches 2:1 3:22 1. Addressee Christ s self reference praise reproach promises 2. Praised for: faith, bearing persecution, good works, loyalty to Christ/Gospel 3. Reproaches: false teaching, complacency, assimilation to pagan culture 4. Rewards: eternal life, fellowship w/ Christ, God, joy, happiness 5. Your church? Revelation 4: Throne Vision 1. God s heavenly Throne cf. Ezek 1 2. God > blinding light, incredible brilliance radiating 3. Praise is sung by all present = God s reign is comprehensive = all creation acknowledges God s sovereignty in this heavenly liturgy 4. Who sits on the Throne in your life? www.ceorockford.org + Adult Faith Formation 4
Rev 5 The Lamb and the Scroll Lamb slain, 7 horns, 7 eyes; worthy to open scroll; Passover Lamb, blood saves, evokes praise Scroll end time scenario containing word pictures of punishment for sin + injustice + salvation for faithful 7 Seals from God, shows the great importance of the message Disturbing Scenes in Revelation Seals, Trumpets and Bowls images of human suffering, and God s wrath, punishment, and judgment Why the Horrific Images? Think of the 7 Churches of Asia struggling with false teaching, complacency and assimilation issues Intent is to foster repentance + conversion Symbolic + hyperbolic word pictures grab attention, help see things in a new way, stimulate reflection Scenes move in cycles: seals, trumpets, bowls www.ceorockford.org + Adult Faith Formation 5
Great Tribulation: the First 6 Seals Rev 6:1 17 1st 4 seals 4 horsemen foreign military conquest, mutual killing, famine, death = challenge current social, political, + economic conditions that offer security 5 th Seal martyrs will be vindicated in time, cf. Mt 5:6; God s timing rules = patience 6 th Seal cosmic upheaval of creation due to God s wrath, allows for new creation, cf. Gen 1 Interlude: Signing the Elect 7:1 17, 14:1 5 Destructive scenario of 6 seals is interrupted by a hopefilled scene of the salvation of the faithful before the Throne 7:1 8 144,000 who still suffer, but now marked w/ the Seal of the Living God = (New Israel). They reappear w/ the Lamb before the Throne, protected, triumphant, undefiled cf. 14:1 5 > virgins singing a new hymn w/ Lamb on Zion 7:9 17 great multitude standing victorious before Throne wearing white robes, holding palm branches = have survived the time of great distress, now filled with joy, + Lamb is their shepherd, cf. 7:15 17 > great joy!!! For Next Week 1. Read chapters 8 14 in the Book of Revelation 2. Who are the two witnesses in ch. 11? 3. Pay special attention to ch. 12 and 13. What images do you encounter? www.ceorockford.org + Adult Faith Formation 6
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