Book Of Revelation Flashcards
Liminality
Putting up boundaries
What literary genre is the Book of Revelation?
- Some say it’s prophecy: prediction of the future
- Catholics and some Protestants say it’s apocalyptic, meant to encourage and comfort downtrodden faithful people.
- John called his book “apocalupsis”
Apocalupsis
Means “revelation” or “vision.”
Island of Patmos
A prison island. John is there for being a witness. It’s where he does into a trance.
Witness
“Martus” in Greek
Smyrna:
What did John praise in this church?
What did he condemn?
He praised their faith and said that “you are rich” even though they are poor. He condemns people that claim to be Jews but are instead members of the synagogue of Satan.
Ephesus:
What did John praise in this church?
What did he condemn?
He praised their works and “patient endurance”, and he likes that they don’t tolerate false apostles like the Nicolatians. He is disappointed, though, that they have lost the love they had before.
Pergamum:
What did John praise in this church?
What did he condemn?
He praises that they have faith even though they live where “Satan’s throne” is (does that mean the altar of Zeus?) and they’ve kept the faith even after Antipas, the faithful witness, was martyred. But he condemns that there are people in the church who agree with Balaam and the Nicolations who “play the harlot” by eating food that was sacrificed to idols.
Thyatira:
What did John praise in this church?
What did he condemn?
He praises their progress in virtue. He condemns the false prophetess “Jezebel” who plays the harlot and eats meat sacrificed to the idols.
Laodicea:
What did John praise in this church?
What did he condemn?
He congratulates them for being rich, but he says they’re really poor. “How I wish you were hot or cold! Since you are lukewarm, I spit you out!”
Rev 6: 1-8
God sends for horsemen representing death, war, plague, and famine.
Rev 7:4 and 7:14
The followers of God are given a seal so they won’t be hurt: 144,000 who have “washed their robes white with the blood of the Lamb”
Rev 12: 1-6
A woman “clothed with the sun” labors to give birth, while a red dragon prepares to devour the child. She is taken away to the desert to be safe. Catholics think she is Mary, others say she us a symbol for the church.
Rev 12: 7-9
Michael the Archangel and his angels defeat Satan and his angels, then Satan falls to earth.
Rev. 13: 1-10
For Satan, the “Beast” comes to power. He has 7 heads, one of which is mortally wounded. People worship the Beast. The Beast’s number is 666. Everyone has the number on their foreheads to buy and sell things.
