1). what were the most significant events occurring between the end of the Old Testament and the start of the New Testament? What changes in Jewish culture and religion are evident in this period, and how does knowledge of these changes inform our reading of the NT?
2). It is sometimes suggested that the Gospel of John was written as a corrective to an overly simple view of Jesus as a miracle–worker in Mark. How far do you agree with this evaluation?
3). Write a critical introduction to EITHER Hebrews, James or 1 Peter, indicating any sense in which special characteristics or emphases in your text add a distinctive voice to the New Testament collection.
4). Discuss the view that the Book of Revelation developed in a context in which the rise of the Roman empire posed particular difficulties for the author’s communities.
As evident through the Book of Revelation (BOR), several Christians are seen to be persecuted during the Roman Empire, by the Roman authorities. This book seems to intend the creation of the view among these persecuted Christians that although they are going through such a tough time, yet God is still in control of everything. It induces a belief that the Roman Empire, which are considered as the forces of evil at that time for the Christians are soon going to be destroyed by God (Christianbiblereference.org, 2015). Going through the BOR it can be said that it intends to offer an aura of comfort and inspiration for the Christians suffering from evil acts of Roman Empire. Not only to the Christians of that time the BOR act as a source of comfort and encouragement to the people of Christian communities in all ages, by inducing the view that God is firmly in control of all situations. The book is seen to focus majorly on the Christian communities of Asia minor, specifically to the 7 places where the 7 letters (considered as the combined BOR) were sent to. The 7 places of Asia minor include Laodicea, Ephesus, Thyatira, Smyrna, Paergamum, Sardis and Philadelphia (Oman, 2015).
Although there exist a strong debate regarding the author of the book, but considering the widely accepted fact that it was written by John, it is seen that the author’s communities which belongs to Christianity was suffering hugely in the hands of the Romans at the time when this book was written. As highlighted by Miller (2014), the book follows the preaching of Jesus and seems to inscribe the principles of having patience for the arrival of the correct time to let everything be sorted out properly by God. Through the information detailed in the book, the prime intension seems to instigate the sense of strong belief in God, in times of danger and evil. It states the idea of patiently waiting for the right time of action when God will destroy the powerful forces of evil that were currently dominating the world at the time of the writing of the book. The book is seen to identify the Romans as the evil repeatedly. It also presents the view of establishment of God’s kingdom in the world, which is believed to bring about fulfillment in lives of all Christians and other people across the world (Christianbiblereference.org, 2015).
The BOR is often considered incomprehensible and bizarre by several researchers. Contradictorily, the deep understanding developed through this book, regarding the genre of apocalypse, historical information of the early Christians, their fears, persecutions and debated issues clarifies the view of the book greatly. The book reveals a number of symbols and images, which bore parallel resemblance to the Old Testament. The mention of Daniel is one such instance. Moyise (2011) identified high familiarity to the people, places and events mentioned in the BOR with the 1st century Christians of Asia minor. An in-depth understanding of the view produced by this book regarding the visions presented by John is acquired through extensive research of the areas of Asia Minor Christian population. However, the book can be interpreted in a varied number of ways. Going through the book deeply, a very strong depiction of the sense of infinite power and glory held by God is evident through the scenes of this book. It might be considered as the most significant view and intended message revealed through this book for the readers.
The book is seems to hold a very strong view of revealing the possible future events of cataclysmic nature. Although it is stated in the book that it is directed for the Christians of Asia minor, it is related to a number of events occurring across the world in current times. Though there are instances when the events specified to happen in future and views regarding evil are associated with modern nations, political leaders, churches and religious leaders, Megoran (2013) strongly argued that it bores a clear reference to the ardent Roman Empire and its emperors. The thorough study of the book indicates that it symbolically identifies Rome as the most evil place with the maximum amount of unholy activities going on there. It depicts the view that though the satanic actions are at its peak at that time, very soon the symbolical wraths of God is going to fall on Rome and destroy it.
The book represents the Roman emperors as the beasts enacting the satanic events as persecuting the Christians. Frilingos (2013) opined that the various symbolic and imagery features evident in the BOR hold very close resemblance and indication to the Roman Emperor of that time Nero and his activities. The book is seen to develop a view among the Christians to stick firmly to their patience and belief in God. It restrains them from taking into vengeance for their suffering by stating that God will take it for them and make everything right very soon. As per the statements made in this book, it is clearly denoted that the book intends to produce a view, which is strongly and specifically addressed to the people of his communities the Christians suffering from the persecutions of the Roman Empire.
Pagels (2012) asserted that the book demonstrates the hideous acts committed by the Roman emperors against the Christians. For this, the book represents them as the beasts and depicts the 7 bowls of wrath and other such symbolic imageries to indicate the catastrophic events soon to take place on earth. The Christians are exerted to believe and remain faithful to God as their savior and He will surely save them by destroying the satanic Romans. Thus, the BOR develops the view of holding one’s own faith in God strongly in times of danger and problems without giving into the temptations of surrendering to the powerful evil or taking into vengeance by self.
The chapter 11 of the BOR opens in the line where John has been measuring the temple and the altar and also counting the worshippers. This picture has derived a lot of interpretations but in today’s world the commentators ascertains the notion of Christianity believers. It is suggested by Bauckham that John is differentiating the inner, hidden reality of the church where the priests who worship the God from the external experience of the church as it is vulnerable to the hounding by the nations. (Christian History Institute, 2015) Thus, there came a phase where the episode of final witness, godly protection and the pagan hostility also occur simultaneously. The BOR has an angry text which is depicted as some flamboyant and disturbing images. The perception of the author is directed towards the persecution of the early Christians by the Romans. The Emperor Nero mainly blamed the Christians for the destructive flames in Rome in 64CE which certainly proves that the Christians were maltreated in Rome. (Cliffsnotes.com, 2015) But there is absence of evidence that there was systematic persecution of the Christians in the Asia Minor. (Biblehub.com, 2015)
Rome was considered to be the society where the Romans mainly worshipped gods and goddesses, each having their own temples. In the first century, it was learnt that the Romans started worshipping the roman emperors and they built temples in the honor of the roman emperors. This was believed to be the sacrilege to the Jews and the communities of the Christians. (Christian-community.org, 2015) The Jews and the Christians were of the view that God is one and in this context if people started worshipping other gods then it is regarded as idolatry. (De Villiers, 2002) The Author, John was discontented by the Imperial Cult and the BOR is polemic against this cult. It is posed as a warning of not getting involved in this. The imagery depicts that the good wins over evil and that the faithfulness is awarded and justice will prevail. (Ascough and Tellbe, 2003)
In this BOR the presence of the seven headed beast symbolizes Rome. John had symbolically placed the role of this beast representing the seven roman emperors who have ruled during the time of the John, the author. (Bbc.co.uk, 2015) Another implication of the beast with seven heads is the fact that the Rome was called the city of seven hills. The number of the Beast was 666 which also add up to the number of the emperor Nero. (Earlychristianwritings.com, 2015) It has been speculated that during the reign of the Nero the Christians have been ill-treatment by the Romans to which the Christians have considered the emperor as a hate figure in their culture. The Jews were at one time offended when the emperor Caligula built a statute of himself in Jerusalem. (Judson, 2002)
The BOR has also the image of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse where the red horse implied war and destruction, black horse signifies the famine; the pale horse is symbolized to be death and lastly the white horse symbolizes the revenge and salvation. John has witnessed a lot of battles and in the first century, the horrendous Romans occupied the site of the camp. It was regarded as the best time and place for John for the final battle between the good and the evil to take place. (MacEvitt, 2014) So it can be said the author has always aimed at the Romans and the Christians which maintained a strained and distressed relationship. In this, the Christians were the community who were deprived of respect, power and position in the society as the Romans with all their power never escaped a chance to exploit the Christians. So it can be said that the BOR never really focused on prophesying the termination of the world rather the BOR is the polemic against the behavior and tormenting nature of the Roman Empire. (Campbell, 2003)
The author John framed his attack through his writings that had the ability to impact on the other religious and their writings of the parallel era. The BOR had direct impact on the Christians. (Ochulor and Metuonu, 2011) John through writing gave an effort to electrify the Christians so that they get the urge and encouragement so that they can rage up against the Romans and their oppressive rule. His writing gave the desire to every religious community along with the Christians Community to fight against the tyranny of the Romans. In this regard the Christians who would not compromise with the Romans torturous rule would be rewarded. But according to the critics, the process of rewarding on the act of the Christians against the Romans is vaguely posed as it is irrelevant in this context. The ignition through the writings of John should have been enough for them to get the rage and charge up against the Romans and their tyranny. (Reading Acts, 2012)
The Roman Empire had repeatedly persecuted the Christians in which the theory that John used reveals that the characters and the values which are compatible in the kingdom of God do not apply in the earthly perspective. God had taught that when there is oppression and tyranny, the people should bear with the view that the long line of prophets also faced such tyranny without complaining. John in this work has suggested that the Christians must treat the situation as a greater cosmic conflict in order to establish sovereignty in the world that would be ensured by the association between God and the Evil forces. (Revelations: visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of Revelation, 2012)
The propaganda of the Pax Romana suggested that it was the Roman Emperor and the Roman Empire that brought about peace in the frenzied world. This was exactly that John had implemented in his writing only with little modification. John had the implemented the role reversal in this case and re-shaped the strategy so that the hypocrisy and bankruptcy of the claims of the Roman Empire can be exposed. John has never missed to criticize the Roman empire in any case. He then focused on the cruel practices of the Roman emperor. The Rome was referred to as prostitute luring the clients and leading them to the path of destruction. In typical analysis of the Roman Culture and tradition, it is the like the charm of the prostitutes that covers up the oppression and the violence that it imposed on the Christians. (Shmoop, 2015) The BOR talks about the judgment day that eventually shows the end of the Roman Empire. In this respect the Roman civilization is characterized as the corrupt country which is influenced and catapulted by the military power of the Romans. John in this study suggested that the Church to come out of the Babylon which can be interpreted as the necessary act to combat with the charms and the deception of the Rome. (Sparknotes.com, 2015)
The BOR and along with the focus point of the assignment reveals that the author John had always been pro-reactive about the humiliation and the oppression that is being imposed on the religious community which is typically the Christianity. The paper deals in the different ideologies of the Roman Empire and coupled with the strategies of John that were adopted from the Roman cultures and the Christianity were molded and used against them. The BOR had revelations about the beast and the four horse-men that signify the evil and the good deed. The paper dealt with the early Christians’ perception about the Roman Empire in which Rome is considered to be prostitute symbolically. The alluring and attracting nature of the prostitute is signified as the culture and the traditions of Rome. This alluring characteristic of Rome is able to subdue and hide the oppressive and tyrant behavior of the Romans. John has been very encouraging as he galvanized the Christians to fight against the Romans and their oppressive behavior. The emperor Nero had a highlighting character in this BOR as the seven headed beast which represents 666 as that of the Emperor Nero. So it is sometimes denoted that the Emperor Nero is the tyrant emperor that mainly contributed to the oppressive practices on the Christians. At one time it was believed that the Romans were the ones that contributed to peace restoring in the disturbed country. It is here that John has utilized his writings and his skill to reverse the role and depict that the main reason behind the chaotic situation in the country is attributed to the oppressive behavior and practices of the Romans. (Sweet, 2000) Thus, John through his BOR has depicted that the Christians were the communities that were mostly deprived of power, respect and position within the society as the oppressive Romans has exploited them. Through his writings, the BOR not only encourages the Christians not to compromise with the tyrant Romans but also encouraged and influenced other religious communities who were in some other parts of the world were being oppressed by some other communities. The BOR is more like the polemic against the Roman Empires highlighting the issues and practices that exploited the Christians. John being Christian himself have found the urge and the incentive to preach through his writings with the philosophy God and his preaching on combating the oppressive behaviors.
References
Ascough, R. and Tellbe, M. (2003). Paul between Synagogue and State: Christians, Jews, and Civic Authorities in 1 Thessalonians, Romans, and Philippians. Journal of Biblical Literature, 122(4), p.772.
Bbc.co.uk, (2015). BBC – Religions – Christianity: Revelation. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/texts/revelation.shtml [Accessed 10 Jun. 2015].
Biblehub.com, (2015). Revelation Summary. [online] Available at: https://biblehub.com/summary/revelation/1.htm [Accessed 10 Jun. 2015].
Campbell, W. (2003). Booklist: Paul between Synagogue and State: Christians, Jews and Civic Authorities in 1 Thessalonians, Romans, and Philippians. Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 26(1), pp.126-127.
Christian History Institute, (2015). Christian History Institute. [online] Available at: https://www.christianhistoryinstitute.org/magazine/article/persecution-in-early-church-gallery/ [Accessed 10 Jun. 2015].
Christian-community.org, (2015). WHY THE BOOK OF REVELATION IS HERESY. [online] Available at: https://www.christian-community.org/library/revelheresy.html [Accessed 10 Jun. 2015].
Cliffsnotes.com, (2015). The Book of Revelation. [online] Available at: https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/n/new-testament-of-the-bible/summary-and-analysis/the-book-of-revelation [Accessed 10 Jun. 2015].
De Villiers, P. (2002). Persecution in the book of Revelation. Acta. Theol., 22(2).
Earlychristianwritings.com, (2015). The Book of Revelation. [online] Available at: https://www.earlychristianwritings.com/revelation.html [Accessed 10 Jun. 2015].
Judson, O. (2002). The book of revelation. Nature, 416(6876), pp.17-18.
MacEvitt, C. (2014). True Romans: remembering the crusades among Eastern Christians. Journal of Medieval History, 40(3), pp.260-275.
Ochulor, C. and Metuonu, C. (2011). Towards the unification of Christians and Marxists: struggle to end exploitation and oppression. AJSMS, 2(1), pp.100-107.
Reading Acts, (2012). Persecution and the The Book of Revelation. [online] Available at: https://readingacts.com/2012/04/02/persecution-and-the-the-book-of-revelation/ [Accessed 10 Jun. 2015].
Revelations: visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of Revelation. (2012). Choice Reviews Online, 49(11), pp.49-6235-49-6235.
Shmoop, (2015). Book of Revelation Summary. [online] Available at: https://www.shmoop.com/revelation-apocalypse/summary.html [Accessed 10 Jun. 2015].
Sparknotes.com, (2015). SparkNotes: Bible: The New Testament: The Revelation to John (Revelation). [online] Available at: https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/newtestament/section9.rhtml [Accessed 10 Jun. 2015].
Sweet, J. (2000). The Millennium and the Book of Revelation. Theology, 103(812), pp.133-133.
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