The Theology of the Book of Revelation

Abstract

The Book of Revelation is a work of profound theology. But its literary form makes it impenetrable to many modern readers and open to all kinds of misinterpretations. Richard Bauckham explains how the book's imagery conveyed meaning in its original context and how the book's theology is inseparable from its literary structure and composition. Revelation is seen to offer not an esoteric and encoded forecast of historical events but rather a theocentric vision of the coming of God's universal kingdom, contextualised in the late first-century world dominated by Roman power and ideology. It calls on Christians to confront the political idolatries of the time and to participate in God's purpose of gathering all the nations into his kingdom. Once Revelation is properly grounded in its original context it is seen to transcend that context and speak to the contemporary church. This study concludes by highlighting Revelation's continuing relevance for today.

Openbaring 21:1−8 in teks en prediking

“…Dieselfde geld vir 'n detail-analise van die Griekse teks en grammatika. Kommentare soos dié van Aune (1997), Bauckham (1993), Mounce (1977) en andere, kan hieroor geraadpleeg word (sien ook Du Rand 1990a:226). In 21:7 en 8 lees ons God se laaste twee uitsprake in die gedeelte.…”

“…Die christelike wêreld van die boek Openbaring, is 'n wêreld van stede, skryf Bauckham (1993Bauckham ( , loc. 2284 Parameters vir prediking oor 21:1-8 Müller (1985:11) beklemtoon dat eskatologiese prediking nie 'n 'noodoplossing' vir die vrae van die tyd is nie: 'dit is 'n wesenskenmerk van alle prediking'.…”

Radical politics and the Apocalypse: activist readings of Revelation

“…He dismisses both the approaches that see Revelation as coded future predictions and timeless spiritual symbols. Rather, he argues, we need to understand the social, political, cultural and religious resonances of its symbols (Bauckham , 19). These, he posits, are primarily Roman: and particularly the Roman empire of Nero and Domitian that was brutally persecuting Christians.…”

“…These, he posits, are primarily Roman: and particularly the Roman empire of Nero and Domitian that was brutally persecuting Christians. In Bauckham's interpretation, the strategy of Revelation, he suggests, is to create a symbolic world for its readers to enter in order to ‘redirect their imaginative response to the world’, and thereby break the bounds which Roman power and ideology set on the world (Bauckham , 129).…”

John’s Apocalypse: Dynamic word-images for a new world

“…These have not died in vain; they are truly alive, because they belong to a different realm, and are promised the obliteration of pain and suffering because the Lamb is also the good shepherd (Rv 7:15-17). Bauckham (1993) refers to the delay of their vindication:…”