Revelation and Revelation and Human RealityHuman Reality

Session 50Session 50A-level AmphitheaterA-level Amphitheater

LLUMCLLUMCDec 11, 2010, 10:20-11:20 AMDec 11, 2010, 10:20-11:20 AM

Freedom Fallacy:Freedom Fallacy:Principle vs. ExpediencyPrinciple vs. Expediency

““While debating the issue of privacy of While debating the issue of privacy of correspondence…deputies of all correspondence…deputies of all representatives…firmly maintained that one representatives…firmly maintained that one could not govern in time of war and revolution could not govern in time of war and revolution as in time of peace ─ in other words, that the as in time of peace ─ in other words, that the rights they were proposing to grant to all rights they were proposing to grant to all citizens depended on circumstances. This citizens depended on circumstances. This was to become the doctrine of the was to become the doctrine of the revolutionary government.” revolutionary government.” (Lefebvre, p. 125)(Lefebvre, p. 125)

Freedom: Freedom: Rhetoric and RealityRhetoric and Reality

““Yet all these factions of opinion were Yet all these factions of opinion were called Liberal: Montesquieu, because he called Liberal: Montesquieu, because he was an intelligent Tory; Voltaire, because was an intelligent Tory; Voltaire, because he attacked the clergy; Turgot, as a he attacked the clergy; Turgot, as a reformer; Rousseau, as a democrat; reformer; Rousseau, as a democrat; Diderot, as a freethinker. The one thing Diderot, as a freethinker. The one thing common to them all is the disregard for common to them all is the disregard for liberty.” liberty.” (Acton, p. 243)(Acton, p. 243)

Church and Empire 1804Church and Empire 1804

Execution of Felix ManzExecution of Felix Manz

VindicationVindication

NRS NRS Revelation 19:1-2 After this I heard Revelation 19:1-2 After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, great multitude in heaven, saying, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power to our God, for his judgments are power to our God, for his judgments are true and just; he has judged the great true and just; he has judged the great whore who corrupted the earth with her whore who corrupted the earth with her fornication, and he has avenged on her fornication, and he has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”the blood of his servants.”

Recalling the ProblemRecalling the Problem NRS NRS Revelation 6:9-10 When he opened Revelation 6:9-10 When he opened

the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been souls of those who had been slaughtered for the word of God and for slaughtered for the word of God and for the testimony they had given; they cried the testimony they had given; they cried out with a loud voice, “Sovereign Lord, out with a loud voice, “Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long will it be before holy and true, how long will it be before you judge and avenge our blood on the you judge and avenge our blood on the inhabitants of the earth?”inhabitants of the earth?”

The Question The Question and the Answerand the Answer

““How long, holy and true Lord, will it be How long, holy and true Lord, will it be before you act justly and vindicate us for our before you act justly and vindicate us for our blood [shed] by those who dwell on the blood [shed] by those who dwell on the earth?”earth?” (Rev. 6:10, translation mine). (Rev. 6:10, translation mine).

““For true and righteous are his judgments, For true and righteous are his judgments, and he has judged the great whore who and he has judged the great whore who corrupted the earth with her fornication, and corrupted the earth with her fornication, and he has vindicated the blood of his servants he has vindicated the blood of his servants shed by her hand” shed by her hand” (19:2, translation mine). (19:2, translation mine).

‘‘How Long?’How Long?’ Well, How Long Was It? Well, How Long Was It?

““How long will it be How long will it be before you judge and before you judge and avenge our blood on avenge our blood on the inhabitants of the the inhabitants of the earth?” (6:10)earth?” (6:10)

““He has judged the He has judged the great whore who great whore who corrupted the earth corrupted the earth with her fornication, with her fornication, and he has avenged and he has avenged on her the blood of on her the blood of his servants” (19:2).his servants” (19:2).

‘‘How Long?’How Long?’Or Merely: ‘How?’Or Merely: ‘How?’

““How long, holy and How long, holy and true Lord, will it be true Lord, will it be before you act justly before you act justly and vindicate us for and vindicate us for our blood [shed] by our blood [shed] by those who dwell on those who dwell on the earth?”the earth?” (Rev. 6:10, (Rev. 6:10, translation mine). translation mine).

““For true and For true and righteous are his righteous are his judgments, and he judgments, and he has judged the great has judged the great whore …, and he has whore …, and he has vindicated the blood vindicated the blood of his servants shed of his servants shed by her hand” by her hand” (19:2, (19:2, translation mine). translation mine).

The Story The Story as a Line in Timeas a Line in Time

RevRev Rev Rev

5-75-7 19 19

Rev 8-18

Relief and JoyRelief and Joyin the Heavenly Councilin the Heavenly Council

1.1. The audience in chapters 5 and 19 is the The audience in chapters 5 and 19 is the same. same.

2.2. The members of the ‘internal audience’ are The members of the ‘internal audience’ are themselves ‘re-readers,’ i.e., they know in themselves ‘re-readers,’ i.e., they know in chapter 5 what we (the non-re-reader) only chapter 5 what we (the non-re-reader) only know in chapter 19.know in chapter 19.

3.3. The admiration and praise in chapter 19 is of The admiration and praise in chapter 19 is of one piece with the admiration and praise in one piece with the admiration and praise in chapter 5. chapter 5.

The Story as a Display The Story as a Display before an Audiencebefore an Audience

Rev 8-18

If the Story is a Display, If the Story is a Display, then…then…

1.1. ……the primary audience is the heavenly the primary audience is the heavenly council. council.

2.2. ……it is easier to understand the character of it is easier to understand the character of the narration, i.e. the ‘internal audience’ is the narration, i.e. the ‘internal audience’ is seeing the seeing the finishedfinished story.story.

3.3. ……the resolution of the plot is already the resolution of the plot is already known to the heavenly council in chapter 5. known to the heavenly council in chapter 5.

Who Is Talking?Who Is Talking?

Rev 19:3-4 Once more they said, Rev 19:3-4 Once more they said, “Hallelujah! The smoke goes up from “Hallelujah! The smoke goes up from her forever and ever.” And the twenty-her forever and ever.” And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who is fell down and worshiped God who is seated on the throne, saying, “Amen. seated on the throne, saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!”Hallelujah!”

Who Is Talking?Who Is Talking?

NRS NRS Revelation 19:5 And from the throne Revelation 19:5 And from the throne came a voice saying, “Praise our God, came a voice saying, “Praise our God, all you his servants, and all who fear all you his servants, and all who fear him, small and great.”him, small and great.” Cf. Rev 14:7Cf. Rev 14:7

Who Is Talking?Who Is Talking? Rev 19:6-8 Then I heard what seemed to be Rev 19:6-8 Then I heard what seemed to be

the voice of a great multitude, like the sound the voice of a great multitude, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty of many waters and like the sound of mighty thunderpeals, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the thunderpeals, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready; to her it has bride has made herself ready; to her it has been granted to be clothed with fine linen, been granted to be clothed with fine linen, bright and pure”-- for the fine linen is the bright and pure”-- for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.righteous deeds of the saints.

Audience Audience in Revelation 5 and 19 in Revelation 5 and 19

REVELATION 19REVELATION 19 the twenty-four elders the twenty-four elders

and the four living and the four living creaturescreatures

the loud voice of a the loud voice of a great multitude in great multitude in heavenheaven

voice of a great voice of a great multitudemultitude

REVELATION 5REVELATION 5 the four living the four living

creatures and the creatures and the twenty-four elderstwenty-four elders

the voice of many the voice of many angelsangels

every creature in every creature in heaven and on heaven and on earth and under the earth and under the earth and in the seaearth and in the sea

Wedding InvitationWedding Invitation

NRS NRS Revelation 19:9 And the angel said to Revelation 19:9 And the angel said to me, me,

““Write this: Blessed are those who are Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” Lamb.”

And he said to me, “These are true And he said to me, “These are true words of God.”words of God.”

The Testimony of JesusThe Testimony of Jesus

NRS NRS Revelation 19:10 Then I fell down at Revelation 19:10 Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your comrades servant with you and your comrades who hold the testimony of Jesus. who hold the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

Jesus’ Personal Jesus’ Personal TestimonyTestimony

““MartyriaMartyria ....is virtually the personal ....is virtually the personal testimony of Jesus. This is also an testimony of Jesus. This is also an attractive explanation of his name, attractive explanation of his name, logos logos tou theoutou theou, 19.13. Its eschatological , 19.13. Its eschatological pericope is not only the watershed of the pericope is not only the watershed of the book, but also the fulfilment of many of the book, but also the fulfilment of many of the allusions in Jesus’ address to the allusions in Jesus’ address to the churches.” churches.” F. Mazzaferri, “F. Mazzaferri, “Martyria Iēsou Martyria Iēsou Revisited,” Revisited,” BT BT 39 (1988), 119. 39 (1988), 119.

Jesus’ Testimony - 1Jesus’ Testimony - 1

““But the most striking feature in Rev. is the But the most striking feature in Rev. is the phrase phrase ήή αρτνρίααρτνρία (1:2, 9; 12:17; 19:10 (1:2, 9; 12:17; 19:10 twice; 20:4). The gen. is a subj. gen. In twice; 20:4). The gen. is a subj. gen. In many cases the (1:2, 9; 6:9; 20:4) or many cases the (1:2, 9; 6:9; 20:4) or (12:17) are closely related to the (12:17) are closely related to the αρτνρίααρτνρία, , so that we have a twofold expression.” so that we have a twofold expression.”

Jesus’ Testimony - 2Jesus’ Testimony - 2

““The combination is not to be construed as The combination is not to be construed as referring to the OT on the one hand and the referring to the OT on the one hand and the Christian message on the other. We have Christian message on the other. We have rather a “plerophoric expression for the rather a “plerophoric expression for the Christian revelation in general.” The Word Christian revelation in general.” The Word of God and the witness of Jesus Christ are of God and the witness of Jesus Christ are inseparably interwoven.” (TDNT, p 500)inseparably interwoven.” (TDNT, p 500)

Having Jesus’ TestimonyHaving Jesus’ Testimony ““I am a fellow servant with you and your I am a fellow servant with you and your

brothers who are in possession of brothers who are in possession of Jesus' testimony.” Jesus' testimony.”

For Jesus' testimony is the spirit of the For Jesus' testimony is the spirit of the prophecy, that is to say, the testimony prophecy, that is to say, the testimony that Jesus gave is the sum and that Jesus gave is the sum and substance, the gist and the meaning of substance, the gist and the meaning of the gift of prophecy the gift of prophecy (19:10, translation (19:10, translation mine). mine).

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January 8, 2011January 8, 2011 Topic: Revelation 19Topic: Revelation 19 Starting at 10:30 AMStarting at 10:30 AM