Thus the Book of Revelation is not to be accepted simply as an allegory which can be directly translated into other terms. It contains the author's vision of heaven and of the vindication of the Christian martyrs in the world to come but it must be understood first and foremost as a tract for the times, written to increase the hope and determination of the Church on earth in a period of disturbance and bitter persecution, and prophesying the certain downfall and destruction of the Roman imperial power.
The imagery, largely drawn from the Old Testament, especially Daniel, allows the author to allude to the enemy, Rome, under the disguise of the old enemy, Babylon;and to present the happenings of his own day, seen by their reflections in the heavens, as recapitulations or fulfillment of the great events of Israel's.
Why was apocalyptic literature written in such imagery? One reason is that these books were written in dangerous times when it was safer to hide one's message in images than to speak plainly. Moreover, the symbolism preserved an element of mystery about details of time and place. The purpose of such imagery and symbolism, however, was not to confuse but to inform and strengthen believers in the face of persecution.
REVELATION - (1) Prologue - The Letters To The Churches Of Asia - Address and greeting - The beginning of the vision - 1. Ephesus - 2. Smyrna - 3. Pergamum - 4. Thyatira - 5. Sardis - 6. Philadelphia - 7. Laodicea - Chapter 1 to 3 - (2) The Prophetic Visions - The prelude of the great day - God entrusts the future of the world to the Lamb - The Lamb breaks the seven seals - God's servants will be preserved - The rewarding of the saints - The seventh seal - The prayers of the saints bring the coming of the Great Day nearer - The first four trumpets - The fifth trumpet - The sixth trumpet - The imminence of the last punishment - The seer eats the small scroll - The two witnesses -
The seventh trumpet - The vision of the woman and the dragon - The dragon delegates his power to the beast - The false prophet as the slave of the beast - The companions of the Lamb - Angels announce the day of Judgment - The harvest and vintage of the pagans - The hymn of Moses and the Lamb - The seven bowls of plagues - Chapter 4 to 16 - (3) The Punishment Of Babylon - The famous prostitute - The symbolism of the beast and the prostitute - An angel announces the fall of Babylon - The people of God summoned away - The people of the world mourn for Babylon - Songs of victory in heaven - Chapter 17 to 19 - (4) The Destruction Of The Pagan Nations - The first battle of the End - The reign of a thousand years - The second battle of the End - The punishment of the pagans - Chapter 19 to 20 - (5) The Jerusalem Of The Future - The heavenly Jerusalem - The messianic Jerusalem - Epilogue -
In summary : An encouraging prophecy of the final days and God's ultimate triumph.
Page 46
Faith . Hope . Love - Welcome donation. Thank You. God bless.
By bank transfer/cheque deposit:
Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah
Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!
I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.
HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -
No comments:
Post a Comment