Slavery in Revelation and in 21st Century
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- Category: History: Religion
- Date Submitted: 08/29/2011 10:06 AM
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SLAVERY IN REVELATION AND IN 21ST CENTURY
No other book of the bible engages the imagination of its readers while exasperating their ability to understand its meaning. Written by the apostle John, its vivid symbolic imagery all carry symbolic connotations. How can one begin to understand this book without considering “its historical context, social and religious milieu, and literary genre…its form, content, and function and so clears the way for us to hear the warning of the risen Jesus: ” It is also a book that admonish, corrects, and encourages its readers. It talks about Christian characteristics such as repentance, obedience, faithfulness, and perseverance.
LITERARY GENRES OF REVELATION
The three genres of Revelation are letter, prophecy, and apocalypse. As a circular letter, Revelation deals with concerns and problems and addresses them with prophetic wisdom and pastoral counsel. The recipients of this circular letter are the “seven churches that are in Asia and also other Christian congregations in Asia Minor.” Scholars consider the book of Revelation as apocalyptic literature, which is associated with a worldview, known as apocalypticism. “Because apocalypticism assumes conflict of cosmic dimensions, it also hopes for imminent divine intervention to deliver the faithful.” Apocalypses also tend to use symbolism or numbers, animals, and other figures that must be interpreted for the seer.
For example, water is a symbol of people, nations, tongues, and multitudes,(Rev. 17:15); Heads, Seven, on the Dragon and the Beast are symbols of forms of government (Rev, 17:10); Bride is a symbol of the true church of the living God on earth (Rev. 19:6,7: Rev. 21:9). Babylon symbolizes first-century Rome and every kind of evil or oppressive power in Revelation 17 and 18. It is also mentioned that many Christians used the word Babylon as a code word so they would not be persecuted for speaking out against the Roman Empire.
HISTORICAL CONTENT...
No other book of the bible engages the imagination of its readers while exasperating their ability to understand its meaning. Written by the apostle John, its vivid symbolic imagery all carry symbolic connotations. How can one begin to understand this book without considering “its historical context, social and religious milieu, and literary genre…its form, content, and function and so clears the way for us to hear the warning of the risen Jesus: ” It is also a book that admonish, corrects, and encourages its readers. It talks about Christian characteristics such as repentance, obedience, faithfulness, and perseverance.
LITERARY GENRES OF REVELATION
The three genres of Revelation are letter, prophecy, and apocalypse. As a circular letter, Revelation deals with concerns and problems and addresses them with prophetic wisdom and pastoral counsel. The recipients of this circular letter are the “seven churches that are in Asia and also other Christian congregations in Asia Minor.” Scholars consider the book of Revelation as apocalyptic literature, which is associated with a worldview, known as apocalypticism. “Because apocalypticism assumes conflict of cosmic dimensions, it also hopes for imminent divine intervention to deliver the faithful.” Apocalypses also tend to use symbolism or numbers, animals, and other figures that must be interpreted for the seer.
For example, water is a symbol of people, nations, tongues, and multitudes,(Rev. 17:15); Heads, Seven, on the Dragon and the Beast are symbols of forms of government (Rev, 17:10); Bride is a symbol of the true church of the living God on earth (Rev. 19:6,7: Rev. 21:9). Babylon symbolizes first-century Rome and every kind of evil or oppressive power in Revelation 17 and 18. It is also mentioned that many Christians used the word Babylon as a code word so they would not be persecuted for speaking out against the Roman Empire.
HISTORICAL CONTENT...