God's Character

You are here: Home

Revelation

Revelation 8-9: The Seven Trumpets

Details: Created on Tuesday, 09 April 2013 12:43

Most interpreters of Revelation see the seven trumpets as God’s retributive punishment on rebellious sinners to satisfy his justice. This view, however, seems to miss entirely the elephant in the room – the cosmic opponent that is the entire focus of the trumpet sequence.

The seven seals, trumpets and bowls of Revelation revolve around chapters 12-14, the heart of the book which describes the “war in heaven” (12:7) and the dragon who “dragged a third of the stars out of the sky and threw them down to the earth” (12:4). His activities that follow on earth are terrifying, “how terrible for the earth and the sea! For the Devil has come down to you with great wrath…” (12:12). Satan “…began to pursue the woman…from his mouth the dragon poured out a flood of water after the woman…the dragon was furious with the woman…” (12:13-17).

Satan’s method of operation primarily involves character (name) assassination, “The beast was allowed to make proud claims which were insulting to God….It began to curse God, his name, the place where he lives, and all those who live in heaven” (Revelation 13:5,6).

The Ending of Endings: Silence in Heaven

Details: Created on Monday, 02 May 2011 11:53

Sixty-three is not a number worth remembering, but it will be the number that brings to completion our study of Revelation (63 times). Counting the breaks we have had, the journey has taken more than two years. I am happy that there seems to be an interest in doing a few more sessions on 'cosmic conflict' theology. These sessions will include John Milton and Paradise Lost and the defense of the cosmic conflict perspective in the Early Church. But the upcoming topic will be Revelation, the Ending (sing.) and the Endings (pl.). This book is up to many things. Is it up to one thing more than others?

Blessings, Sigve T.

The Message of the Bible in one Word

Details: Created on Saturday, 30 April 2011 11:53

We are now ready for the epilogue of the book. I would also like to give you an assignment, or take an opinion poll if you like: How do we take stock of the ending (sing.) and the endings (plural) of Revelation? Which is the most important ending in your view?

Blessings, Sigve T.

Revelation 22: The Healing River

Details: Created on Tuesday, 19 April 2011 11:53

Revelation 22, the last chapter of Revelation (and of the Bible) is upon us. Two images will dominate our discussion of the first few verses of Revelation 22, the healing river and the notion of 'the healing of the nations.' These images harness the most hopeful and compelling images of healing in the Old Testament.

Blessings, Sigve T.

More Than Paradise Regained

Details: Created on Tuesday, 05 April 2011 11:53

Revelation is a book of good news - more so in times of crisis and bad news. It has unequalled explanatory power for the bad news, and it provides a horizon of hope even in the darkest hour. Such a crisis is now, at least in Japan, where it looks like the nuclear fallout may be much worse than initially feared. We have begun the last leg of the journey through Revelation, divided into three parts: (1) More Than Paradise Regained; (2) Paradise Regained; and (3) the Ending and the Endings of Revelation.

Blessings, Sigve T.

Revelation 21: The Meaning of the New City

Details: Created on Tuesday, 29 March 2011 11:53

We are now ready to embark on the ending of Revelation (chs. 21-22). Borrowing Milton's Paradise Lost/Paradise Regained terminology, I plan to approach the ending under three headings: (1) More Than Paradise Regained. (2) Paradise Regained. (3) The ending (singular) and the endings (plural) of Revelation. We will begin # 1 of these three aspects during this session.

Blessings, Sigve T.

Nietzsche's Critique of Christianity

Details: Created on Friday, 18 March 2011 11:53

We are at the gates of Paradise, so to speak. As I said last time, there should be no further delay with respect to entering (chapters 21 and 22). Nevertheless, while I am eager to get there, some very important questions have arisen that are best addressed now rather than later. I trust that these 'clarifications' will be worth it, and I don't think our progress will be significantly delayed.

Blessings, Sigve T.

Revelation 20: Timeline and Plot Retrospective

Details: Created on Monday, 14 March 2011 11:53

The end is upon us, if not in an absolute sense then in the sense the we are nearing the end of Revelation. Before we turn to the restoration of all things and Revelation's vision of healing (chapters 21 and 22), I would like to try a retrospective that is meant to be clarifying. Clarifications come with a risk, so we'll see what happens. I am proposing to explore three specific clarifications: timeline, key concepts, and the plot. As noted earlier, it will be helpful to have read chapters 21 and 22 by now even though our retrospective is primarily through chapter 20.

Blessings, Sigve T.

Revelation 20: The Great White Throne

Details: Created on Tuesday, 08 March 2011 11:53

Revelation's depiction of the end of the cosmic conflict tests the human imagination to the limit. Many questions are likely to remain even when we have done our best. If I were to search for an analogy, albeit an imperfect one, the current events in Libya might be a case in point: a leader who is determined to hang on even if it means that his country goes down in flames. The Libyan leader, too, uses propaganda and deception as his main weapons. These weapons no longer have the traction they once had. Let me say once more that the priority of our present reading of Revelation is theology (and not a map of future events). Values, not events, are the main concern in this book. What can we now say of its values?

Blessings, Sigve T.

Revelation 20: How is Satan Destroyed?

Details: Created on Friday, 25 February 2011 11:53

There is plenty to be surprised about in Revelation 20. Our text speaks of the end of the cosmic conflict. How, exactly, in minute detail, up close and personal, does the cosmic conflict end? That's the topic of Revelation 20 and of our study.

Blessings, Sigve T.

The Millennium: Golden Age or Wasteland?

Details: Created on Sunday, 20 February 2011 11:53

We are still trying to answer several puzzling questions in Revelation 20. Precisely how is Satan bound for the 1,000 years? And especially, why is there an apparent necessity involved in his release? To answer these questions, we need to consider the millennium, which separates the binding of Satan and the first resurrection from the release of Satan and the second resurrection

Blessings, Sigve T.

Revelation 20: Why 'must' Satan be let out?

Details: Created on Wednesday, 02 February 2011 11:53

Where were we? Interruptions take a toll on momentum, but in the Revelation class we are ready to start chapter 20, the chapter that will test and sometimes poke fun at many of the story lines that have been tried. Will our story line survive Revelation 20?

Blessings, Sigve T.

More Articles...