Genres in the Book of Revelation - Essay Example

Explain the three different Genre (type or style of literature) in the book of Revelation and give an example fromthe text for each Genre. (B) Explain why understanding of the Genre is so important in grasping the meaning of God's word. (C) How can you make some practical application for EACH of these Genres in Revelation for your life today?  There emerged three literary genres for the book of Revelation namely -- epistolary, apocalyptic, and prophetic. By the Greek Septuagint, the author made use of some 348 allusions or indirect quotes which are derived from 24 canonized books of the Hebrew Bible, chiefly through Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel and Psalms. Considering the apocalyptic approach, there exists no clear proof that the author had found basis on non-canonical Jewish apocalyptic literature despite the efforts of comparison made between the Book of Revelation and non-biblical Jewish writings within the span 200 BC to AD 200. Revelation evidently utilizes symbolism and visions with surreal imagery of beasts and angelic mediators, declares divine judgment, emphasizes the kingdom of God, prophesies a new heavens and a new earth, and consists of a dualism of ages. On exhibiting the text’s prophetic attribute, however, the author of Revelation uses the words: ‘prophecy’, ‘prophesy’, ‘prophesying’, ‘prophet’, and ‘prophets’ which are mentioned twenty-one times interchangeably throughout the book. Taking genre into account is essential in understanding God’s word since the style of writing and objective reflected in each genre indicates how the intended subject of a portion in Scripture must be discerned. To be able to grasp the meaning of God’s word, the genre provides context to the reader so as to guide one about which perspective to look at during the process of interpretation. Through a prophetic genre, for instance, the life or the prophet’s way of living as well as his wisdom and God-given potentials would serve as means by which God reveals a particular message which via prophet is normally figurative. The prophet’s response to this revelation as conveyed to the reader becomes the unconscious act of decoding the symbolism attached with the message. In effect, the reading individual manages to contemplate as the prophet does on God’s word as the former tends to designate himself within the prophet’s line of thought which eventually directs one to follow the divine information with ease. Knowing that the Book of Revelation is also detailed in an apocalyptic manner, it concerns me to ponder deeply on the fate of mankind once the world meets its end. I know that everything on earth is perishable so as one major practical application of this book in terms of its apocalyptical substance, I would treat each day or moment as if it were the last in order that I could make the most of it by encouraging myself initially to be happy then sharing this happiness to the people within my circle of influence that they may find ease in dealing with life’s ordeals and possibly understand what love means exactly through joyfulness. This way, there emerges a high chance of being led towards righteousness without fear of the mysterious end. (2) Galatians 4:4-5 states “But, when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.”  During this time, the culture is significantly bound by the rules or discipline imposed via the law which men created for themselves. Under these circumstances, Galatians 4:4-5 statement alludes the fact that since it is God’s ultimate desire to reach out to his creation and make his love known to men for the sake of salvation, by virtue of humility, He acknowledged having the design of Incarnation to be within the confines of human functions and regulations. In this manner, men had been able to obtain knowledge of God and faith with convenience at the time for it is in the comfort of their system that inquiries of God through Christ were brought up. Toward that Incarnation everything moved until its accomplishment, finding therein fulfillment and explanation. The messages of the prophets and seers and the songs of the psalmists trembled with more or less certainty toward the final music which announced the coming of Christ. All the results also of the hints and broken messages of the past led toward the Incarnation.  Personally, if Christ maintained his divine nature or if the Father did not initially will for him to be made of flesh while in the world, I don’t think that human beings would find the capacity to relate to the plan which God has always communicated with them as His children. The plan of eternal communion might come more than difficult to comprehend since a godly entity possesses characteristics that are extremely far from those of a man and it is primarily the man’s weakness that distinguishes him from God so if no Incarnation were made possible for Jesus, not only would I fail to understand God’s love but also lose the privilege of salvation which compensates for the wages of sin since Christ in this case may not necessarily undergo crucifixion to redeem us from death. (3) A friend asks you how to receive eternal life and what difference that would make in life? (A) How did you come to receive eternal life? (Describe the situation). (B) From the book of Ephesians, describe to your friend how he/she can receive eternal life. (C) From the book of Ephesians, describe to your friend the benefits of receiving eternal life. I would tell my friend that I came to receive eternal life by receiving Christ in my life and accepting him as my savior. In the first place, it had not been easy to go through the steps of turning away from the habit of weakness but with the help of God’s follower who shared with me the remarkable fruits of his faith, I became gradually convinced to study the Holy Scripture and was enlightened to discover that it is only through following Christ and carrying one’s own cross that training in faith is acquired. By such an endeavor with the aid and belief of God’s grace, I have managed to live righteously and learned to combat temptations, continuously believing that in the end, an eternal life with God would make an immense reward that puts cessation to all of man’s sufferings in the world. According to Ephesians 5:1-2 -- “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Through this passage, I would seek to relieve my friend an understanding that humans ought to get rid of the misconception that they must settle obligations to be saved since this mission had already been done by Christ himself. So all that needs to be carried out at present is to establish faith in this truth, believe that it works all the time, and one may respond to yield at eternal life by being a true child of God who radiates love and shares the same faith that followers of God who are later destined to inherit His kingdom may increase in number. In his prayer for the Ephesians, Paul stated: “And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:17-19).” Such declaration entails how life in eternity can be imagined if one abounds in love which is greater than knowledge. Hence, a rewarding spiritual experience thereafter would be the unparalleled joy in the presence of love and since this benefit is not tangible by nature, its immaterial composition shields it from being snatched away as it fills the heart with wonders, gradually discerning God’s unconditional love. (4) The Jewish culture of the 1st century contained many sects/groups of religious leaders. (A) Identify and describe THREE of these sects/groups. (B) Explain how each of the sects/groups hindered the Jewish people from recognizing the Messiah. (C) Are there elements of these hindrances in our culture today? Explain.  Three of the Jewish sects comprising of the first century are the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the Zealots. As a politico-religious sect or faction among the adherents of later Judaism, Pharisees are known to have maintained the principle that afterlife exists and in this dimension, God is merely seen as a God of justice who provides punishment for the wicked and great rewards for the righteous. Sadducees, on the other hand, refer to another politico-religious sect of the Jews during the late post-Exile and New-Testament period with their name derived from the High Priest Zadok. They represent views and customs of the Law, interests of Temple, and priesthood distinct from those of the Pharisees in a manner that was also more political than religious in trait. Zealots, however, are a Jewish sect noted for their fervent stance against the paganism and polytheism of Romans. They had been aggressively determined to uphold both the national and religious living for the Jews that they reached the extent of condemning fellow Jews who attempted to come in peaceful terms with the Roman officials. To prevent the people from recognizing the messiah, the Pharisees either kept on finding fault at Jesus’ ways or testing him of his knowledge about the law hoping that he would not be able to justify himself. At one instance, some of the Pharisees said, “This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath (John 9:16).” Similarly, the Sadducees who did not believe in the resurrection came to interrupt Jesus in his ministry to embarrass him in the public seeking the chance for the listening crowd to change their minds and turn away from him. One time, these Sadducees asked Jesus a tricky question: “Are there married people in heaven?” to which Jesus replied “At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven (Matthew 22:30)” knowing of their evil intention for Jesus to be caught off guard or have the disciples perceive flaws in his teachings. In modern times as of current, elements of hindrances as such still prevail among various religious organizations, besides Jewish groups, that testify against Christianity. A Presbyterian church minister Peter Leithart, for instance, wrote a particular book where he expressed opposition to privatization of Christian faith. (5) The book of Romans (chapters 1-11) is often considered a "mini-theology" book because of the broad spectrum and detailed analysis of theological issues. (A) Select TWO of those theological issues and explain EACH one in a well developed paragraph for each issue. (B) Explain what value each of those issues selected has for your life today. (C) Identify any dimensions of each issue that are difficult to grasp that reveal the "mystery" of God (His unexplainable nature) One theological issue may be found in the discussion of the future glory: “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us...but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all (Romans 8:18, 23-24)”. Another was the point raised for being dead to sin yet alive in Christ: “For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin – because anyone who has died has been freed from sin (Romans 6:6-7).” Read More