Creation and New Creation in the Book of Revelation

2020 ◽  
pp. 255-273
Author(s):  
Mark B. Stephens
Keyword(s):  
Critical Distance ◽  
Book Of Revelation ◽  
New Creation ◽  
The One ◽  
Prophetic Witness

The topics of creation and new creation are central to the persuasive strategy of Revelation. Addressing itself to a context in which cosmology was often deployed to buttress Roman hegemony, Revelation constructs a “counter-cosmos” to undermine Rome’s pretentious claims to sovereignty. Within this narrative world God is worshipped because he is both the maker of all things and the one who makes all things new. Revelation’s frequent portrayals of cosmic turmoil and catastrophe function to undermine Rome’s claim to secure existence, but the ultimate hope is that creation will be renewed by means of a transference of sovereignty, where the divine reign displaces the corrupted rule of Babylon. Such hopes ultimately serve John’s wider pastoral goals, in which he is seeking for Asian Christians to foster critical distance from their surrounding culture, and so form them for prophetic witness to the nations.

scholarly journals Not One World but Two. The Future in Jewish Apocalyptic Literature

Religions ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 233
Author(s):  
John Collins
Keyword(s):  
First Century ◽  
Hellenistic Period ◽  
Apocalyptic Literature ◽  
Book Of Revelation ◽  
Western History ◽  
New Creation ◽  
The Future ◽  
The New Testament ◽  
The One ◽  
Common Era

The Jewish apocalyptic literature that first appears in the Hellenistic period and continues into the Common Era developed a radically novel view of the future. As formulated in the apocalypse of 4 Ezra about the end of the first century CE, the Most High created not one world but two. This world must be utterly destroyed and replaced by a new creation. This view of the future is inherited in the New Testament, most strikingly in the Book of Revelation. It would have enormous but ambivalent implications for western history. On the one hand, it threatened to undermine the importance of working for a better life in this world. On the other hand, it offered hope to those who would otherwise have no hope at all.

scholarly journals „Es war kein Job, es war eine Berufung“ – Gouvernementale Führung, fragmentierte Subjekte und <i>contre-conduite</i> in der nichtstaatlichen Entwicklungspraxis

2019 ◽  
Vol 74 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-181
Author(s):  
Kirsten Linnemann
Keyword(s):  
Critical Distance ◽  
The Self ◽  
The Other ◽  
Self And Other ◽  
Development Professionals ◽  
Western Values ◽  
The One ◽  
And Shifts ◽  
Good Cause ◽  
Development Practice

Abstract. With their donation appeals aid organisations procure a polarised worldview of the self and other into our everyday lives and feed on discourses of “development” and “neediness”. This study investigates how the discourse of “development” is embedded in the subjectivities of “development” professionals. By approaching the topic from a governmentality perspective, the paper illustrates how “development” is (re-)produced through internalised Western values and powerful mechanisms of self-conduct. Meanwhile, this form of self-conduct, which is related to a “good cause”, also gives rise to doubts regarding the work, as well as fragmentations and shifts of identity. On the one hand, the paper outlines various coping strategies used by development professionals to maintain a coherent narrative about the self. On the other hand, it also shows how doubts and fragmentations of identity can generate a critical distance to “development” practice, providing a space for resistant and transformative practice in the sense of Foucauldian counter-conduct.

scholarly journals Beeldspraak over oorlog en schepping, geweld en geweldloosheid in de Openbaring van Johannes

2008 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Decock
Keyword(s):  
Image Of God ◽  
Divine Power ◽  
New Creation ◽  
Divine Warrior ◽  
The World ◽  
Prophetic Witness ◽  
The Image Of God

Images of war and creation, violence and non-violence in the Revelation of John Much of the violent imagery of Revelation can be seen as inspired by the image of God as the Divine Warrior who will overcome the chaotic forces threatening creation and who will bring creation to its fulfillment. This violence is reserved for God and the exalted Jesus although the prophetic ministry of churches shares to some extent in this divine power and even in its violence (11:5-6). However, human victory is won through worship of God instead of worship of Satan and the Beast, and through prophetic witness unto death in order to bring the inhabitants of the world to repentance and so to overcome sin that destroys creation. This human victory is made possible by the “blood of Jesus” and requires that his followers persevere in the works of Jesus to the end (2:26) in order to share in the new creation of which Jesus is God’s agent from the beginning (3:14).

scholarly journals Cosmology in the book of Revelation

2013 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gert J.C. Jordaan
Keyword(s):  
Physical Space ◽  
Book Of Revelation ◽  
New Creation ◽  
Spatial Sense ◽  
The Earth ◽  
The Church

The cosmology of the book of Revelation mainly involves God’s restored reign over the created universe (κόσμος). Throughout the book, the κόσμος is depicted according to its constituent parts, namelyheaven, sea and earth. At first sight, this threefold description seems to stem from the ancient Jewish and mythological three-storied cosmological view of ‘up-above’, ‘here-below’ and ‘down-under’. However, this correspondence proves to be only superficial. Heaven is used by John not as much in spatial sense as in temporal sense: as symbolic reference to a divine point above time and history. Heaven is also a qualitative reference to a situation of complete obedient worship to God. Earth in John’s visions is mostly used as metaphor for sinful mankind under the rule of Satan. Yet, the earth remains part of God’s creation under his divine authority, and even becomes a refuge for the church in this dispensation. The sea in Revelation, when not denoting a physical space, is often equated by scholars to the abyss or the underworld. However, in Revelation the sea is mostly used as metaphor for the basic evil from which the beast originates and of everything immoral and impure. The last chapters of Revelation reveal that in the eschaton heaven, sea and earth will all be part of the new creation − renewed to the point where God’s reign is restored and acknowledged above all doubt throughout the κόσμος.Kosmologie in die boek van Openbaring. Die kosmologie van Openbaring getuig van God se herstelde regering oor die geskape heelal (κόσμος). Regdeur die boek word die κόσμος volgens sy samestellende dele beskryf, naamlik hemel, see en aarde. Oppervlakkig beskou, lyk hierdie beskrywing na die antieke Joodse en mitologiese drie-verdieping-kosmologie van ‘daar bo’, ‘hier onder’ en ‘daar onder’. Hierdie ooreenkoms is egter slegs oppervlakkig. Hemel word deur Johannes nie soseer in ruimtelike sin gebruik nie, maar in temporele sin: as simboliese verwysing dat God bo tyd en geskiedenis verhewe is. Hemel is ook ’n kwalitatiewe verwysing na ’n toestand van volmaakte gehoorsame aanbidding van God. Desgelyks word aarde meestal gebruik as metafoor vir ’n sondige mensdom onder Satan se heerskappy. Tog bly die aarde deel van God se skepping onder sy goddelike heerskappy, en word dit selfs aangetoon as ’n toevlugsoord vir die kerk in hierdie bedeling. Waar die see in Openbaring nie na ’n fisiese verskynsel verwys nie, word dit dikwels deur biblioloë op gelyke vlak met die diep put of die onderwêreld gestel. Johannes gebruik die see egter meestal as metafoor vir die boosheid waaruit die dier sy oorsprong het, asook vir alles wat sondig en onrein is. Openbaring 21 en 22 maak bekend dat hemel, see en aarde in die eschatondeel sal wees van die nuwe skepping − vernuwe tot op die punt waar God se heerskappy herstel is en erken word regdeur die κόσμος.

scholarly journals SUBVERSION AND THE DOUBLE VOICE IN LILLIAN SMITH AND KATHERINE DUPRE LUMPKIN

2021 ◽  
pp. 185-196
Author(s):  
Christopher George
Keyword(s):  
Critical Distance ◽  
Lost Cause ◽  
Social Discourse ◽  
Race And Gender ◽  
Lillian Smith ◽  
History Of ◽  
And Gender ◽  
The One ◽  
Double Voice ◽  
History Of The South

Lillian Smith and Katharine Du Pre Lumpkin provide a subversive framework for the history of the South through the genre of autobiography. This paper will explore how both authors use a double voice to articulate their confrontation with the Lost Cause. On the one hand, the child protagonist is a Southerner and therefore an insider and participant, while on the other hand, the adult protagonist subverts the dominant social discourse thanks to a critical distance which is both physical and psychological. Smith and Lumpkin use autobiography to challenge tradition, hence subverting the central roles of race and gender.

scholarly journals Rekontruksi Nilai-Nilai Konsep Tritangtu Sunda Sebagai Metode Penciptaan Teater Ke Dalam Bentuk Teater Kontemporer

2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 114
Author(s):  
Tatang Rusmana
Keyword(s):  
19Th Century ◽  
Reception Theory ◽  
Correct Interpretation ◽  
New Creation ◽  
Mise En Scene ◽  
The World ◽  
New Form ◽  
Life Philosophy ◽  
Contemporary Theater ◽  
The One

Konsep filosofi Tritangtu Sunda, sebagai falsafah hidup masyarakat Sunda di Kabupaten Bandung. memiliki tiga makna penting tentang pembagian dunia, tiga dunia itu yakni Buana Nyungcung (Dunia Atas, simbolnya; Langit, Air, dan Perempuan), Buana Larang (Dunia Bawah, simbolnya; Bumi, Tanah, dan Laki-laki), dan Buana Pancatengah (Dunia Tengah, simbolnya; Batu, Manusia, Laki-laki dan Perempuan). Tritangtu Sunda merupakan perspektif penyatuan tiga dunia dalam kehidupan masyarakat petani. Penyatuan tersebut yaitu perkawinan Buana Nyungcung dengan Buana Larang, dan Buana Pancatengah-lah yang menyatukannya. Konsep Tritangtu Sunda berpengaruh terhadap seni tutur Wawacan yang lazim ditampilkan ke dalam Seni Beluk. Wawacan inilah yang ikut membentuk pikiran kolektif masyarakat Sunda. Wawacan yang menjadi sumber penelitian disertasi ini adalah “Wawacan Nata Sukma” yang ditulis anonim oleh masyarakat Banjaran, Kabupaten Bandung tahun 1833 M (abad ke-19) dalam masa “tanam paksa” untuk menanam kopi di Pangalengan. Tritangtu Sunda  akan difungsikan sebagai perangkat penciptaan seni teater berbasis teater kontemporer (terutama penyutradaraan). Penelitian menggunakan penajaman teori resepsi Isser, untuk mengaktualisasikan karya dengan cara yang berbeda, karena tidak ada tafsir tunggal yang benar (Culler, 2003). Pendekatan lain pendapat George Land dari teori transformasi, diartikan sebagai sebuah kreasi baru atau perubahan ke bentuk yang baru baik secara fungsi maupun strukturnya. “To transform”, berarti mengkreasikan yang baru yang belum pernah ada sebelumnya, transformasi juga bisa berarti perubahan “polapikir”. Perangkat penelitian menggunakan metoda yang disarankan Schechner (2002 dan 2004) dan metode mise en scene yang dirumuskan oleh Patrice Pavis. The concept of the Sunda Tritangtu philosophy, is the life philosophy of the Sundanese community including in Bandung regency. Derived from this philosophy are three important meanings of the division of the world, the three worlds are Buana Nyungcung (Upper  world, its symbols: Heavens, Water, and Woman), Buana Larang (Underworld, symbols; Earth, Land and Man), and Buana Pancatengah (Middle world, symbol: Stone, Man, Man and Woman). The Sundanese Tritangtu is the perspective of the unification of the three aforementioned worlds in peasant life. The union is the marriage of Buana Nyungcung with Buana Larang, and Buana Pancatengah is the one that unites it. The concept of the Sundanese Tritangtu influences the art of Wawacan speech that is commonly integrated into the art of Beluk. Wawacan is a contributing factor in what helped shape the collective minds of the Sundanese people. Wawacan, which is the source of this dissertation research, is "Wawacan Nata Sukma”, written anonymously by Banjaran society, Regency of Bandung in 1833 AD (19th century) during "Cultuurstelsel" to grow coffee in Pangalengan. Sunda Tritangtu functions as a tool for the creation of theater based contemporary theater modalities (especially directing). This research uses Isser's reception theory, to actualize the work in different ways. There is no single correct interpretation (Culler, 2003). Another approach of George Land's opinion of the theory of transformation, defined as a new creation or change to a new form both in function and structure. "To transform", means creating a new one that has never existed before, transformation can also mean a change of "mindset". The research used Schechner's method (2004 and 2004) and the mise en scene method formulated by Patrice Pavis.

The Interpretation of the Book of Revelation in Early Christianity

2020 ◽  
pp. 393-411
Author(s):  
Charles E. Hill
Keyword(s):  
Early Christianity ◽  
Fourth Century ◽  
The Other ◽  
Third Century ◽  
Book Of Revelation ◽  
Roman World ◽  
The One

This chapter attempts an overview of the use and interpretation of the book of Revelation up to the end of the fourth century. Revelation’s first readers shared with its author a marginalized status in the Roman world and naturally tended to interpret its images, which spoke to them of both their current and future situations, in the light of present circumstances. Chiliast and non-chiliast approaches to Revelation’s eschatology emerged early, as interpreters sought to steer a path between Jewish messianic expectation on the one side, and anti-creational, dualizing heresy on the other. By the late second and early third century, writers were explicitly debating the hermeneutical methods appropriate to the exposition of Revelation and other prophetic Scriptures. Victorinus of Pettau (late third century) published the first known commentary on the book, but it is the ecclesiastically centered commentary of Tyconius that sets the stage for medieval exegesis.

Indian Christian Theology—The Humanity of Christ and the New Humanity

1978 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 319-333
Author(s):  
Frank Whaling
Keyword(s):  
The Other ◽  
Christian Theology ◽  
Spiritual Life ◽  
New Creation ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Modern Hinduism ◽  
The One ◽  
Indian Religion

Indian Christian theology has developed in a number of different directions. As we analyse those directions we can detect two main patterns of advance. On the one hand, there is the concern with inwardness and spirituality, the interiority of the Gospel; on the other hand, there is a concern for the outward world and its future as the venue of the new creation brought into being by Christ. Both these concerns have been mirrored in modern Hinduism as it has sought to transmit to modern India the deep spirituality of classical Indian religion and also to reinterpret Hindu doctrines in the light of the context of modern India. Śri Rāmakrishna represents the first concern within modern Hinduism, and Gāndhi represents the other. Indian Christian theology has developed within a culture wherein a concern for the inwardness of one's own spiritual life and a concern for the outward development of the nation were both living issues. In ‘contextualising’ the Gospel in India, Indian Christians have naturally been influenced by both these concerns. Indian Christians have made a contribution to total Christian theology in the areas of inwardness and spirituality. Our particular concern now is to see what they have to say to us on the subject of the humanity of Christ and the new humanity that he has made possible.

scholarly journals Seven myths on crowding

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans Strasburger
Keyword(s):  
Vision Research ◽  
Critical Distance ◽  
Next Generation ◽  
Temporal Asymmetry ◽  
Crowding Distance ◽  
Visual Areas ◽  
The One

Crowding research has become a hotbed of vision research and some fundamentals are now widely agreed upon. It is highly likely that you would agree with the following statements. 1) Bouma’s Law can be sensibly stated as saying that ‘critical distance for crowding is about half the target’s eccentricity’. 2) Crowding is a peripheral phenomenon. 3) Crowding increases drastically and steadily with eccentricity (as does the minimal angle of resolution, MAR). 4) Crowding asymmetry: For the nasal-temporal asymmetry of crowding, Bouma’s (1970) paper is the one to cite. 5) The more peripheral flanker is the more important in crowding. 6) Critical crowding distance corresponds to a constant cortical distance in primary visual areas like V1. 7) Except for Bouma (1970), serious crowding research pretty much started in the 2000s. I propose the answer is ‘no!’ to most all of these questions. So should we care? I think we should, before we write the textbooks for the next generation.

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