Die geweldsoptrede in Openbaring herinner baie aan die tyd van Dawid en dit laat die vraag ontstaan of die ‘regering in liefde’ soos dit in die res van die Nuwe Testament verkondig word, nou plek maak vir ‘geweldsregering’. In hierdie artikel word die antwoord gesoek in die apokaliptiese taal en styl (oortreffende vergelykingstrappe en skerp teenstellings) en in die omraming deur God as die Alfa en die Omega, op wie die hele fokus gerig is en wat alles integreer. Daar word ondersoek hoe dit God se regverdigheid en genade raak en watter rol Dawid in God se koningsheerskappy speel, in die lig van sy verbinding met Christus as die Leeu en die Lam. Aandag word geskenk aan Dawid as koning, as voorbeeldige gelowige en tog sondige mens en aan die betekenis van berou en bekering en ’n persoonlike verhouding met God. Die bevinding is dat die verbandlegging met Dawid ’n verlange vertolk na ’n integrasie van geregtigheid en liefde wat in Dawid skaduagtig was en ten volle tot vervulling kom in die wonder van God in Jesus Christus se lewe, sterwe, opstanding en wederkoms. Openbaring is ’n teken van God se genade deur die ernstige en onophoudelike waarskuwing en oproep tot geloofsvolharding en bekering. Tegelykertyd is dit ’n uitnodiging om na Hom te kom omdat daar net deur en by Hom, die lewende en persoonlike God, lewe is. Buite Hom is daar net disintegrasie.The violence in Revelation resembles much of the violence in the time of David, and this raises the question whether the ‘loving rule’ as proclaimed in the rest of the New Testament gives way to ‘violent rule’. In this article the answer is sought in the apocalyptic language and style of the book (superlatives, sharp contrasts), and in the framing of God as the Alpha and the Omega on Whom everything is focused and Who integrates all. The research investigates how this affects God’s justice and his mercy, and what role David plays in God’s kingly rule, in view of him being linked to Christ as the Lion and the Lamb. The investigation pays attention to David as king, as exemplary believer and yet sinful human, and to the significance of repentance and conversion and a personal relationship with God. It is found that the link to David gives expression to a longing for an integration of righteousness and love, which was shadowy in David and comes to fulfilment in the wonder of God in Jesus Christ’s life, death, resurrection and second coming. The book Revelation is a token of God’s grace, by being a serious and ceaseless warning and call to perseverance in faith and to conversion. Simultaniously it is an invitation to come to Him, because only through and with Him, the living One and personal God, there is life. Outside Him there is only disintegration.
Being an Authentic Christian: an Analysis Based on The Philosophy of Søren Kierkegaard
