Reflection on Revelation

Harry Dresden fights demons and werewolves. He's a character from a Jim Butcher series and is regularly in save-the-world mode. Nicodemus is an evil opponent bent on stoking the fires of destruction...and a deadly plague. When Harry asks why, Nicodemus says, "Have you read Revelation?" Harry answers that he doesn't think Nicodemus is wanting to touch off the Apocalypse. Nicodemus gives this answer:

...The Apocalypse, as you refer to it, isn't an event. At least, it isn't any specific event...Apocalypse is a frame of mind...A belief. A surrender to inevitability. It is despair for the future. It is the death of hope."

Harry's friend responds, "And in that kind of environment, there is more suffering. More pain. More desperation..."

So Harry and his friend are skeptical of the Nicodemus interpretation. And so is Marcus Borg.

My fellow Christians and I have been reading Marcus Borg's READING THE BIBLE AGAIN FOR THE FIRST TIME. His chapter on the Book of Revelation is... well, a revelation.  Borg reminded me that in my upbringing as a Catholic, the Book of Revelation was rarely preached. In the Episcopal Church, Revelation was read as part of the seasonal lectionary, but again, rarely preached. Better to ignore it than dive into the deep waters of apocalyptic interpretation. 

In his clear history of the origin and the author of the book, Borg makes a few points: 

• It was not the last book of the Bible to be written, but placed last so that the Bible, taken as a whole, gives us the story of Paradise Lost (Genesis) to Paradise Restored (Revelation).
• The Greek word apokalypsis means both apocalypse and revelation, and can refer to a genre of literature.
• Revelation would have been read aloud to the audience in a liturgical/church setting. Borg suggests reading the entire book all at once aloud, or to find a recording that will give you the audio experience.

Borg describes two ways to interpret Revelation as scripture. 

1. The "Futuristic Interpretation." Reading the book as if it contains coded messages that guide us to the end of the world sometime in the future. The interpretation has several premises:
• What is described has not yet happened.
• As the inspired Word of God, the Bible cannot be wrong.
• Therefore, what Revelation describes is in the future.
• So if this about the future, why worry about the condition of the world now; it's all going to be destroyed anyway.
2. The "Past-Historical Interpretation." This approach takes seriously that the visions in Revelation were meant for a specific time period and to a specific audience who are living in a Domination system in a specific place. There is still a message for us, not about the "end times." Some notes:
• A Domination system is a "web of political oppression, economic exploitation, and religious legitimation."
• Look at the systems under which we live, watch for signs of an arising or present Domination system (a "Beast" as named in Revelation), and understand that God is Lord, not any leader of an earthly government. 
• If a Domination system is arising and/or present, keep the faith as taught by Jesus, and don't give up hope; the future will be better.
• John's message is much like that of the entire Bible:
• "radical affirmation of the sovereignty and justice of God"; and
• "radical criticism of an oppressive domination system pretending to be the will of God."

Hm-m-m. Sounding vaguely familiar. Strange times we live in.

I encourage you to get a copy of Borg's book, not just for Revelation, but also for all his other well-written and inciteful introductions. They've really been a revelation for me, and I hope his work supports you in your spiritual journey. 

Read the Bible again-- For the First Time. 

Any comments about your study of the Book of Revelation? What have you learned?

Blessings on your study!