Current Lessons from Revelation

In a post back in March [Reflection on Revelation], I shared the interpretation Marcus Borg offers for the Book of Revelation, one based in historical and cultural context, with a comment that Revelation provides some insight into domination systems in the world as illustrated by the Roman Empire over 60 years after the death of Jesus. A friend in my Christian Fellowship lent me a book of another interpretation published in 1983 which is also based firmly in historical and cultural context.

Pheme Perkins, The Book of Revelation, Collegeville Bible Commentary, New Testament 11. The Liturgical Press, Collegeville, Minnesota, 1983

This short treatise is only 87 pages long, but includes the text of Revelation at the top of each page while below, the author discusses that content. The  layout is easy to follow and the content fascinating. In his book Perkins offers this observation on how the Roman Empire presented itself in its conquered countries, and it struck me as being relevant to our situation today in the US. 

The self-glorifying and even self-divinizing inscriptions and proclamations of the imperial rulers presented the empire as beneficient. So does the literature written by those who benefited from the opportunities given by imperial expansion. We have seen that those local, civic authorities who sought favor with the empire joined the proclamation of benefits of the empire through the various cultic activities in honor of the emperor. Clearly, the local citizenry did not have a universally agreed upon assessment of the empire.[Italics mine]. Pg 57.

Our current administration and the administration of Rome offer a similar message: the imperial administration is here for the good of the people, in modern parlance, to make America great... again. Imperial Rome had no need to make itself great again, because it already was. [ASIDE: I personally feel that the US has always been great. Flawed of course, but grounded on a constitution, and a strong system of processes, law, and checks and balances that make it great.] In both cases, all of the people who have something to gain from the position of the administration join their voices to the chorus. And as in Rome, the US citizenry does not agree upon the truth in the message being propagated.  

This is where Bible study is helpful, if considered in the historical and cultural context in which it was written. The Book of Revelation was written for the Jesus sect of Jews who had by this time separated from the Jewish community and called themselves Christians. Their land was occupied by leaders who wanted to dominate the people and the land. Rome had been successful, so the underclass in Palestine felt the "boot" of imperial rule with great strength and little mercy. In the US -at this writing-, the "boot" has also struck with little compassion. In Rome, many were in such awe of the Empire that no one thought it could be beaten. The underclass of Palestine had little recourse except rebellion, mostly unsuccessful.  In the US, there are many who are working daily through the court system, on the ground with targeted groups, and through constant communcation through government channels to push back and use whatever system checks and balances are available.

Revelation reminds us that Domination is a quest that is still sought by people in any regime of any time, and it is our call, as descendents of the Jesus sect, to be attentive, and "wise as serpents [sometimes misquoted as foxes, but sends the same message] and innocent as doves" [having no self-serving agenda] (Matthew 10:16). If there is something or someone within our reach that is under threat from the harm domination can inflict, then we are called to speak up, to act, to step into the light. 

This is not easy by any means, and I have struggled with how to respond, how to prepare. But a focus on those issues within your reach and your passion will help you make wise choices while working without a self-serving agenda. A note: if your self-serving agenda includes the fact that you are one of the "targeted" and the agenda will in fact serve the good of targeted others, move forward.  To see some examples of how others have done this, watch the movies "Spotlight" about the uncovering of pedophilia in the Catholic Church, and "The Toxic Town" about mothers fighting back against the power structure that covered up toxic waste in their town. I know that here in North Carolina, our Governor and Attorney General are working as buffers while the Federal government reshapes. 

Are there other examples of people in your sphere who are working to protect rights, the rule of law, and compassion as a way of life? Share in the comments, please. I'd love to hear more. As Krista Tippett suggests (Taking in the Good) , we all need to "take in the good."

Blessings on your day.

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!

The Daily Conflict - The World or God?

I'm coming back online during Advent (perhaps I'll be able to carry on through the New Year!) because my own spiritual path is in transition. More on that as the season proceeds. I'll start with a meditation that I found in an Advent booklet published by United Church of Chapel Hill a few years ago. 

The meditation is based on Matthew 22: 15-22, the question of paying taxes. “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” The writer of the meditation feels that this is an opportunity to reflect on our own lives and ask the questions what is our obligation to God, what are our obligations to the world, and how do we choose between the two.

My reaction was to remember one of the things I've learned in reading Bishop John Spong. The Bible was written in a day in which God existed outside the world, in the sky, and humans existed separately, on the earth. So there was a divide. The world or God? Ancient image, ancient concept.

Modern concept: the Divine Spirit permeates around and through everything. Earth, heavens, people, deeds, seas. Everything. I believe that the question for me in this modern world is...how do I make the Spirit VISIBLE, how do I manifest it?  My purpose is to bring the Light out from under the bushel and place it on a lamp stand. Every choice, every action can be a Revelation of the Spirit. That revelation comes from the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23): Joy, Love, Peace, Patience (Forbearance), Generosity, Kindness (Compassion), Gentleness, Self-Control, and Faithfulness. As the United Church of Christ says, "God is still speaking". God speaks through me.

God speaks through us.

May it be so. Amen.