REVELATION (APOCALYPSE OF JOHN) - In-Class Questions for Discussion and Reading Guide

Quotes about Revelation:

"The Apocalypse of John has as many secrets as words." - Jerome, Ep. LXXX.9

"My spirit cannot accommodate itself to the book [Revelation].   For me this is reason enough not to think highly of it; Christ is neither taught nor known in it."  -- Luther in "Preface to the Revelation of  St. John," Luther’s Works, Vol. 35, trans. C.M. Jacobs and E. T. Bachman (Philadelphia:  Fortress, 1960) 399.  Later in his life Luther came to have more appreciation for Revelation.

"Revelation shows us beyond doubt that the New Testament is concerned, not merely with human existence, but at the same time with world history. It, therefore, asks everywhere: Whose is the world?" Ernst Käsemann, Jesus Means Freedom, p. 133

". . . any detailed analysis of the book of Revelation is somewhat arbitrary and in a sense a denial of its very quality as a literary text. An apocalyptic work seeks to stun its readers by the power of its vision so that the reader loses his fear of the present and is caught up in the hope for the future it presents." - Norman Perrin, The New Testament: An Introduction, p. 82

Please read Barr and Rev. 1-11. You may also wish to visit the Revelation website of Felix Just for Art, Images, Music, and Materials related to the Book of Revelation : http://catholic-resources.org/Bible/Revelation.htm

For various outlines of Revelation see: http://catholic-resources.org/Bible/Revelation_Outlines.htm

We will discuss the following questions in class.

1. What are the three basic strategies for interpreting Revelation that Barr discuses on pp. 430-33. Complete your survey with a description of Barr’s approach described on pp. 433-34. What do you see as the strengths and weaknesses of the various approaches?

2. Pretend you have to explain to a friend what apocalyptic is all about. What would you tell him or her based primarily on Revelation 1-11 and pp. 434-36, 438-39 in Barr, but drawing on our previous work on I Thessalonians, Daniel 7, and Mark 13 (and its parallels in Mt. 24-25 and Luke 21)? See also Barr, pp. 90-92 and 287-88.

3. The first part of Revelation involves an opening address and letters to the seven churches (1:1-3:22). What pattern does each letter involve? What points do these letters make? See Barr, 449-51.

4. One of the most famous passages in Revelation is the seven seals of 6:1-8:2. This passage includes the four horseman and the 144,000 marked with the seal and the redeemed from every nation before the throne. What do the first four seals, i.e., the horses and horsemen, apparently represent? See Barr, 402-403 and Zechariah 1:8-11 and 6:1-7 from the Hebrew Bible. The fifth seal (Rev. 6:9-11)? The sixth seal (Rev. 6:12-17)? The seventh seal 8:1f? What unfolds in the intercalated vision of Chapter 7?

5.  What do each of the seven trumpets signify in 8:6-11:19? What are the key points made in the two interludes of 10:1-11 and 11:1-13?

Part Two. Please read Barr  and Revelation 12-22. Consider the following:

1. Describe the characteristics of the three basic strategies for interpreting Revelation that Barr discuses on pp. . Complete your survey with a description of Barr’s approach described on pp. . What do you see as the strengths and weaknesses of the various approaches now that you have read the entire book?

2.  What are the key events and symbols in Chapters 12-14?  What is the significance of these events and symbols? Who is the woman pursued? What is going on with Eve/Israel/Messiah/Christ in Chapter 12? With Satan/Rome in Chapter 13? With the Lamb and judgement in Chapter 14?

3. Choose one of the dramatic scenes from Revelation 12-22. Unpack the symbolism and imagery involved relying on Barr and the annotations in the Oxford Annotated. What would the overall message of the scene have been for a first or early second century Christian audience?

4. Trace the use of symbols related to Rome throughout Revelation. Describe the perspective of Revelation on dominant social and political structures.

5. Trace the use of female figures throughout Revelation. How are various females portrayed? In the closing chapters, explore how male and female gender plays a role.

6. Barr argues that Revelation transforms images of violence into "images of faithful suffering" (465-66 ). Describe at least two passages that illustrate his thesis. Are there any passages in which violence is elevated or promoted? What are the pluses and minuses of Revelation’s use of images of violence and suffering in your view?

7. There are many works of  art, music, philosophy, music, and literature that Revelation has strongly influenced.  (You may wish to visit the Revelation website of Felix Just for Art, Images, Music, and Materials related to the Book of Revelation at http://catholic-resources.org/Bible/Revelation.htm or "XBox Apocalypse: Video Games and Revelatory Literature" by Rachel Wagner at http://www.sbl-site.org/publications/article.aspx?articleId=848)  What works stand out for you in this regard?   Be specific about the connections drawn between the biblical text and the work. Why were the themes, images, etc. taken up? Are there any parallels between the original cultural context of Revelation and that of the work in question?