The Violence of the Lamb: Martyrs as Agents of Divine Judgement in the Book of Revelation

Description

This is the second of two volumes that investigate the phenomenon of composite citations. The first collection of essays evaluated the use of composite citations in Early Jewish, Graeco-Roman, and Early Christian authors. This volume builds on the findings of the first and provides a fresh investigation of all the composite citations by New Testament authors. The following topics are covered: (1) the question of whether the quoting author created the composite text or found it already constructed as such; (2) the question of the rhetorical and/or literary impact of the quotation in its present textual location, as opposed to simply unpacking how the author appears to be interpreting the source text; and (3) the question of whether the intended audiences would have recognized and ‘reverse engineered’ the composite citation in question and as a result engaged with the original context of each of the component parts. Cover Title Copyright Contents Preface Abbreviations Introduction: Violence and Martyrdom in the Book of Revelation Reading the Violence of the Apocalypse Martyrdom in Revelation Plan of the Book Chapter 1. Christian ‘Persecution’ and the Dating of Revelation Introduction The Literary World of the Apocalypse Persecution and Suffering in Revelation The Imperial Cult in Revelation Social Reality and the Apocalypse Persecution and Suffering in the New Testament Persecution in Early Christian Writings The Emperor Cult The Image of the Beast: The Sacrifice Test Josephus Early Christianity Mark Q 12.2–9 Hebrews The Shepherd of Hermas 2 Timothy 1 John Conclusion Chapter 2. Not a Tame Lamb: Christology in the Apocalypse The Lion/Lamb Dichotomy The Lion The Lamb ‘Standing as if Slain’ (Revelation 5.6) Sacrificial Lamb Paschal Lamb Isaiah 53 Behold the ‘Ram’ of God The Lion/Lamb: Beyond Incongruity Chapter 3. The Lamb as Proto-Martyr The Revelation of Jesus Christ (Revelation 1–8) The Testimony of Jesus (Revelation 1.2) The First and the Last (Revelation 1.4) The Faithful Witness (Revelation 1.5–6) Coming on the Clouds (Revelation 1.7) Christophanies in the Apocalypse The Son of Man/Ancient of Days (Revelation 1.12–20) Christological Oracles (Revelation 2–3) The Rider on the White Horse (Revelation 19.11–16) The Lion and the Lamb (Revelation 4–5) Chapter 4. The Lamb as Divine Judge Violence and Judgement in the Apocalypse Judgement in the Oracles to the Seven Churches (Revelation 1–3) The Seven Seals and Trumpets (Revelation 6–7) The Sealed Scroll The First Four Seals (Revelation 6.1–8) The Sixth Seal: The Day of the Lord (Revelation 6.12–17) Plagues and Torments on the Damned (Revelation 8–16) The Seven Trumpets (Revelation 8.2–9.21; 11.15–19) Two Last Judgements (Revelation 11.15–19; 14.6–20) The Seven Bowls of Wrath (Revelation 15.7–16.21) The Fall of Babylon, the Final Battle, and the Last Judgement (Revelation 17–22) The Fall of Babylon (Revelation 17–18) The Final Battle (Revelation 16.12–16; 17.12–14; 19.11–21) The Last Final Judgement and the New Jerusalem (Revelation 20–22) Conclusion Chapter 5. A Theology of Martyrdom in the Book of Revelation Martyrdom and Judgement Judgement Delayed (Revelation 6.10) God’s Judgement for the Martyrs The Call to Martyrdom Revelation 6.11 Revelation 12.7–17 Revelation 13 Revelation 14 Revelation 7 The Call to Conquer Conquering in the Seven Churches Martyrs as Agents of Divine Judgement Vindication of The Martyrs The Noble Army of Martyrs Martyrs as Rulers: Revelation 20.4–6 Martyrs as Agents of Judgement: Revelation 18.4–8 Conclusion Bibliography Index of References Index of Authors