M.Litt. et Phil. / The role of the Spirit in the Eschatological Ethics of Revelation was a topic that has given me Great Joy to learn in the book of Revelation the role of the Spirit, Eschatology and Ethics. In this book I have discovered the plan of Salvation which was laid before the foundation of the World in a very clear manner. God, The Master of the universe, revealed to John the final story of this world's history, at the Isles of Patmos. The Trinity is well explained and even their duties as the God Head. God The Father, God The Son and God The Holy Ghost of which my dissertation is looking at the office or the role of the Spirit in the Second Coming of Christ. From Genesis to Malachi, it is God the Father who revealed himself to mankind, and from Matthew to Acts 1 : 8., It is God the Son who came in person to reveal God the Father and from Acts 1:9 to Revelation it is God the Holy Spirit who will teach us all that God the son could not finish teaching us. The Script is divided into Five Chapters which are the orientation into the book of Revelation, the theology and the ethics of the book of Revelation, the Eschatological Ethics in Revelation, the Holy Spirit in Revelation and the role of the Spirit and the Eschatological Ethics of Revelation, which is the theme of this script. Then we have the conclusion of the script. There are very few books written on Revelation and let alone on the Spirit but I have tried to outline the role of the spirit in this great book of the Bible and I hope to research further on some issues that are hard in Revelation. It is the book that summarises the history of the World Kingdoms in only 22 Chapters and I have limited mine to only Five Chapters. The Spirit has played the greatest role in Revelation because according to plan it is the time for it to play its role. The last events of this world will be shocking, the devil is angry. In the book of Revelation God calls Himself as the King of kings and Lord of Lords. He is the Almighty God. All creation own their existence to Him. It was one book of the Bible I did not like reading, but the research has helped me to develop some liking for the book. It is the book for our modern generation and unlike the book of Daniel which was to be put away until the end times, this one is to be read and a blessing is pronounce to the one who will read the book. We need to read this book very much and books that are in context should be written about the book. The few books that have been written on Revelation are not all very relevant. They miss the point. Most of them need well researched books to make clear the mysteries that are in Revelation and the Bible explains itself even in other books of the Bible which can also be used to explain the book of Revelation. The book of Daniel even though its in the old Testament, it has a lot in common with the book of Revelation. The book of Revelation opens for the reading of the book of Daniel in the old Testament and for one to understand Revelation well, one needs to read the book of Daniel together with Revelation. The beasts in Daniel are the beasts in Revelation. Even though some people would want to divide the old and the new Testament, they are the same and they interpret each other very well. The new testament has a lot of old testament quotations. I am trying to correct some misinterpretation of some verses found in the Book of Revelation and It will be good for any one who will read this script to read it carefully and critically because in the field of learning we learn by making mistakes and your input will be appreciated. In Revelation the devil is being given the last warning and all those that need life are called to come out of Babylon the Mother of all Harlots because if we do not come out of her and keep the commandments of God, then we will drink of the wrath of God which will be poured without a mixture for all those that worship the beast and its image.

The motif of hastening the Lord's coming: 2 Peter 3:1-13 and its alleged parallels and background is a study of an aspect of 2 Peter's message and the problems related to that aspect. The study consists of seven chapters. Chapter one is an orientative survey of 2 Peter research defining and describing the nature and scope of the problems which are investigated in later chapters, as well as indicating the importance of the study and its general outline. In chapter two, broad hermeneutical issues which influence the investigation in chapters three, four, five and six are highlighted. Chapter three investigates the use and meanings of a1fe 6 6 <.t> derivatives in the New Testament and finds out that apart from 2 Peter, those concerned are generally not explicitly used in association with Christ's Parousia. In chapter four, relevant sections of 2 Peter are exegeted to determine this motifs role and meaning within the message of 2 Peter. Chapter four's investigation finds out that this salient motif in 2 Peter emphasises the Christian community's role of being God's important partner in the achievement of the eschatological promises associated with Christ's Parousia. Chapter five then studies alleged parallels of this motif in the New Testament outside of 2 Peter and finds out that the ideas, which 2 Peter expressed through this motif are echoed within most of the passages. In chapter six the religious background of 2 Peter is investigated and it is discovered that ideas expressed through this motif in 2 Peter appear to be generally in discontinuity with those contained in the investigated backgrounds. The final chapter highlights the contemporary relevance of the study with reference to (i) New Testament study in general, (ii) 2 Peter research in particular; and (iii) the calling and responsibilities of the church in the context of today's problems. / Biblical and Ancient Studies / D. Th. (New Testament)

Text in Afrikaans / In hierdie studie is as doelwit gestel 'n nuwe benadering tot die verklaring van die boek Openbaring. Die rede hiervoor is dat sommige verklaringsmetodes nie by 'n duidelike formulering van die boodskap van Openbaring uitkorn nie. Sommige rnetodes is kunsrnatig, terwyl ander weer so ingewikkeld is dat dit die boek onverstaanbaar maak. In die werkshipotese van die studie word die hermeneutiese presupposisie gestel dat die boek self riglyne oor sy verklaring gee, veral in sy eerste hoofstuk. Die tema en die strekking van die boodskap wys uit hoe die boek verklaar rnoet word. Die heerskappy van God is die hoofmotif van Openbaring en die vertrekpunt van die uitleg daarvan. Dit word ontplooi deur Christus wat op aarde heers. Prinsipieel gesien beteken sy heerskappy dat Hy besig is om te kom as verlosser van sy uitverkorenes en as regter wat sy vyande oordeel en straf. Sy koms is nie slegs eindgebeure nie, maar dis nou reeds aan die gang (so is die hoofmotif dan ook 'n eskatalogiese motif) en sal die vooruitbepaalde voleinding dan gebeur soos God dit wil. Dit maak dat die boek nie as 'n suiwer apokalips geklassifiseer mag word nie, maar wel 'n egte profesie, hoewel met apokaliptiese trekke. Wanneer die struktuur van die boek wetenskaplik ondersoek word, word gevind dat hierdie wyse van verklaring as geldige een ondersteun word deur die struktuur. Eers word byvoorbeeld die nabyheid van Christus geleer, dan sy heerskappy oor die geskiedenis en die voleinding daarvan en hoe dit die kerk en die wereld raak. Die volgende aspek wat in die studie ondersoek is, is die begrip "heerskappy van God". Nadat die sisternaties-teologiese forrnulering van die begrip vasgestel is, word gekyk na wat Openbaring daaroor te se het. Ten slotte word 'n paar hoofstukke uit die boek Openbaring ondersoek om vas te stel of dit die aannames en persepsies oor die motif ondersteun. Aangesien die betrokke hoofstukke berekende capita selecta is wat 'n goeie oorsig bied oor wat in hoofsaak in Openharing gelees word, is dit belangrik om te let op hoe die inhoud van die boek telkens die hoofmotif van God se heerskappy uitspel en beklemtoon. In die laaste hoofstuk van hierdie studie word die boodskap van die boek Openbaring uiteengesit. Met die proklamering van die heerskappy van God wat deur Christus op aarde uitgevoer word, is die boodskap van die boek duidelik en verstaanbaar met die troos: God regeer en Christus beheer alles op die aarde tot aan die einde, daarom hoef die kerk nie te vrees nie, maar kan voortgaan om te groei en te lewe tot die eer van God die almagtige. / The objective of this study was to establish a new approach to the interpretation of the book of Revelation. This was undertaken because some of the methods used to interpret the book, did not succeed in delivering an acceptable or even a comprehensible message. Some methods are superficial, while others are so complicated that the book becomes more of a mystery. As a working hypothesis for this study the hermeneutical presupposition is posed that John's Revelation has its own guidelines as to its interpretation, as it is given primarily in its first chapter. The theme and message of the book clearly shows the way to its interpretation. The supremacy of God and his power as the Almighty proclaims his rule over this world and this forms the basis for the message to his people. Christ is given the authority as king of this world and He maintains the governing of this world till the end. This means that He as ruler over this world reveals his coming as happening in the salvation of his chosen people and in the judging and punishing of his enemies. His coming is already underway and now is the eschatological time in progress. He is already the Redeemer of his people and the judge of his enemies. But this motif is further developed in the fact that the end will come according to the will of God. In the light of this prophetic revelations the book is not a pure apocalypse in the apocalyptic tradition, but it is genuine prophecy although there are apocalyptic terms and trends used in the book. When the structure of the book is analysed, it is found that this method of interpretation is really plausible. The first overall message being the assurance of the presence of Christ in his church under all circumstances and his controlling of the history and bringing this world to its end according to God's will, thus revealing the effect this has on the church and the world at large, all this is sustained by the structure of the book. Another aspect researched in this study is the meaning of the term "the supremacy of God". First a survey of the systematic theological formulation of this concept is done and then a systematic summary of this concept in the book of Revelation is made. A selection of a number of chapters from the book of Revelation is studied with the purpose of showing how this motif is proved by the contents of the book. These capita selecta are specially selected for this purpose, but they do give an overall view of the book's message. The last chapter of this study formulates the message of the book of Revelation. With the proclamation of the supremacy of God as illustrated by the reign of Christ as Lord of this world, this paranesis is given to his people clear and simple: God is the Almighty and through Christ He has everything under his control, therefore the church must never fear but can continue serving Him and growing to his glory as his kingdom. / Biblical and Ancient Studies / Th. D. (Nuwe Testament)

by Elizabeth Leung. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 84-86). / Abstract also in Chinese. / Acknowledgments --- p.iii / Abbreviations --- p.iv / Abstract --- p.v / Chapter / Chapter I. --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter A. --- A Brief Survey of Method of Matthean Studies --- p.1 / Chapter 1. --- Before the 1980s: Redaction Criticism --- p.1 / Chapter 2. --- An Example of Transition --- p.4 / Chapter 3. --- Narrative Criticism --- p.5 / Chapter B. --- Method of Study --- p.13 / Chapter C. --- Thesis --- p.14 / Chapter II. --- The Eschatological Theme of Persecution --- p.16 / Chapter A. --- Persecutors & Persecution --- p.16 / Chapter 1. --- "Identity of Persecutions, Traitors and Haters (24:9-10 cf. 10:17-18, 21-22)" --- p.16 / Chapter 2. --- Severity of Persecution (24:9 cf. 5:11) --- p.19 / Chapter B. --- Communal Disharmony --- p.22 / Chapter 1. --- The Lack of Reconciliation (24:10 cf. 5:21-26) --- p.23 / Chapter 2. --- "The Lack of Non-Retaliation (24:10 cf. 5:38-42, 43-48)" --- p.26 / Chapter 3. --- "The Lack of Forgiveness and Non-Judgment (24:10 cf. 6:14-15, 7:1-5)" --- p.28 / Chapter C. --- False Prophets & Lawlessness --- p.30 / Chapter 1. --- "False Prophets (24:11, 24 cf. 7:15-20)" --- p.31 / Chapter 2. --- Lawlessness (24:12 cf. 7:21-23) --- p.34 / Chapter D. --- Perseverance & Purpose --- p.38 / Chapter 1. --- The Way of Persevering (24:13 cf. 7:24-27) --- p.38 / Chapter 2. --- The Circumstances of Persevering (24:13 cf. 10:22) --- p.41 / Chapter 3. --- The Purpose of Persevering (24:14 cf. 10:5-6) --- p.42 / Chapter E. --- Concluding Remarks --- p.46 / Chapter III. --- The Eschatological Theme of Separation --- p.48 / Chapter A. --- "The Time of Separation (24:3 cf. 13:24-30，36-43, 47-49)" --- p.49 / Chapter 1. --- "The Destruction of the Temple and ""These Things""" --- p.50 / Chapter 2. --- The Sign of the Parousia and the End of Age --- p.53 / Chapter B. --- "The Reason for Separation (24:40-41; 25:1-13,31-46 cf. 13:24-30,36-43,47-49)" --- p.56 / Chapter 1. --- The Ones Being Separated in the Parables Speech --- p.56 / Chapter 2. --- The Reasons of Separation in the Eschatological Speech --- p.61 / Chapter C. --- Separation & the Responsibility of Authority (24:45-51; 25:14-30 cf. 18:1-35) --- p.65 / Chapter 1. --- The Leadership Authority to Love --- p.66 / Chapter 2. --- The Leadership Authority to Discipline --- p.70 / Chapter 3. --- Use and Misuse of Authority --- p.73 / Chapter D. --- Concluding Remarks --- p.78 / Chapter IV. --- Conclusion --- p.80 / Bibliography --- p.84

The subject of this thesis is the relationship between eschatology and history in the Christian community for which Luke-Acts was written. Chapter 1 formulates the problem in terms of Luke's eschatology. It argues that Luke and his community thought of the End as 'near' and that Luke's historical perspective affected his eschatology. Luke-Acts represents a community that held a relevant eschatological hope and was aware of continuing history. This is the interpretive problem this thesis seeks to enlighten. The perspective to be used in approaching this problem is that of sociological analysis. Chapter 2 explores the use of sociological perspectives in New Testament study and the benefits to be achieved by the use of the sociology of knowledge. Chapter 3 is a sociological analysis of the community in terms of date, location, stratification, racial composition, boundaries, social institutions, and charismatic roles and functions. This material suggests that mission was an important community task. Chapter 4 establishes a sociology of mission for the community, investigating commitment as the mechanism that motivated community members to pursue mission, the importance of mission to the community, the motivation of converts, and the problems encountered in mission. Chapter 5 investigates the social functions of eschatology in the community and finds that it functioned in legitimating numerous aspects of the community's mission experience. Chapter 6 investigates the social functions of history in the community and finds that it functioned in legitimating various aspects of the community's mission experience. In the conclusion it is shown that history and eschatology were functionally related to one another in legitimating aspects of the community's mission experience. This functionality also provided a meaningful relationship in helping the community to make sense of its world. This further prepares us to try and understand these ideas theologically by placing them in a social context.

The motif of hastening the Lord's coming: 2 Peter 3:1-13 and its alleged parallels and background is a study of an aspect of 2 Peter's message and the problems related to that aspect. The study consists of seven chapters. Chapter one is an orientative survey of 2 Peter research defining and describing the nature and scope of the problems which are investigated in later chapters, as well as indicating the importance of the study and its general outline. In chapter two, broad hermeneutical issues which influence the investigation in chapters three, four, five and six are highlighted. Chapter three investigates the use and meanings of a1fe 6 6 <.t> derivatives in the New Testament and finds out that apart from 2 Peter, those concerned are generally not explicitly used in association with Christ's Parousia. In chapter four, relevant sections of 2 Peter are exegeted to determine this motifs role and meaning within the message of 2 Peter. Chapter four's investigation finds out that this salient motif in 2 Peter emphasises the Christian community's role of being God's important partner in the achievement of the eschatological promises associated with Christ's Parousia. Chapter five then studies alleged parallels of this motif in the New Testament outside of 2 Peter and finds out that the ideas, which 2 Peter expressed through this motif are echoed within most of the passages. In chapter six the religious background of 2 Peter is investigated and it is discovered that ideas expressed through this motif in 2 Peter appear to be generally in discontinuity with those contained in the investigated backgrounds. The final chapter highlights the contemporary relevance of the study with reference to (i) New Testament study in general, (ii) 2 Peter research in particular; and (iii) the calling and responsibilities of the church in the context of today's problems. / Biblical and Ancient Studies / D. Th. (New Testament)

Text in Afrikaans / In hierdie studie is as doelwit gestel 'n nuwe benadering tot die verklaring van die boek Openbaring. Die rede hiervoor is dat sommige verklaringsmetodes nie by 'n duidelike formulering van die boodskap van Openbaring uitkorn nie. Sommige rnetodes is kunsrnatig, terwyl ander weer so ingewikkeld is dat dit die boek onverstaanbaar maak. In die werkshipotese van die studie word die hermeneutiese presupposisie gestel dat die boek self riglyne oor sy verklaring gee, veral in sy eerste hoofstuk. Die tema en die strekking van die boodskap wys uit hoe die boek verklaar rnoet word. Die heerskappy van God is die hoofmotif van Openbaring en die vertrekpunt van die uitleg daarvan. Dit word ontplooi deur Christus wat op aarde heers. Prinsipieel gesien beteken sy heerskappy dat Hy besig is om te kom as verlosser van sy uitverkorenes en as regter wat sy vyande oordeel en straf. Sy koms is nie slegs eindgebeure nie, maar dis nou reeds aan die gang (so is die hoofmotif dan ook 'n eskatalogiese motif) en sal die vooruitbepaalde voleinding dan gebeur soos God dit wil. Dit maak dat die boek nie as 'n suiwer apokalips geklassifiseer mag word nie, maar wel 'n egte profesie, hoewel met apokaliptiese trekke. Wanneer die struktuur van die boek wetenskaplik ondersoek word, word gevind dat hierdie wyse van verklaring as geldige een ondersteun word deur die struktuur. Eers word byvoorbeeld die nabyheid van Christus geleer, dan sy heerskappy oor die geskiedenis en die voleinding daarvan en hoe dit die kerk en die wereld raak. Die volgende aspek wat in die studie ondersoek is, is die begrip "heerskappy van God". Nadat die sisternaties-teologiese forrnulering van die begrip vasgestel is, word gekyk na wat Openbaring daaroor te se het. Ten slotte word 'n paar hoofstukke uit die boek Openbaring ondersoek om vas te stel of dit die aannames en persepsies oor die motif ondersteun. Aangesien die betrokke hoofstukke berekende capita selecta is wat 'n goeie oorsig bied oor wat in hoofsaak in Openharing gelees word, is dit belangrik om te let op hoe die inhoud van die boek telkens die hoofmotif van God se heerskappy uitspel en beklemtoon. In die laaste hoofstuk van hierdie studie word die boodskap van die boek Openbaring uiteengesit. Met die proklamering van die heerskappy van God wat deur Christus op aarde uitgevoer word, is die boodskap van die boek duidelik en verstaanbaar met die troos: God regeer en Christus beheer alles op die aarde tot aan die einde, daarom hoef die kerk nie te vrees nie, maar kan voortgaan om te groei en te lewe tot die eer van God die almagtige. / The objective of this study was to establish a new approach to the interpretation of the book of Revelation. This was undertaken because some of the methods used to interpret the book, did not succeed in delivering an acceptable or even a comprehensible message. Some methods are superficial, while others are so complicated that the book becomes more of a mystery. As a working hypothesis for this study the hermeneutical presupposition is posed that John's Revelation has its own guidelines as to its interpretation, as it is given primarily in its first chapter. The theme and message of the book clearly shows the way to its interpretation. The supremacy of God and his power as the Almighty proclaims his rule over this world and this forms the basis for the message to his people. Christ is given the authority as king of this world and He maintains the governing of this world till the end. This means that He as ruler over this world reveals his coming as happening in the salvation of his chosen people and in the judging and punishing of his enemies. His coming is already underway and now is the eschatological time in progress. He is already the Redeemer of his people and the judge of his enemies. But this motif is further developed in the fact that the end will come according to the will of God. In the light of this prophetic revelations the book is not a pure apocalypse in the apocalyptic tradition, but it is genuine prophecy although there are apocalyptic terms and trends used in the book. When the structure of the book is analysed, it is found that this method of interpretation is really plausible. The first overall message being the assurance of the presence of Christ in his church under all circumstances and his controlling of the history and bringing this world to its end according to God's will, thus revealing the effect this has on the church and the world at large, all this is sustained by the structure of the book. Another aspect researched in this study is the meaning of the term "the supremacy of God". First a survey of the systematic theological formulation of this concept is done and then a systematic summary of this concept in the book of Revelation is made. A selection of a number of chapters from the book of Revelation is studied with the purpose of showing how this motif is proved by the contents of the book. These capita selecta are specially selected for this purpose, but they do give an overall view of the book's message. The last chapter of this study formulates the message of the book of Revelation. With the proclamation of the supremacy of God as illustrated by the reign of Christ as Lord of this world, this paranesis is given to his people clear and simple: God is the Almighty and through Christ He has everything under his control, therefore the church must never fear but can continue serving Him and growing to his glory as his kingdom. / Biblical and Ancient Studies / Th. D. (Nuwe Testament)

M.A.( Biblical Studies) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.A. (Bible Studies) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.Litt. et Phil. / The focus on this script is based on the comparison between the Johannine and Pauline eschatology. Eschatology is the field of interest of many scholars and theologians. Both the Old and the New Testament, examine eschatology as the hope of the Messiah's coming and the end of the Age. Eschatology is the teaching or doctrine of the last things, the Second coining of Our Lord Jesus Christ. John and Paul use different words, with the same meaning, to describe the Second coming of the Messiah. They approach the subject matter under the following headings: Parousia, resurrection, judgment and eternal life. In order to define John and Paul's meaning of eschatology, the following passages are important: John 5:19-29; I and II Thessalonians and I Corinthians 15. When we read the entire fourth gospel, the strong emphasis is upon the presence of salvation in the believers life. Paul, for instance, speaks of salvation as both a present experience and future hope. This is clearest in Paul's declaration in Romans 8:24 "for in hope we are saved". The central message in both Johannine and Pauline gospels is Jesus Himself is life, He offers life to men in the present. The aim of this script, is to bring this important aspect of the eschatology of John and Paul to the fore. This script also highlights the importance of eschatology as the foundation of the Christian faith (Creed). Jesus Christ will come again to judge the living and the dead. Christians look forward with hope to the resurrection of the dead and the life in the world to come. We shall realise in this script that salvation, eternal life, resurrection and judgment are a realized or present reality. The reason why this study has been undertaken is to look at the presentation of eschatology as present and future, in John and Paul letters.