This thesis addresses the issue of the millennial reign of Christ in Revelation 20: 1-10. It is an attempt to investigate whether the millennium is a future event or already inaugurated. The Apocalypse has been the focus of attention of many end time movements down through the ages. This thesis picks up one of the most popular issues out of such a focus. One of the issues in the Apocalypse of John is the expectation of a thousand year reign of Christ. During the period of early Christianity up to the middle ages the question of the nature of the millennium has been controversial. Recently the debate over the millennial reign of Christ in the Apocalypse has intensified more than ever before. Three major views have been advocated and such views have brought in a greater dilemma, since the reader of the Apocalypse has to choose one of the views. Having grown up in an evangelical religious background, which places emphasis upon apocalyptic ideologies; I found myself becoming more and more attracted to this debate. At last I have entered the wagon with a view to demonstrate, in my own way, that the millennial reign is already actualised rather than expected. This sounds very controversial compared to what has always been thought by many Christians since their early days of Sunday School. This 'territory' has been trod by various scholars so much so that I am not in a position to claim to be a pioneer in this investigation. I endeavour to re-examine the issue of millennium in the light of a sociological analysis from my own perspective. I intend to perceive the other side of the mountain that has been hidden from me all along ( as a hidden transcript of the Apocalypse). After having established the task of rethinking millennium. I wish to go further and look at the East African concept of millennium, even though no comparative study is intended at this level of my research, apart from laying bare the framework, such is very important for the inculturation of theology today. This thesis will be tabulated into three main parts, the first deals with sociology of sects and the Apocalypse, in this part a model will be formulated, which will be applied in the delineation of the Apocalypse community in chapter three. The second part deals with the concept of millennium within the Bible and ends up with an exegesis of the passage that clearly mentions this term. The third part deals with the East African concept of millennium and the conclusion of the whole thesis. All Biblical quotations are from the Revised Standard Version Bible, while all the abbreviations follow Killian (1985). / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2001.

This analysis of apocalyptic rhetoric brings nine generations of the written text of the Johannine Apocalypse into a contemporary (1989-1994) framework which includes phenomena such as self-determination, mutual interdependence and psychoterror. The discussion is mediated by disciplines and backgrounds of Religion and Literature. The critical method is religio-literary. Literary themes from the Johannine Apocalypse, especially themes of annihilation, torment, blessedness and rapture, structure the discussion. These themes are related to ideas of self-determination such as were proclaimed at the United Nations World Conference on Human Rights (UNWCHR), Vienna, 1993. The discussion questions the axioms of self determination, especially the matter of indivisibility which came to issue during UNWCHR, Vienna, 1993. Some policies and practices of the Australian government's human rights activities are discussed. Attention is then redirected to the Johannine Apocalypse as a polyvalent source of apocalyptic ideation and a source of social empowerment.

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

M.A. / The main aim of the research was to make the book of Revelation, often considered as a marginal book within the context of the Christian Bible, more accessible for contemporary readers. The study's first focus is on the contextualization of the creation of this book. The most accepted time frame in which this text was written is around 95-96 AD. The social-historical context in those years was investigated and possible crisis and conflict elements identified. Hypotheses about authorship was developed concluding that Revelation was probably written by a Jew who was part of an itinerant group which was viewed as apocalyptic prophets. The structure of the book of Revelation was investigated, as it is essential for the analysis of the contents. It was found that scholarship has not yet reach consensus of the book of Revelation. Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenza nonetheless found general approval among scholars and thus was this chiastic surface structure applied on the book of Revelation. Other models of interpretation were investigated as well as key terminology. The focus then moved to feminist theology. It's origins, key terminology, important contributors and its contributions in the world were investigated. A couple of the new feminist hermeneutical and exegetical models that have been developed during the last decade were research concentrating especially on the twelve tenets developed from the notion of Denise Carmody's pillars of feminist theology. Revelation is interpreted by using these twelve tenets namely the quest for truth, meaning, justice, equality, love, hope, beauty, identity, empowerment, unity, happiness/fulfilment and freedom. Finally, this analysis is briefly evaluated in order to establish if the main aims namely: to arrive at a fresh interpretation of Revelation, making the book of Revelation more accessible to its readers, evaluating the book's relevance for today and developing the means to lead more believers or other readers from fear to freedom, was accomplished. The study concluded that this method had the potential to contribute towards a fresh interpretation of the apocalypse, and the identification of a meaningful message in the narrative. However, using this method exclusively in the exegetical analysis of the book of Revelation, tended to narrow the focus down to only a limited aspect of this rich and varied text. The findings of this research project suggested that, with further refinement, the Carmody-derived research process could fruitfully be used in conjunction with other feminist hermeneutical and exegetical models. Integrated in this manner, it has the potential to contribute towards a change in interpretive perspective and practice.

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

O presente trabalho versa sobre o processo de simbolização da resistência presente no livro do Apocalipse. A pesquisa busca analisar as relações entre o conjunto de símbolos utilizados no livro e a resistência política das comunidades cristãs diante da opressão do Império Romano no alvorecer do Cristianismo. Nesse sentido, a partir de uma metodologia de natureza bibliográfica, fomenta uma reflexão crítica entre o texto e o contexto do Apocalipse, visto como literatura engajada com a oposição às condições opressoras às quais muitas comunidades cristãs estavam sujeitas. O trabalho está dividido em três capítulos: no primeiro, é discutido o contexto sócio-histórico das comunidades cristãs, que favoreceu o surgimento do Apocalipse. No segundo, é feita uma análise do texto de Ap 17,1-18 do ponto de vista exegético e hermenêutico. Por fim, no terceiro, são discutidas as formas através das quais alguns símbolos descritos fazem críticas à opressão política do Império Romano. / This work is about the process of symbolization of resistance present in the book of Revelation. The research analyzes the relationship between the set of symbols used in the book and the political resistance of the Christian community on the oppression of the Roman Empire at the dawn of Christianity. Accordingly, from a bibliographical methodology, this study encourages critical reflection between the text and the context of Revelation, seen as engaged literature with the opposition to oppressive conditions to which many Christian communities were subject. The work is divided into three chapters: the first discusses the socio-historical context of Christian communities that favored the emergence of Revelation. The second is an analysis of the text of Revelation 17,1-18 in terms of exegetical and hermeneutical. Finally, the third discusses the ways in which some symbols are described criticism of the political oppression of the Roman Empire.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-01T18:12:48Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 jair_ rodrigues_melo.pdf: 427219 bytes, checksum: 2a3c971d756f9032c281dad0aa377f5b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-12-01 / This work is about the process of symbolization of resistance present in the book of Revelation. The research analyzes the relationship between the set of symbols used in the book and the political resistance of the Christian community on the oppression of the Roman Empire at the dawn of Christianity. Accordingly, from a bibliographical methodology, this study encourages critical reflection between the text and the context of Revelation, seen as engaged literature with the opposition to oppressive conditions to which many Christian communities were subject. The work is divided into three chapters: the first discusses the socio-historical context of Christian communities that favored the emergence of Revelation. The second is an analysis of the text of Revelation 17,1-18 in terms of exegetical and hermeneutical. Finally, the third discusses the ways in which some symbols are described criticism of the political oppression of the Roman Empire. / O presente trabalho versa sobre o processo de simbolização da resistência presente no livro do Apocalipse. A pesquisa busca analisar as relações entre o conjunto de símbolos utilizados no livro e a resistência política das comunidades cristãs diante da opressão do Império Romano no alvorecer do Cristianismo. Nesse sentido, a partir de uma metodologia de natureza bibliográfica, fomenta uma reflexão crítica entre o texto e o contexto do Apocalipse, visto como literatura engajada com a oposição às condições opressoras às quais muitas comunidades cristãs estavam sujeitas. O trabalho está dividido em três capítulos: no primeiro, é discutido o contexto sócio-histórico das comunidades cristãs, que favoreceu o surgimento do Apocalipse. No segundo, é feita uma análise do texto de Ap 17,1-18 do ponto de vista exegético e hermenêutico. Por fim, no terceiro, são discutidas as formas através das quais alguns símbolos descritos fazem críticas à opressão política do Império Romano.

The text of the book of Revelation preserves examples of scriptural reuse that cohere with similar patterns of borrowing in other ancient Jewish works. This thesis describes the processes of reuse employed by Revelation's notional author (John), and places them into conversation with modes of reuse employed in other ancient Jewish texts, using Zechariah 1-8 as a test case. The design of the study has been crafted to explore these examples in a manner consistent with ancient textual composition. In the first chapter, I examine a dominant aspect of Jewish and early Christian textual culture: pluriformity. I argue that a pluriform scriptural tradition (in both Hebrew and Greek) was a controlling force that shaped the processes of scriptural reuse and, in turn, composition in this period. This analysis also delimits the possible forms of Zechariah available to ancient readers. With textual pluriformity in mind, the next chapter examines the text of Zech 1-8 preserved in John's scriptural references (Rev 5.6; 6.1-8, 9-11; 7.1; 11.4; 19.11-16). While this analysis is complicated by the author's presentation of reused material in Revelation, the evidence strongly suggests that John was familiar with a Hebrew form of Zechariah. Once John's preferred form of Zechariah is identified, the third chapter describes his techniques of reuse. This portion of the thesis consists of a catalogue and discussion of the differences in graphic representation between segments of Zech 1-8 and their instantiation in Revelation. This examination builds a set of textual data that accesses John's processes and strategies of reading. The fourth section of the thesis explores John's habits of reading as witnessed in his techniques of reuse. This section identifies features of Zech 1-8 that motivated John to engage with and alter the wording of antecedent material. Not every textual difference can be accounted for in this way, but it is evident that John is cognisant of the features of a particular form of Zech 1-8. Many of the differences between source and reuse can be explained as John's attempt to comprehend ambiguities in Zechariah. The final section of the thesis is a comparative analysis. The results of the preceding examinations of Revelation are compared to instances of the reuse of Zechariah in early Jewish literature, including works in the Hebrew Bible, the ancient versions of Zechariah, Dead Sea Scrolls, and works commonly classified as “deutero-canonical.” This analysis grounds previous observations about John's reuse in their native textual culture and acts as an historical control. The evidence suggests that John's modes of reading, reformulation, and reuse are similar to those found in other early Jewish works. The thesis concludes that scriptural reuse in the book of Revelation cannot be understood apart from the realities of textual pluriformity and the practices of scriptural reuse in Jewish antiquity. This approach suggests that John is a “scribal” expert—a careful reader of his scriptural tradition—and that his modes of reuse are conditioned by the textual culture of this period.

Die vorliegende Arbeit setzt sich mit der Bedeutung der Nationen aus Offb 21,24.26 auseinander. Wie ist es möglich, dort Nationen als Gegenüber des Gottesvolks zu finden? Die These erhärtet sich, dass das Alte Testament in Bezug auf die Beziehung des Gottesvolks zu den Nationen eine Vorschau auf die zukünftigen, himmlischen Zustände ist und dass die Zeit des Neuen Testaments eine Zeit des Übergangs darstellt, in der das Gottesvolk neu formiert wird. Der gegenseitigen Beziehung kommt eine enorme Bedeutung zu. Das Gottesvolk ist dazu eingesetzt, zusammen mit Gott über die Nationen zu herrschen. Die Nationen ihrerseits sollen durch diese göttliche Herrschaft zur Erkenntnis und zur Anbetung Gottes geführt werden. Es ist ein fester Bestandteil der Identität des Gottesvolks, dass es zwischen Gott und den Nationen steht und vermittelt. Somit begründet sich die Präsenz der himmlischen Nationen in ihrer Notwendigkeit als Gegenüber des Gottesvolks. / The following dissertation examines the meaning of the nations mentioned in Revelation 21:24.26. How is it possible that there will be nations as counterpart to God's people? In the course of the study, the thesis is confirmed that the relationship between God's people and the nations shown in the Old Testament is a preview to the future state in heaven and that the New Testament stands for a time of transition and new formation of God's people. An outstanding meaning is attributed to this mutual relationship. God's people is appointed to rule over the nations along with God. By divine rule the nations are to be led to recognition and adoration of God. It is an inherent part of the identity of God's people to stand and to intercede between God and the nations. Thus the presence of heavenly nations is justified by its necessity as counterpart of God's people. / Systematic Theology & Theological Ethics / M. Th. (Systematic Theology)

While the Left Behind Corpus may be commended for being an effective tool for evangelism, the question arises of whether or not its themes engender a theology of extermination, indeed a creeping crusade; “creeping” in the sense of it being a movement of stealth and not one of high visibility – “crusade” in the sense of a militaristic movement, similar to that of the medieval crusades. I span my research across three artefacts in the LB Corpus in terms of its embedded interpretation, discourse and ideology; in fact three separate entities for explanatory purposes, but in effect they form a single entity of interaction and cross-production. I am therefore extending many niches of research and critical discourse to what I envisage as the wider context of the LB Corpus: its potential for social construction, and its enigmatic connections with other apocalyptic-driven and crusade-like movements. Based as it is on “consistent literalism,” the LB Corpus can only be countered by an exegetical approach that situates the foundational text for the Left Behind phenomenon, Revelation 7, in its historical setting, while taking cognisance of the particularities of early Christianity, with its Jewish heritage lived out in a Graeco-Roman environment. In offering an alternative reading, I take some cues from Vernon Robbins‟ socio-rhetorical approach and draw from perspectives of theorists across several disciplinary fields in pointing out anomalies in a consistent literalism driven interpretation of Revelation 7. / New Testament / Thesis (D.Litt. et Phil. (Biblical Studies))