Read more
Zusatztext Violence of the Lamb offers a close reading of Revelation’s central figure and paradigm for martyrdom and sacrifice, the Lamb. John’s Lamb, Middleton argues, is neither frolicking playmate nor passive resistor, but instead is an active agent of Divine judgment and wrath… Violence of the Lamb brilliantly returns readers to the gritty reality of Revelation, a text that may not always be what modern, humane academics desire, but that has invigorated Christian imagery and thinking for millennia. Informationen zum Autor Dr. Paul Middleton is Senior Lecturer in New Testament and Early Christianity at the University of Chester, UK. Vorwort Challenges non-violent readings of the Apocalypse by re-examining the role of martyrdom in Revelation. Zusammenfassung The act of martyrdom in the worldview of the Apocalypse has been considered to be an exemplification of non-violent resistance. Paul Middleton argues here, however, that it is in fact a representation of direct participation by Christians, through their martyrdom, in divine violence against those the author of Revelation portrays as God's enemies. Middleton shows that acceptance of martyrdom is to grasp the invitation to participate in the Revelation's divine violence. Martyrs follow the model laid down by the Lamb, who was not only slain, but resurrected, glorified, and who executes judgement. The world created by the Apocalypse encourages readers to conquer the Beast through martyrdom, but also through the experience of resurrection and being appointed judges. In this role, martyrs participate in the judgement of the wicked by sharing the Lamb's power to judge. Different from eschewing violence, the conceptual world of the Apocalypse portrays God, the Lamb, and the martyrs as possessing more power, might, and violent potential than the Emperor and his armies. Middleton believes that martyrdom and violence are necessary components of the worldview of Revelation. Inhaltsverzeichnis INTRODUCTION 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: NO TAME LAMB: CHRISTOLOGY IN THE APOCALYPSE The Lion/Lamb Dichotomy The Lion The Lamb ‘Standing as if Slain’ (Rev 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 (Rev. 1.1–8) The Testimony of Jesus (Rev. 1.2) The First and the Last (Rev. 1.4) The Faithful Witness (Rev. 1.5–6) Coming on the Clouds (Rev. 1.7) Christophanies in the Apocalypse The Son of Man/Ancient of Days (Rev. 1.12–20) Christological Oracles (Rev. 2–3) The Rider on the White Horse (Rev. 19.11–16) The Lion and the Lamb (Rev. 4–5) CHAPTER 4: THE LAMB AS DIVINE JUDGE Violence and Judgment in the Apocalypse Judgment in the Oracles to the Seven Churches (Rev. 1–3) The Seven Seals and Trumpets (Rev. 6–7) The Sealed Scroll The First four Seals (Rev. 6.1–8) The Sixth Seal: The Day of the Lord (Rev. 6.12–17) Plagues and Torments on the Damned (Rev. 8–16) The Seven Trumpets (Rev. 8.2–9.21; 11.15–19) Two Last Jud...
