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WELCOME to CBI 2016-17

WELCOME to CBI 2016-17. Catholic Bible Institute in the Diocese of Orange April 29, 2017 Book of Revelation. Opening Prayer : Opening Song (vv.1-2) Rev 5:11-14 Ps 2:1-8 Intercessions Prayer Closing Song ( vv.3-4). Reflection Paper, e-mailed to your reader by April 1 :

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WELCOME to CBI 2016-17

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  1. April 29, 2017 – Book of Revelation WELCOMEtoCBI 2016-17 Catholic Bible Institutein the Diocese of Orange April 29, 2017Book of Revelation

  2. April 29, 2017 – Book of Revelation Opening Prayer: Opening Song (vv.1-2) Rev 5:11-14 Ps 2:1-8 Intercessions Prayer Closing Song (vv.3-4)

  3. Reflection Paper, e-mailed to your reader by April 1: • Choose Heb 12, orJames 5, or1 Peter 4, or3 John, orJude • Follow Guidelines from Lilac Handout from last August Readings for Today, April 29: Book of Revelation • BIBLE: Revelation (all 22 chaps.) • BROWN: Chap. 37 • POWELL: Chap. 29 • RALPH: Chap. 28 April 29, 2017 – Book of Revelation Year 1 Syllabus(Salmon HO from Aug.)

  4. Apocalyptic Books • On table (front right of auditorium) • Please only touch with CLEAN HANDS! • Apocalyptic ART • On Fr. Just’s Website April 29, 2017 – Book of Revelation Show and Tell !

  5. “Overview of Non-Canonical Jewish and Early Christian Literature” • 10-page stapled handout packet • Bibliography on bottom of pg. 1 • See also online: • http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/ • http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/christian-history.html • http://wesley.nnu.edu/sermons-essays-books/noncanonical-literature/ • Randy will Email these to you April 29, 2017 – Book of Revelation Readings for JUNE 3

  6. Apocalypse: • Literary Genre, Definitions, Characteristics • Symbolism and Numerology • History and Theology • Book of Revelation: • Author, Date, Context, Purpose, Outline • Use of Revelation in Lectionary April 29, 2017 – Book of Revelation Session 1: Intro to Apocalyptic

  7. Eschatology • The study of, or teachings about… • The “end”; “end times”; “last days”; “end of the world”; etc. • And what, if anything, is after/beyond the end? • Types of Eschatology: • Personal: death / afterlife of individuals • National/Ethnic: end of a nation/empire or group of people • Cosmic: ultimate end of the world / universe • Christian Eschatology: variety of biblical teachings: • Second Coming of Jesus, End of the World • Kingdom of God, Messianic Age • Resurrection of the Dead, Final Judgment • Heaven (Eternal Life) vs. Hell(punishment? or void/nothing?)

  8. Apocalypse • Popular Def: Catastrophic Event • Major disaster, atom bomb, plague,… • Biblical Def: Literary Genre • Written mostly in narrative form • A “revealing/uncovering” of hidden truth • Reveals God’s view of world history: past, present, future • Uses highly symbolic terms and vivid images • Often revealed in dreams or visions • Meaning interpreted with help of an intermediary (angel) • Purpose: Provides encouragement for people in the midst of trials and tribulations

  9. Other Terminology • Prophecy – “speaking on behalf of” God; conveys God’s messages to people, in direct words or symbolic actions • Parousia – the coming or arrival of an important person (esp. the “Second Coming” of Jesus) • Revelation – the “uncovering” or “revealing” of some truth previously hidden or unknown to people • Tribulation – a 7-year period of suffering and turmoil before (or after?) the Second Coming of Christ • Millennium – a thousand-year period (of peace),esp. as mentioned in Revelation 20 • Rapture – belief of many fundamentalist Protestants based on literalist reading of 1 Thess 4:17

  10. New Testament Eschatology • Early Stages: Jesus is coming! Soon! • Paul’s Early Letters, esp. • 1 Thessalonians 4 • Middle Stages: Life/death go on! Stay awake! • Paul’s Later Letters, esp. • 2 Thessalonians 3 • Mark 13 (par. Matt 24; Luke 21) • Later Stages: Millennia ahead! Beware! • Revelation 20 • 2 Peter 3

  11. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 • Paul’s first letter (ca. 50 CE) • Wants Christians to keep faithand await Jesus’ return (soon) • [Woodcut by Gustav Dore’] • Answers people’s concernsabout those who have died • Don’t grieve or be afraid:ALL will see the Parousia. • When Jesus returns, the dead will be raised first; • And we who are still alivewill be together with them. • Note: • Belief in “Rapture” based on overly literalistic reading of 4:17

  12. Later Pauline Eschatology • Paul realizes that he himselfmay die before Jesus returns • Philippians, Romans, etc. • 2 Thessalonians 3 • Corrects misinterpretations of 1 Thess 4 • Don’t be alarmed by those who say,“The End is here!” • The “lawless one” will come first,trying to deceive many • Don’t quit your jobs; continue to work!Whoever is unwilling to work, should not eat!

  13. Mark 13: Eschatological Discourse • Apocalyptic Discourse / Little Apocalypse • Matthew 24-25 and Luke 21 expand on Mark 13 • Content: Jesus’ teachings on… • The Destruction of the Jerusalem Temple • The Great Tribulation • The Coming of the Son of Man • WHEN? • Certainly after 70 AD! (destruction of Jerusalem) • "But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come.” (Mark 13:32-33)

  14. 2 Peter 3 • The Problem: “Delay” of the Parousia • Early Christians preached: “Jesus is coming soon!” • After decades, doubts arise: “When?”“Is Jesus coming at all?” “Is our faith in vain?” (3:1-4) • One Explanation: 2 Peter 3 • Time is irrelevant for God; God is outside of time: • “But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand yearsand a thousand years like one day.” (3:8) • God is being patient, to allow more people to repent: • “The Lord does not delay his promise, as some regard ‘delay,’ but he is patient with you, not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (3:9)

  15. The Book of Revelationa.k.a. The Apocalypse • Revelation to John • Entire book is apocalyptic genre • [Other Xn “apocalypses” not in NT] • Purpose: • Encourage Xns to preserve infaith in time of crisis (13:10; 14:12) • Content: • Initial vision – The Son of Man • Letters to 7 Churches of Asia • Main visions – Many Tribulations • Final visions – The End • Destruction of Satan, Evil, Death • New Heavens, New Earth, New Jerusalem, Reign of God

  16. John’s Visions • Heavenly Throne • God & Lamb • 7 Seals • 7 Angels/Trumpets • 7 Misc. Visions • 7 Bowls/Plagues

  17. Revelation 17—22 • John’s Visions of the End • 17—18: Fall of Babylon (Rome) • 19: Coming of the King of kings, Word of God (Jesus)Final Battle (Armageddon = Valley of Megiddo; 16:16) • 20: Satan is tied up for 1000 years (Millennium);1000-year reign of God;Satan freed & destroyed;Resurrection of the Dead;Final Judgment • 21—22:New HeavenNew EarthNew Jerusalem

  18. Wide Variety of Interpretations • Highly Symbolic Language • Symbols  open to vastly different understandings • Presuppositions about Biblical Eschatology: • Literal: Predicts the future, the coming End of the World • Historical: Reflects persecutions faced by Early Christians • Theological: Describes timeless conflict: Good vs. Evil • Ex: When is Millennium vis-à-vis Parousia? • Pre-millennialism / “Catastrophic”- great tribulation and the return of Jesus come before the 1000-year reign of peace; so believers must be prepared to endure difficult trials • Post-millennialism / “Progressive”- Jesus will return only after the 1000-year reign of peace is established on earth by human beings and societies • A-millennialism – 1000-year reign of Rev 20 is not literal, but purely symbolic; when Jesus returns cannot be predicted

  19. The End Is Coming! • When? • Is it near? Or far away? • How can we define “time”? • Is “time” relevant for God? • “Last/Final Judgment”? • How? • What will happen at “The End”? • End of what? My life? The USA? The world? • Are the events depicted in the Book of Revelationmeant to be interpreted literally or symbolically?

  20. Def.: Revelation = Apocalypse • Greek apocalypsis = "uncovering, revealing" • Not something brand new, which didn’t exist before • But something made known, which was previously hidden • Apocalypse • Not primarily an event (catastrophe, end of world, etc.) • But a literary genre, a specific style of literature: • It uses highly symbolic narratives to interpret a historical crisisand provide hope for a better future. • "The Apocalypse" = Protestant name for "Book of Revelation" • "The Little Apocalypse" = Mark 13 (par. Matt 24 & Luke 21)

  21. More Scholarly Definition (HO) • Definition of the SBL "Apocalypse Group" (1979): • " ‘Apocalypse’ is a genre of revelatory literature with a narrative framework, • in which a revelation is mediatedby an otherworldly beingto a human recipient, • disclosing a transcendent reality which isboth temporal, insofar as it envisages eschatological salvation,and spatial insofar as it involves another, supernatural world." • Addition, incorporating the genre’s purpose: • "...intended to interpret the present, earthly circumstances in light of the supernatural world and of the future, • and to influence both the understanding and the behavior of the audience by means of divine authority."

  22. Prophecy God’s message revealed in words spoken to a prophet Genre: "Oracles" "Thus says the Lord…" Prophet understands and conveys God’s message to the people Short mediation:-God speaks to Prophet-Prophet speaks to People Apocalypse God’s message revealed in visions & dreams to a seer Genre: "Narratives" "Write down what you see…" Seer usually does notunderstand the visions; needs help to understand Longer mediation:-God reveals to Seer-Angels explains to Seer-Seer writes for People Prophecy vs. Apocalypse Neither one "predicts" the future, as fundamentalists wrongly believe!

  23. Symbolism of Numbers

  24. Symbolism of Animals • Good vs. Evil? • Lamb • First mentioned 5:6; appears 30 times! • Four Living Creatures • Lion, Ox, Human, Eagle (4:6-8; 13x total) • Horses • Four Horsemen (ch. 6); Rider on White Horse (ch. 19) • Two Beasts & Dragon • Beast from Land; Beast from Sea; Dragon (Ch. 13) • Many other animals!

  25. Symbolism of Animals • LAMB (30x) • Two BEASTS (29x) • Four Living Creatures (21x) • Horses (16x) • Dragon (14x) • Lion (6x) • Eagle (3x); Birds (3x); Locusts (2x) • Once: Ox, Leopard, Sea Creature, Frogs, Cattle, Sheep, Dogs • None: Fish, Flies, Snake, etc.

  26. REV: Literary / Historical Issues

  27. Churches of Revelation: Red Dots with Yellow Lettering

  28. Violent history of Early Roman Era • 63 BC: Roman armies occupy Judea and Jerusalem • Emperor Augustus: Pax Romana (less war or piracy) • Periodic revolts against Roman rule, in Palestine & elsewhere • ca. 31-33 AD: Crucifixion and Death of Jesus • ca. 35: Stoning of Stephen, first Christian martyr (Acts 7) • ca. 40: Martyrdom of apostle James, son of Zebedee (Acts 12) • 64: Nero burns Rome, blames Christians; local persecutions • 66-70: Jews rebel vs. Rome; Jerusalem & Temple destroyed • 79: Mount Vesuvius erupts; Pompeii & Herculaneum destroyed • 81-96: Emperor Domitian requires all to worship him as god(burn incense to his statue; participate in temple ceremonies)

  29. Book of Revelation: Purpose • Rev 13:10b • “Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints” (i.e., of all Christian believers). • Rev 14:12 • “Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and hold fast to the faith of Jesus.” • Rev 21:7 • “Those who conquer will inherit these things, and I will be their God and they will be my children. ”

  30. Revelation in Lectionary: Sundays

  31. Revelation in Lectionary: Weekdays

  32. 2nd Sunday of Easter (C) Rev 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19 – Vision of the Risen Lord • John on Patmos • Voice like a trumpet • "Write on scroll what you see" • Seven gold lampstands • Son of Man • Long robe; gold sash • "Don’t be afraid" • "I am the first & the last" • "Write what you have seen" Albrecht Dürer, 1496

  33. 3rd Sunday of Easter (C) Rev 5:11-14 – Throne Vision • Angels, Living Creatures, Elders • "Worthy the Lamb that was slain" • All creatures cry out • "To the one on the throne (God)and to the Lamb (Jesus)be blessing and honor,glory and might, forever." • Four living creatures: "Amen" • Elders: fall down & worship • Cf. Handel’s Messiah Albrecht Dürer, 1496

  34. 4th Sunday of Easter (C) Rev 7:9, 14b-17 – Vision of Multitude of Elect in Triumph • After 144,000 from Israel; uncountable crowds from every nation, race… • Before throne/Lamb, white robes, palm branches (symbols of victory)

  35. 5th Sunday of Easter (C) Rev 21:1-5a – New Heaven & New Earth • Former heaven, earth, sea pass away; • New Jerusalem descends from heaven, "prepared as a bride adorned" • "Behold, God’s dwelling is with people… Behold, I make all things new" John Martin, 1851-53

  36. 6th Sunday of Easter (C) Rev 21:10-14, 22-23 – Vision of New Jerusalem • Radiant like precious stones • Wall with 12 gates:Names of 12 tribes of Israel • Foundations with 12 stones:Names of Lamb’s 12 apostles • No temple, no sun, no moon • Glory of God gives light;Lamp is the Lamb Gustave Doré, 1832-1883

  37. [ 7th Sunday of Easter – C ] [ Not used in Western USA, since Ascension has been moved to this Sunday. ] Rev 22:12-14, 16-17, 20 – Epilogue: John’s Final Visions • "I am the Alpha & Omega, the first & last, the beginning & end" • "Behold, I am coming soon"; "Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!"

  38. How are biblical apocalyptic writings similar and/or different from modern fantasy (Lord of the Rings; Harry Potter) or science-fiction (Star Trek; Star Wars) books/movies? April 29, 2017 – Book of Revelation Table-Group Discussions:

  39. Break Time!

  40. Introduction (Rev 1) Letters to Churches (Rev 2—3) Initial Visions (Rev 4—5) April 29, 2017 – Book of Revelation Session 2: Revelation 1—5

  41. Turn to ONE neighbor (or at most two), and briefly share: What were your overall impressions as you read ALL of REVELATION? What stood out for you or surprised you? How did reading this Book affect you? April 29, 2017 – Book of Revelation Initial Sharing in Pairs:

  42. The Book of Revelation:The Biblical "Grande Finale" Fr. Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D. http://catholic-resources.org

  43. The Book of Revelation • Last book of the NT • A.k.a. "The Revelation of John"; more properly called: • "The Revelation ofJesus Christ… to John" • See Rev 1:1-2 • Should NOT be plural, "Revelations" • It’s actually ONE unified message • Literary Genre: Apocalypse • Similar to the Book of Daniel in the OT • Many other Jewish and Christian "Apocalypses" not in Bible • Bibliography (see HO)

  44. April 29, 2017 – Book of Revelation With Thanks to Melinda Caballero!

  45. The Book of Revelation • Have you ever read the whole thing? • Or just read excerpts? or just heard people talk about it? • Does it confuse you? or scare you? • Or could it encourage us? strengthen our faith? • Does it predict the end of the world? • Or what is it really all about? • What do Catholics believe about “the End”? • Branch of Theology called “Eschatology”

  46. Book of Revelation: Outline (HO) • Prologue / Introduction (1:1-8) • Visionary Report (1:9 – 22:5) • John’s Inaugural Vision & Commission (1:9 – 3:22) • An Audition and Vision of the Risen Christ (1:9-20) • Seven Letters to the Seven Churches of Asia (2:1 – 3:22) • John’s 1st Cycle of Visions in the Spirit (4:1 – 11:19) • Worship in the Heavenly Court (4:1-11) • The Scroll, the Lion of Judah, and the Lamb (5:1-14) • The Seven Seals (6:1 – 8:5) • The Seven Angels with Seven Trumpets (8:2 – 11:19) • John’s 2nd Cycle of Visions in the Spirit (12:1 – 22:5) • Seven Symbolic Visions of the Past, Present, Future (12:1 – 15:4) • Seven Angels with Seven Plagues (15:1 – 19:10) • Seven Visions of the Last Things (19:11 – 22:5) • Conclusion (22:6-21)

  47. Woodcuts on Revelationby Gustave Doré (1832-1883) Rev 1:9 - John on Patmos Rev 6:8 - The Fourth Horseman Rev 12:1 - The Woman & Dragon Rev 18:5 - The Fall of Babylon Rev 20:12 - The Final Judgment Rev 21:2 - The New Jerusalem See http://catholic-resources.org/Art/Dore-Rev.htm

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