9780664232481

0664232485

9781646981991

Belief : a theological commentary on the Bible

Introduction: Why Revelation? Why Now?

1:1-9 Apocalypse: Then and Now

1:10-20 The Revelation of Jesus Christ: Encouragement to the Churches in the Spirit

Excursus A: The Seven Churches (Chapters 2-3)

2:1-7 Ephesus: (No) Rest for the Weary? Renewing Our First Love ; Further Reflections: The Call to Repentance

2:8-11 Smyrna: Pressured on Every Side? Living in the Light of Death ; Further Reflections: Being Faithful unto Death

2:12-17 Pergamum: Divided Within? Disambiguating the Faith ; Further Reflections: Allegiance to the Name of Jesus

2:18-29 Thyatira: Beguiled by the "Deep Things of Satan"? Discerning Faith on the (Gendered) Margins ; Further Reflections: Listening to the Spirit amid Shifting Margins

3:1-6 Sardis: Can the Dead Live? Awakening by the (Seven) Spirit(s) ; Further Reflections: Cultural Accommodation and Following the Spirit

3:7-13 Philadelphia: Little Power, Worldwide Witness? Enduring through the Promises ; Further Reflections: Countercultural Assurances for "the End"

3:14-22 Laodicea: Prosperity and the Absence of Jesus? Paying the Price of Affluence ; Further Reflections: The Cost of Wealth

4:1-11 Around the Heavenly Throne: Invitation to Worship ; Further Reflections: Let Us Worship God

5:1-14 The Lamb and the Scroll: Preparing for/ amid the Storm ; Further Reflections: Pathways through the Tempest

Excursus B: Seven Seals-Trumpets-Bowls (Chapters 6-16)

6:1 -8 The First Four Seals and the Four Horsemen: Unveiling a Broken Creation ; Further Reflections: Laying Bare the Human Condition

6:9-17 Under the Heavenly Altar and among the Caves and Mountains: Can I Get a Witness? ; Further Reflections: Multivocal and Messianic Testifyn'

7:1-17 144,000 and the Great Multitude: Standing (Out) in the Crowd? ; Further Reflections: The Multitude on the Way to God's Reign

8:1-5 Silence in Heaven, Trumpets for Earth: How Then Should We Pray? ; Further Reflections: Contemplative Prayer

8:6-13 The First Four Trumpets Blowing: What Can/Should Be Done about Global Warming? ; Further Reflections: Stewards of Creation

9:1-12 The First Woe and the Torture-Stinging Locusts: Existing in the Shadow of Abaddon/Apollyon ; Further Reflections: Discerning and Confronting Demonic Forces

9:13-21 The Second Woe and the Plague-Spewing Hordes: Deliverance from Encroaching Death ; 10:1-11 Eating the (Little) Scroll: Commissioning for a Prophetic Vocation ; Further Reflections: The Prophetic Call and Its Hazards

11:1-14 Prophesying at the Ends of the Earth: Completing the Prophetic Witness ; Further Reflections: The (Eternal) Implications of Our Testimony

11:15-19 Worship at the Sound of the Seventh Trumpet: Singing in the Polis as in Heaven? ; Further Reflections: The Redemptive Work of Earthly Worship

Excursus C: Between the Trumpets and the Outpouring of the Bowls (Chapters 12-14)

12:1-18 The Woman, the Dragon, and Us: Wondering When and How This War Will End? ; Further Reflections: Spiritual Warfare

13:1-10 The Beast out of the Sea: (Nonviolently) Resisting the Politics of Evil ; Further Reflections: Faithful Citizenship

13:11-18 The Beast out of the Earth: Calculating (within) the Global Economy ; Further Reflections: The Almighty Dollar?

14:1-5 The Lamb and the 144,000: Being Set Apart as the Redeemed ; Further Reflections: Singing and Living the Truth

14:6-20 Seven Angelic Messages-Signs: Apocalyptic Living in the Spirit ; Further Reflections: Confronting Death

15:1-8 The End, as at the Beginning: Replaying the Song of Moses ; Further Reflections: Singing the Song of Moses and the Lamb

16:1-21 The Seven Bowls of Judgment: Staying Awake through the Night ; Further Reflections: Being Vigilant

Excursus D: The Fall of Babylon and the Arrival of the New Jerusalem (Chapters 17:1-22:5)

17:1-18 The Mystery of Babylon Exposed: Wising Up in the Beastly Cosmopolis ; Further Reflections: Beckoning with Our Own Imperial Desire

18:1-24 The Judgment of Babylon Enacted: Constructing a Counter-Imperial Economy? ; Further Reflections: A Countercultural Solidarity

19:1-10 "Hallelujah!" Dressing for the Final Celebration ; Further Reflections: Worship God!

19:11-21 The Armies of the White Horse and of the Beast; Cooking Up the Great Supper ; Further Reflections: Weapons of the Betrothed

20:1-10 Millennial Discipleship: Forging the Lake of Fire ; Further Reflections: Living in the Interim

20:11-15 The Great White Throne: Writing the Books of Judgment ; Further Reflections: Working for the Healing of All

21:9-21 The New Jerusalem: Forming Heaven on Earth ; Further Reflections: Reorganizing Margins and Centers

21:22-22:5 The Edenic City and the Nations: Being Drawn into Communion with God ; Further Reflections: Redeeming Diversity

22:6-17 The Spirit and the Bride Say, "Come": Welcoming the World ; Further Reflections: An Open Invitation

Final Thoughts: 22:18-21 and Beyond.

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