Apocalyptic Class 3 Notes-Handouts

Roman background for New Testament apocalyptic concernsLetters
Homework:
Read Revelation 1-4.
Getting ready for class 3:

-If the book of Revelation only contained these four chapters what would be your impression
of the book? Is it frightening or comforting? What is being revealed here?
Class 3: The churches of Revelation. March 18, 2021.

Key terms and figures
Paul and Galatia
Paul and Ephesus
Pergamum
Nero
Greco-Roman worship and local religion
Emperor worship
Christian persecution in the 1st century
Cycles
Seven-fold structure
Expulsion of Jews from Rome—49AD
“Since the Jews constantly made disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus, he [the Emperor
Claudius] expelled them from Rome.” --Suetonius, Lives of the Twelve Caesars
Persecution of the Christians in Rome under Nero—64AD

as told by the Roman historian Tacitus:
Yet no human effort, no princely largess nor offerings to the gods could make that infamous rumor
disappear that Nero had somehow ordered the fire. Therefore, in order to abolish that rumor, Nero
falsely accused and executed with the most exquisite punishments those people called Christians,
who were infamous for their abominations. The originator of the name, Christ, was executed as a
criminal by the procurator Pontius Pilate during the reign of Tiberius; and though repressed, this
destructive superstition erupted again, not only through Judea, which was the origin of this evil, but
also through the city of Rome, to which all that is horrible and shameful floods together and is
celebrated. Therefore, first those were seized who admitted their faith, and then, using the
information they provided, a vast multitude were convicted, not so much for the crime of burning
the city, but for hatred of the human race. And perishing they were additionally made into sports:
they were killed by dogs by having the hides of beasts attached to them, or they were nailed to
crosses or set aflame, and, when the daylight passed away, they were used as nighttime lamps. Nero
gave his own gardens for this spectacle and performed a Circus game, in the habit of a charioteer
mixing with the plebs or driving about the race-course. Even though they were clearly guilty and
merited being made the most recent example of the consequences of crime, people began to pity
these sufferers, because they were consumed not for the public good but on account of the
fierceness of one man.
AD 69 Year of the Four Emperors
AD 70 Temple destroyed
AD 81-96 Domitian
Concentrated more power in the office of Emperor
Restored Temple of Jupiter on Capitoline Hill in Rome
Asia Minor (Modern-day Turkey)
Other New Testament Letters
Paul – Ephesus, Galatia
1, 2 Peter – Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, Bithynia
Summary of the Seven Churches
Ephesus
• Prosperous city: commerce and Religion: Temple to Artemis
• Praised for opposing false teaching
• Chastised for losing love
→ Assimilation
Smyrna
• Rich city but congregation mostly poor
• Confrontations with local synagogues
→ Persecution
Pergamum j(get picture of altar [berlin museum?]

• High hill with many shrines and altar to Zeus at top.
• Challenge : eating meat sacrificed to Idols.
→ Assimilation
Thyatira
• Important commercial center; many trade guilds.
• Commended for love, but tolerate Jezebel
• Issue: idolatry (probably meat sacrificed to idols)
→ Assimilation
Sardis,
• Name of being alive, but dead, things are not as they seem
• Wealthy city: congregation had a good reputation (alive) but not so faithful to
God (dead)
→ complacency
Philadelphia
• Rich city;
• Poor and small congregation
• Opposition from local synagogues
→ Persecution
Laodicea
• Prosperous city and congregation
• Main industries: banking, textiles, medical school
• Yet they are "poor, naked, and blind" in need of Christ's riches, clothing, and
healing
→ complacency
Outline of Revelation
Ch
1 Seven Lamp-stands around the Son of Man
2-3 Seven Letters to seven churches
4-5 Interlude on the throne and lamb
6 -7 Seven Seals opened

Persecution 6:9-11
Judgment 6:12-17
Triumph 7:9-17
8-9 Seven Trumpets sound

Persecution 8:3-9:14
Judgment 9:15-21
10-11 Interlude on prophecy and witness
[Seven Trumpets cont.]

Triumph 11:15-19
12-15 Seven Visions of conflict and victory

Persecution 12-13
Judgment 14:14-20
Triumph 15:2-4
16 Seven Bowls brimming with the wrath of God
Persecution 16:4-16
-Final Judgment-
Seventh Bowl 16:17-21
17-18 Interlude on Babylon
-Final Victory-
19-21 Seven Visions of Victory
22 The End is Near

Homework:
Read Revelation 5-16.
Prepare first draft of your reflection paper.
Getting ready for class 4:
As you read this section, which is densely packed with imagery, do you feel like you are
marching through a timeline or immersed in multiple timelines? Does it make a difference if
you see all of this imagery through the lens of political cartoons? Can you imagine situations
where these chapters would be comforting? Or terrifying?

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Roman background for New Testament apocalyptic concernsLetters

Getting ready for class 3:

Class 3: The churches of Revelation. March 18, 2021.

Expulsion of Jews from Rome—49AD

Persecution of the Christians in Rome under Nero—64AD

AD 69 Year of the Four Emperors

Concentrated more power in the office of Emperor

Restored Temple of Jupiter on Capitoline Hill in Rome

Asia Minor (Modern-day Turkey)

Other New Testament Letters

Paul – Ephesus, Galatia

1, 2 Peter – Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, Bithynia

Summary of the Seven Churches

Pergamum j(get picture of altar [berlin museum?]

2-3 Seven Letters to seven churches

4-5 Interlude on the throne and lamb

6 -7 Seven Seals opened

8-9 Seven Trumpets sound

10-11 Interlude on prophecy and witness

[Seven Trumpets cont.]

12-15 Seven Visions of conflict and victory

17-18 Interlude on Babylon

19-21 Seven Visions of Victory

22 The End is Near

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