[Topic of Orange Grove Meeting Bible Study: January 15, 2017, at 9 am.]
The
Book of Revelation is one of the most complex books of the Bible, coming at the
very end and describing the “last days” of the world. Its title
is derived from the first word of
the text, written in koine (common) Greek: apokalypsis, meaning "unveiling" or "revelation.” This
book was so important to early Friends that they named Philadelphia after one
of the cities mentioned in the Book of Revelation. (Philadelphia, which means “brotherly
love,” was “steadfast in faith, kept
God's word and endured patiently” (3:10)).
The Book of Revelation was written during the time of the Emperor Domitian who enacted the second great persecution
of the Christians in AD 81 (ten years after the destruction of Jerusalem). A man of inordinate cruelty, Domitian “commanded
all the lineage of David be put to death. Among the numerous martyrs that
suffered during this persecution was Simeon, bishop of Jerusalem, who was
crucified; and St. John, who was boiled in oil [but somehow survived and
supposedly preached from the boiling pot] and afterward was banished to Patmos
[where he wrote the Book of Revelation]. Flavia, the daughter of a Roman
senator, was likewise banished to Pontus; and a law was made, "That no
Christian, once brought before the tribunal, should be exempted from punishment
without renouncing his religion."
The book of
Revelation was written in highly symbolic language as a critique of Rome and
also offered consolation to persecuted Christians, assuring them that Rome
would fall and a new Jerusalem would descend from heaven and usher in God’s rule
on earth. It consists of letters to
various churches as well as prophecies about the future. It foresees a great
spiritual battle, in which God’s enemies would be vanquished and those chosen
by God would be saved. Early Quakers called this the Lamb’s war, since Christ
is symbolized by a lamb in the Book of Revelation. One of the enemies of Christ
is a figure called “the Whore of Babylon.”
Babylon had come
to symbolize for the Jews and early Christians everything that was contrary to
God’s will—empire, hierarchy, idolatry, injustice, oppression, greed,
materialism, consumerism, and violence. The Book of Revelation shows that the
power of the Lamb—the power of non-violence—is greater than the power of
Babylon. The Lamb doesn’t use conventional weapons; he uses the “sharp sword” of
God’s word that comes out of his mouth and slays his enemies with the power of
Truth. (See Rev 19:15 Hebrews 4:12).
The fall of
Babylon described in Chapter 18 occurs right after a great spiritual battle in
which Satan, symbolized by a dragon, is defeated by the Lamb.
The Book of
Revelation was extremely important to early Friends who saw themselves as
living in the “last days” when genuine Christians (i.e. Quakers) were persecuted
by false Christians much as they were in the times of Domitian. Quakers
suffered imprisonment and some were killed for practicing their religion. Quakers
renounced violence (the way of Babylon) because they believed they were
fighting a “Lamb’s war” using spiritual weapons (truth and love). In their
declaration of 1660, when King Charles is restored to the throne, Quakers
wrote: “All bloody principles
and practices, we…do utterly deny, with all outward wars and strife and
fightings with outward weapons, for any end or under any pretence whatsoever.
And this is our testimony to the whole world.”
Modern Friends still
find truth and wisdom in the Book of Revelation because it challenges the
empire and a world order based on violence, greed, and inequality.
Recommended works by Quaker authors:
·
Doug Gwyn, The Apocalypse of
the Word. (1986)
·
William Durland, The
Apocalyptic Witness: A Radical Calling for Our Own Times (1988)
The British publication The Friend also recently published a
pamphlet called “Quakers and the Apocalypse.” Here are some excerpts:
At one level, [the Book of
Revelation] is about its time and place: circa 80 C.E. in the eastern part of
the Roman Empire. It is about the persecution of early Christians by Rome, and
can be seen as a cherished tract for hard times. However, at another level, it
is as much about empire as it was about Rome, which is never mentioned by name.
Instead, the Apocalypse speaks of “Babylon”, the first destroyer of Jerusalem;
Rome had become the second shortly before the Apocalypse took its final written
form. Using the term “Babylon” was not a
code—it is much too thin a veil on meaning to be code. It is an echo or
evocation. The Apocalypse is an echo chamber of images and scripture; it
alludes to the Old Testament in nearly every verse. The echoes give its images
and symbols a time-transcending resonance.
***
Of all the books in the Bible,
the Apocalypse is our [i.e. Quaker] book. It is the cry of a small, marginal
group of believers who have held on to their faith even though it meant being
out of step with Babylon. This faithful band had come through hard times. In
the 1650s, the wars of the Reformation had decimated Europe, leaving it
politically unstable and spiritually wounded. Now the outlook is scarcely
better, only it is now the scientists who prophesy our doom as the carbon fuels
that we have nearly used up have overheated our planet and changed its climate.
Still we go on consuming, and borrowing so much to buy it all that our
overheated financial system implodes. Babylon the Great is very nearly fallen, but
meanwhile, thriving as ever….
***
George Fox‘s great discovery was
that Christ was right here, inwardly present in the here and now, although
people mostly take no notice. Indeed, the entire Apocalypse is happening right
under our noses, God, dragon; Lamb, antichrist; the New Jerusalem; it is all
happening, all the time, but we do not notice any more than a fish notices that
he is in water.
***
To understand the Book of Revelation we
also need to understand that it has a “happy ending.” It announces a time when God’s Kingdom is
coming down to earth.
“Then I saw a new heaven and a
new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the
sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of
heaven from God” (Rev 21:1).
For Quakers this heavenly city was not simply a future event, it is also
happening here and now for those who turn to Christ are dwelling in it. Isaac Penington wrote: “For Zion is not now
literal, or after the flesh…but Zion is the holy hill of God in Spirit, upon
which the heavenly Jerusalem was built, which is revealed, come down, and
coming down from heaven, and many of the heavenly citizens dwell there already,
and more are coming thither to dwell”
For Quakers, this is our task: to
let God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven, to let the new Jerusalem
become not just a vision but a reality.
Revelation 18: Living Bible (TLB)
18 After all this I saw another angel come down from heaven with
great authority, and the earth grew bright with his splendor.
2 He gave a
mighty shout, “Babylon the Great is fallen, is fallen; she has become a den of
demons, a haunt of devils and every kind of evil spirit.[a] 3 For all
the nations have drunk the fatal wine of her intense immorality. The rulers of
earth have enjoyed themselves with her,[b] and
businessmen throughout the world have grown rich from all her luxurious
living.”
4 Then I
heard another voice calling from heaven, “Come away from her, my people; do not
take part in her sins, or you will be punished with her. 5 For her
sins are piled as high as heaven, and God is ready to judge her for her crimes. 6 Do to her
as she has done to you, and more—give double penalty for all her evil deeds.
She brewed many a cup of woe for others—give twice as much to her. 7 She has
lived in luxury and pleasure—match it now with torments and with sorrows. She
boasts, ‘I am queen upon my throne. I am no helpless widow. I will not
experience sorrow.’ 8 Therefore
the sorrows of death and mourning and famine shall overtake her in a single day,
and she shall be utterly consumed by fire; for mighty is the Lord who judges
her.”
9 And the
world leaders who took part in her immoral acts and enjoyed her favors will
mourn for her as they see the smoke rising from her charred remains. 10 They will
stand far off, trembling with fear and crying out, “Alas, Babylon, that mighty
city! In one moment her judgment fell.”
11 The
merchants of the earth will weep and mourn for her, for there is no one left to
buy their goods. 12 She was their biggest
customer for gold and silver, precious stones, pearls, finest linens, purple
silks, and scarlet; and every kind of perfumed wood, and ivory goods, and most
expensive wooden carvings, and brass, and iron, and marble; 13 and
spices, and perfumes, and incense, ointment, and frankincense, wine, olive
oil, and fine flour; wheat, cattle, sheep, horses, chariots, and slaves—and
even the souls of men.
14 “All the
fancy things you loved so much are gone,” they cry. “The dainty luxuries and
splendor that you prized so much will never be yours again. They are gone
forever.”
15 And so
the merchants who have become wealthy by selling her these things shall stand
at a distance, fearing danger to themselves, weeping and crying, 16 “Alas,
that great city, so beautiful—like a woman clothed in finest purple and scarlet
linens, decked out with gold and precious stones and pearls! 17 In one
moment, all the wealth of the city is gone!”
And all the shipowners and
captains of the merchant ships and crews will stand a long way off, 18 crying as
they watch the smoke ascend, and saying, “Where in all the world is there
another city such as this?” 19 And they
will throw dust on their heads in their sorrow and say, “Alas, alas, for that
great city! She made us all rich from her great wealth. And now in a single
hour all is gone. . . . ”
20 But you,
O heaven, rejoice over her fate; and you, O children of God and the
prophets and the apostles! For at last God has given judgment against her for
you.
21 Then a
mighty angel picked up a boulder shaped like a millstone and threw it into the
ocean and shouted, “Babylon, that great city, shall be thrown away as I have
thrown away this stone, and she shall disappear forever. 22 Never
again will the sound of music be there—no more pianos, saxophones, and trumpets.[c] No
industry of any kind will ever again exist there, and there will be no more
milling of the grain. 23 Dark,
dark will be her nights; not even a lamp in a window will ever be seen again.
No more joyous wedding bells and happy voices of the bridegrooms and the
brides. Her businessmen were known around the world, and she deceived all
nations with her sorceries. 24 And she
was responsible for the blood of all the martyred prophets and the saints.”
Footnotes:
a.
Revelation 18:2 every
kind of evil spirit, literally, “every foul and hateful bird.”
b.
Revelation 18:3 have
enjoyed themselves with her, literally, “have committed fornication
with her.”
c.
Revelation 18:22 no
more pianos, saxophones, and trumpets, literally, “harpers, pipers,
and trumpeters.”
Questions:
How would you paraphrase in your own words this description of the
fall of a great commercial center called Babylon? Who will mourn its downfall?
How were Christians supposed to act during the fall of this evil empire?
What do you find challenging
and/or encouraging about this chapter?
What meaning does it have
for your life?
What application or meaning do you
feel it has for today’s world?
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