What The Romans Thought About the Christians

[Ludovicus]

Several contemporary biblical scholars believe that the Book of Revelation was written in part as an anti-Roman tract. It's true, you don't that feeling from any of the Gospels.

From a BBC article:

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/ch...evelation.shtml

 

 

 

"The word Armageddon is taken from al-Megiddo, a place on the Jazreel Plain in modern-day Israel. By John's time many famous battles had been fought there and in the first century it was the site of the camp of the brutal Roman Ironsides.

 

To John's (author of Revelation) mind this would have been the perfect place for the final battle between good and evil.

 

So it seems that the Book of Revelation is not prophesising the end of the world but is a polemic against the Roman Empire.

 

John frames his attack in a way that parallels other religious writings of the time and which would have made sense to early Christians.

 

John was telling first century Christians to galvanise themselves against compromising with Rome, and that their faithfulness would be rewarded.

Edited June 20, 2008 by Ludovicus

[ASCLEPIADES]

Several contemporary biblical scholars believe that the Book of Revelation was written in part as an anti-Roman tract. It's true, you don't that feeling from any of the Gospels.

From a BBC article:

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/ch...evelation.shtml

 

 

 

"The word Armageddon is taken from al-Megiddo, a place on the Jazreel Plain in modern-day Israel. By John's time many famous battles had been fought there and in the first century it was the site of the camp of the brutal Roman Ironsides.

 

To John's (author of Revelation) mind this would have been the perfect place for the final battle between good and evil.

 

So it seems that the Book of Revelation is not prophesising the end of the world but is a polemic against the Roman Empire.

 

John frames his attack in a way that parallels other religious writings of the time and which would have made sense to early Christians.

 

John was telling first century Christians to galvanise themselves against compromising with Rome, and that their faithfulness would be rewarded.

Edited December 3, 2008 by ASCLEPIADES