The following is my opinion on the book of revelation. i hope others with an interest in religion will enjoy this, then comment, so we can get some interesting discussion going.
Revelation is the center piece of modern Judeo-Christian apocalypse mythology. It was originally written by John (not the baptist) as a letter to other christians of his time. John wrote this letter while imprisoned by the romans (for being a christian) on the island of patmos.
In such situations people have a tendency to either go insane from isolation or tap into their subconscious for company. and im not just saying that to be funny. if any person, even a mentally healthy person, is deprived of sentient stimulus, then they will hallucinate (both auditory and visual) simply because the brain becomes bored and seeks entertainment.
A lot of the symbols in the book of revelation are not original. In fact, some say that those symbols were used deliberately by John to convey a hidden message to the christians he was writing to, that the romans wouldn't understand. Most likely a message to reassure his fellow christians, as any good leader would do.
John was counting on people from his time to understand just what his letter meant. now in our modern age it is regarded as a great mystery from god because it is rare that this generation of christians would think in terms of those arcane symbols. symbols like dragons in the sky and the signifigance of numbers. so modern theologians try to associate the symbols in johns letter with things like armies and war machines because we, like every generation, believe that the end is near.
christians were facing terrible oppression and persecution during those early times in the religion's history. i think anyone who would be killed for their beliefs would want an escape from the world that hated them. believing that the world which is persecuting you for your beliefs would be destroyed by the god that you believed in, would indeed be a much needed emotional release. the idea of a holy apocalypse gave early christians hope and confidence that they were not dying without cause.
today christians often interpret the book of revelations as describing a horrible opression that christians will have to face that weren't saved before the tribulation. but i believe it is important to note how much oppression christians were facing when the book was written. it is more likely that the angel of the lord that revealed all these things to John was actually a hallucination that John created to calm his own doubts.
given the circumstances that john was enduring as one of the leaders of a religion that was costing people their lives, and as a prisoner, mental collapse should not be ruled out as a possibility.
i will say here again, believing that the world which hates you for your beliefs would be destroyed by the god you believe in, would be a quenching emotional release.
i feel that theologians can give so much creedence to the book of revelation because it was written by a man who was familiar with the jewish mythology which had been building up over the past 4000 years. the jewish religion is rich with fundamental archetypes that are synonymous with countless other religions. most religions are essentially telling the same story, but there are few (i would say) as well developed as the old testament and new testament. with that rich resevoir of information influencing John (the old testament), his subconscious would have a lot to draw from to create hallucinations and dreams. the well developed old testament also would give john a clear depiction of human nature. clear enough to write a poetic prose about his idea of how man's world would end, which could continue to mystify theologians for generations to come.
the symbols of revelation were nothing new when john wrote them. that's why i'd say this book wasn't inspired by the divine as much as it was by previous religious concepts, symbols, and philosophies.
Revelation is the center piece of modern Judeo-Christian apocalypse mythology. It was originally written by John (not the baptist) as a letter to other christians of his time. John wrote this letter while imprisoned by the romans (for being a christian) on the island of patmos.
In such situations people have a tendency to either go insane from isolation or tap into their subconscious for company. and im not just saying that to be funny. if any person, even a mentally healthy person, is deprived of sentient stimulus, then they will hallucinate (both auditory and visual) simply because the brain becomes bored and seeks entertainment.
A lot of the symbols in the book of revelation are not original. In fact, some say that those symbols were used deliberately by John to convey a hidden message to the christians he was writing to, that the romans wouldn't understand. Most likely a message to reassure his fellow christians, as any good leader would do.
John was counting on people from his time to understand just what his letter meant. now in our modern age it is regarded as a great mystery from god because it is rare that this generation of christians would think in terms of those arcane symbols. symbols like dragons in the sky and the signifigance of numbers. so modern theologians try to associate the symbols in johns letter with things like armies and war machines because we, like every generation, believe that the end is near.
christians were facing terrible oppression and persecution during those early times in the religion's history. i think anyone who would be killed for their beliefs would want an escape from the world that hated them. believing that the world which is persecuting you for your beliefs would be destroyed by the god that you believed in, would indeed be a much needed emotional release. the idea of a holy apocalypse gave early christians hope and confidence that they were not dying without cause.
today christians often interpret the book of revelations as describing a horrible opression that christians will have to face that weren't saved before the tribulation. but i believe it is important to note how much oppression christians were facing when the book was written. it is more likely that the angel of the lord that revealed all these things to John was actually a hallucination that John created to calm his own doubts.
given the circumstances that john was enduring as one of the leaders of a religion that was costing people their lives, and as a prisoner, mental collapse should not be ruled out as a possibility.
i will say here again, believing that the world which hates you for your beliefs would be destroyed by the god you believe in, would be a quenching emotional release.
i feel that theologians can give so much creedence to the book of revelation because it was written by a man who was familiar with the jewish mythology which had been building up over the past 4000 years. the jewish religion is rich with fundamental archetypes that are synonymous with countless other religions. most religions are essentially telling the same story, but there are few (i would say) as well developed as the old testament and new testament. with that rich resevoir of information influencing John (the old testament), his subconscious would have a lot to draw from to create hallucinations and dreams. the well developed old testament also would give john a clear depiction of human nature. clear enough to write a poetic prose about his idea of how man's world would end, which could continue to mystify theologians for generations to come.
the symbols of revelation were nothing new when john wrote them. that's why i'd say this book wasn't inspired by the divine as much as it was by previous religious concepts, symbols, and philosophies.
