How the Book of Revelation Deconstructs Empire with Dr. Ryan Hansen
Apr 24, 2023
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Dr. Ryan Hansen, a Ph.D. in New Testament and an ordained elder in the Church of the Nazarene, discusses how the Book of Revelation deconstructs empire and reconstructs the way of God. Topics include the true nature of the book, the power of love and self-giving, interpreting symbolism, the deconstructive nature of the Roman Empire, the lake of fire, and recommended books for understanding Revelation.
The Book of Revelation is a critique of empire, challenging power dynamics and calling for disengagement from oppressive systems.
Revelation requires an imaginative reading to grasp its theological message and calls for critique of oppressive systems and participation in a new creation characterized by love, non-violence, and communal support.
Silence in Revelation symbolizes non-participation in unjust systems, calling for witness to the Lamb's alternative way through economic sharing, care for the vulnerable, and non-violence.
Deep dives
The Book of Revelation as a Political, Economic, and Religious Critique of Empire
The book of Revelation is not primarily a roadmap for the end times, but rather a massive critique of empire, including political, economic, and religious systems. It challenges the power dynamics of empire and idolatry, calling for non-participation and disengagement from oppressive systems. The imagery in Revelation, such as the lamb and the lion, convey the alternative visions of power and justice. The book emphasizes the importance of community and communal action in working towards a new creation characterized by peace, abundance, and the healing of nations. While the critique is applicable to the specific context of Rome, it also resonates with challenges posed by any system of power and domination, including the American Empire and its economic structures.
Reading Revelation with the Right Side of the Brain
The book of Revelation requires a different approach to reading, tapping into the imagination and engaging with vivid symbolism. Rather than interpreting the imagery literally or linearly, it is essential to grasp the theological message conveyed. The book calls for critique of oppressive systems and participation in a new creation characterized by testimonies of self-giving love, non-violence, and communal support. Revelation offers both a critique of comfort and a word of hope, challenging the church to disengage from injustice, idolatry, and oppressive power structures, and to embrace the abundance and healing offered by the Lamb in the new creation.
The Non-Participatory Power of Silence and the Usage of Imagination in Revelation
Silence, in the context of Revelation, symbolizes non-participation in unjust and idolatrous systems. The book's sensory imagery is designed to stimulate imagination and reveal the truth behind oppressive powers. The call for silence is a call to disengage from systems of oppression and to witness to the Lamb's alternative way through shared economic resources, caring for the vulnerable, and practicing non-violence. Revelation challenges the prevailing narratives by critiquing systems of domination and advocating for creative and imaginative responses that lead to a new creation characterized by justice, abundance, and the healing of nations.
Navigating Empire Critique in a Modern Context
The book of Revelation invites readers to critically examine their relationship with contemporary empires, including the American Empire, and the ways in which they benefit from or participate in oppressive systems. It challenges individuals to question their choices and actions within these systems, calling for communal efforts to seek alternatives and embody the values of justice, non-violence, and abundance. Revelation emphasizes the need to dismantle power structures that perpetuate injustice, promoting mutual aid, communal responsibility, and a holistic vision of human flourishing. The book ultimately offers a prophetic critique of empire, urging people to actively work towards a better world and participate in the healing of nations.
The Power of Testimony and Hope in Revelation
Revelation emphasizes the power of testimony and hope as transformative forces in the face of oppressive systems. Testimony, symbolized by the sword coming from the mouth of Jesus, signifies the alternative power rooted in self-giving love and non-violence. Revelation challenges the allure of dominating power and idolatrous systems by highlighting the ultimate victory of the Lamb and the new creation that awaits. It calls for patient endurance amid uncomfortable critiques of society and invites individuals to engage in communal efforts to embody the values of justice, peace, and abundance in anticipation of a healed and transformed world.
Dr. Ryan Hansen joins the podcast today to discuss the Book of Revelation.
Revelation is not a roadmap to the end of the world.
Revelation is actually politically subversive literature that deconstructs the way of empire and reconstructs the way of God.
Ryan Leif Hansen received a Ph.D. in New Testament from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. He teaches at Garrett-Evangelical and is an ordained elder in the Church of the Nazarene in Chicago. He is the author of "Silence and Praise: Rhetorical Cosmology and Political Theology in the Book of Revelation".
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