Divine violence in the Old Testament is often the consequence of human decisions, with God taking responsibility for those consequences.
Jesus is depicted as the slaughtered lamb in the revelation, conquering through sacrificial love and the shedding of his own blood.
The revelation emphasizes the victory over evil through sacrificial love rather than continued divine violence.
Deep dives
The nuanced nature of divine violence in the Old Testament
Divine violence in the Old Testament is often not directly perpetrated by God. It is more accurately described as the consequence of human decisions, with God taking responsibility for those consequences. There is a pattern of God handing people over to the violence and evil that they have chosen. Even in narratives where divine violence can seem apparent, there are often hints or indicators of other agents involved. This nuanced understanding of divine violence is reflected in the revelation, where Jesus is depicted as a wounded victor who conquers through sacrificial love, giving up his life for his enemies.
The transformed understanding of divine violence in the portrayal of Jesus
Jesus is depicted as the slaughtered lamb in the revelation, conquering through sacrificial love and the shedding of his own blood. The image of Jesus on the white horse with blood on his robes and a sword in his mouth is a continuation of this transformed understanding. The blood on his robes signifies purification and victory through sacrificial love, while the sword in his mouth represents the power of his testimony and the gospel message. This portrayal reflects the overarching theme of conquering by sacrificial love and overturns traditional notions of divine violence.
The presence of complex symbolism in the imagery of divine violence
In the revelation, the imagery of divine violence is often complex and symbolic. Symbols such as the winepress, the blood on Jesus' robes, and the sword in his mouth all have deep connections to Old Testament imagery and theological themes. These symbols are reinterpreted through the lens of Jesus' sacrificial love and his victory over evil. The transformative nature of this imagery calls for a deeper understanding beyond a simplistic understanding of divine violence.
The portrayal of victory through sacrificial love in the conquering of evil
The revelation emphasizes the victory over evil through sacrificial love rather than continued divine violence. The emphasis on the wounded victor and the conquering power of sacrificial love is a central theme throughout the book. The conquering is achieved through the blood of the lamb and the testimony of the saints, reflecting the transformative power of Jesus' sacrificial death. This portrayal challenges traditional views of divine violence and presents a new understanding of victory and triumph over evil.
The Defeat of Evil through Sacrifice
The podcast explores the concept of how evil gets ultimately defeated through sacrifice. The speaker explains that Jesus taking responsibility for humanity's violence and sacrificially putting himself in the place of a violent rebel against Rome is a way to overcome evil. The followers of Jesus are called to live a life of surrender and sacrificial love, as empowered by the Holy Spirit. This sacrificial approach is seen as the way to victory and conquering evil.
Living in Babylon
The podcast discusses whether one should immigrate or stay in a corrupt and violent society seen as Babylon. While biblical imagery identifies human societies as Babylon, the speakers mention Jeremiah's advice to the exiles in Babylon to seek the well-being of the city and make it their home. They highlight Peter's understanding of Christian existence as exile in Babylon, encouraging believers to bear witness to Jesus and seek the common good. However, there may be situations where individuals choose to immigrate for safety and well-being, and that decision should be respected.
This is our Q+R episode for the Day of the Lord theme.
Thank you to all the people who submitted questions!
Q's and Timestamps:
The Day of the Lord can be a sensitive subject, so how do you have good and respectful conversations with others about the Day of the Lord? (2:40)
What is the spectrum of views that Christians have on the Day of the Lord and what is the view the Bible Project is presenting? (12:30)
What is the role of divine violence in the Bible? Why does Jesus seem so nice and peaceful in the New Testament but God seems mean and violent in the Old Testament? (17:20)
In Revelation 19, The blood on Jesus’ robe is before the battle. This seemed to be a main point in the Day of the Lord video by the Bible Project. Why is this significant? (47:45)
What is Jesus talking about in Matthew 24? And what is the deal with people disappearing? (121:13)
How should Christians think about staying or migrating in different parts of the world that may be more oppressive than others?(132:25)
Links:
Original video conversation:
youtube.com/thebibleproject.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEBc2gSSW04
Additional Resources:
Gregory Boyd, "Divine Aikido" chapter 15 in Crucifixion of the Warrior God.
Ian Boxall, The Book of Revelation.
Leon Morris, The Book of Revelation.
Dale Allison and W.D. Davies, The Gospel according to Matthew.
Music Credits:
Defender Instrumental by Rosasharn Music
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