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Interpreting the Book of Revelation and Its Apocalyptic Implications for the 21st Century African Pentecostal ChurchesDOI: 10.4236/oalib.1102842, PP. 1-12 Subject Areas: Philosophy Keywords: Apocalypse, Imagery, Eschatology, Prophecy, Prosperity Theology, Syncretism, and Pentecostal Churches Abstract
Revelation is unique as it combines three distinctive literary types:
apocalypse, revelation and a letter. The apocalyptic writings are viewed as
revealing heavenly secrets focusing on God’s judgment of the wicked and his deliverance
of the righteous. The book as a prophecy is a revelation from God that invites
a response of trust and obedience though presented in the form of a letter from
John to those Churches in the province of Asia. The book is not just a
futurology but also a redemptive, historical and theological psychology for the
Church’s thinking throughout the age before Christ’s final coming. John describes
the imagery in a cryptic language and symbolism, which are very hard to
understand. Eschatology is the primary theology of the book. The interpretation
of Revelation has been a source of much controversy. Some held that it had a
message only for the 1st century world; others maintain that the book is a
prophecy to be fulfilled totally in the future. Undoubtedly, John spoke to the
situation of his day that is also relevant for 21st century churches. The
letters to the seven churches indicate a situation of crisis, probably brought
on by Roman persecutions of the Christians. From this understanding, John
painted a vision of God's final triumph over evil that has sustained many
Christians in later eras. The 21st century churches in Africa are badly divided
by sectarianism and are buried under avalanche of false doctrines that are
incorporated in prosperity theology and syncretism. There is no indication
through the witness of church members that faith offers any effective defense
against sin’s pervasive influence. The church ministers are embroiled in
personal empowerment and churches have lost their power. This paper critically
examines all these implications along the imagery of the seven churches in
Revelation.
Soboyejo, J. O. (2016). Interpreting the Book of Revelation and Its Apocalyptic Implications for the 21st Century African Pentecostal Churches. Open Access Library Journal, 3, e2842. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1102842. References
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