Abstract
The church and power in Revelation 11. The article discusses the notion of power in the episode of the two witnesses in Revelation 11:4–6 as a point of departure for a reflection on power in early Christian documents. It also aims to determine the meaning of power in terms of a close reading of a specific text so that discussions about its nature and about power in Biblical texts can be rooted in firm evidence. This evidence should then, at later stages be further developed with the aid of theoretical models and insights about power. In a first section power in Revelation 11:4−6 is described in terms of the identity and task of the witnesses and in terms of its divine origins, followed in a second part by reflection on the direct references to their power. Special attention is given to some seminal issues about power, namely, its relationship with truth and prophecy, its divine origins, the misuse of power, violence as a response to evil and, finally, its role in the Book of Revelation and Early Christianity.
Highlights
Die episode oor die twee getuies in Openbaring 11 kan uit die aard van hierdie verwysings verskeie insigte bied in die aard van mag in die vroeg-Christelike geloofsgemeenskap
Hoe belangrik dit is om hierdie inligting te ondersoek, is duidelik uit die feit dat mag soms in die konteks van geweld ingetrek word en dus problematies kan word. Daarmee word die vraag opgeroep hoe vroegChristelike skrywers oor mag gedink het, veral in hulle konteks van ekstreme gesagsfigure soos die Romeinse keiser, die plaaslike politieke heersers en selfs magtige instansies soos leiers binne die Joodse gemeenskappe
In die sin werp die gedeelte ‘n ander lig op die oënskynlike magteloosheid van gelowiges teenoor die bose magte aan wie hulle, volgens die res van die verhaal, oorgelewer word
Summary
The church and power in Revelation 11. The article discusses the notion of power in the episode of the two witnesses in Revelation 11:4–6 as a point of departure for a reflection on power in early Christian documents. Die episode oor die twee getuies in Openbaring 11 kan uit die aard van hierdie verwysings verskeie insigte bied in die aard van mag in die vroeg-Christelike geloofsgemeenskap. Hierdie vraag word ook belangrik om te verstaan wat die verhouding van mag tot geweld is en hoe gewelddadig gelowiges was. Enkele opmerkings oor die aard van hierdie hoofstuk in Openbaring is belangrik voordat die verwysings na mag daarin geïnterpreteer word. 5.Kyk Lohmeyer (1953:89) – hy wys daarop dat die ruimte vir handeling in Openbaring die stad is, maar in hoofstuk heel ander plekke – wat die samehang nog onduideliker maak. Hierdie verhaal oor die getuies word dikwels histories gelees en verbind met sulke figure soos Petrus en Paulus; Johannes en Jesus. In die sin werp die gedeelte ‘n ander lig op die oënskynlike magteloosheid van gelowiges teenoor die bose magte aan wie hulle, volgens die res van die verhaal, oorgelewer word
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