Consider ways that the visions and instructions given by the prophet John provide a fitting conclusion to the entire Biblical story for Christ’s followers experiencing challenges in the Roman world as well as for contemporary believers. Your response should demonstrate an understanding of John’s prophetic message in the context of first century persecution. Develop your essay according to the following prompts:
Discuss the overall message of the Book of Revelation and then focus especially on Rev 20-22.
Explain how John’s visions in last few chapters of this writing bring resolution for the problems of sin, suffering and alienation that began with humanity’s rebellion in the Garden of Eden.
What passages and images are particularly meaningful here? And how do the promises offered by Jesus speak to those enduring persecution and hardship in the world?
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
The Book of Revelation: Resolving Sin, Suffering, and Alienation
The Book of Revelation, attributed to the prophet John, offers a unique and vivid portrayal of eschatological visions that provide hope, comfort, and resolution for believers facing persecution and challenges. This essay will explore the overall message of the Book of Revelation, with a specific focus on chapters 20-22, to demonstrate how John’s prophetic message brings resolution to the problems of sin, suffering, and alienation that originated from humanity’s rebellion in the Garden of Eden. Additionally, it will discuss meaningful passages and images in these chapters and how the promises offered by Jesus address the hardships faced by persecuted believers then and now.
The Overall Message of the Book of Revelation
The Book of Revelation is a complex and symbolic text that conveys a message of divine judgment, redemption, and ultimate victory. It depicts the cosmic conflict between good and evil, culminating in the triumph of God’s kingdom over the forces of darkness. Throughout the book, John uses vivid imagery, symbolism, and apocalyptic language to convey his prophetic visions of the end times.
In chapters 20-22, known as the conclusion of Revelation, John envisions the final defeat of Satan, the resurrection of the dead, the Last Judgment, and the establishment of a new heaven and a new earth. These chapters offer a vision of hope and restoration for believers, assuring them that God’s justice will prevail and that a new era of peace and righteousness is on the horizon.
Resolution of Sin, Suffering, and Alienation
The visions in chapters 20-22 serve as a resolution to the problems of sin, suffering, and alienation that have plagued humanity since the Fall in the Garden of Eden. In Revelation 20, John describes the binding of Satan and his ultimate defeat, symbolizing the eradication of evil and sin from the world. The resurrection of the dead in Revelation 20:12-13 signifies the restoration of God’s creation and the defeat of death itself.
Revelation 21 portrays the vision of a new heaven and a new earth, where God dwells among His people, wiping away every tear and abolishing pain and suffering. The imagery of the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21:2 symbolizes the perfect unity and harmony between God and humanity, restoring the broken relationship caused by sin.
Meaningful Passages and Promises
Several passages and images in Revelation 20-22 are particularly meaningful for believers enduring persecution and hardship. Revelation 21:4 promises that God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain. This assurance offers comfort and hope to those facing trials and tribulations in a world filled with suffering and injustice.
The image of the river of the water of life in Revelation 22:1 symbolizes the eternal life and sustenance that believers will receive in God’s presence. The tree of life mentioned in Revelation 22:2 represents healing and restoration for all nations, emphasizing the universal scope of God’s redemptive plan.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Book of Revelation, particularly chapters 20-22, provides a fitting conclusion to the entire Biblical story by offering resolution to the problems of sin, suffering, and alienation that began with humanity’s rebellion in the Garden of Eden. John’s prophetic visions convey a message of hope, redemption, and ultimate victory for believers facing persecution and challenges. The promises offered by Jesus in these chapters speak to the enduring faithfulness of God in overcoming evil and establishing His kingdom of righteousness and peace. As Christ’s followers then and now navigate a world marked by trials and tribulations, the Book of Revelation serves as a beacon of hope, reminding believers that ultimate victory belongs to God alone.
