Deck 19: Christians and the Cosmos: The Book of Revelation

Question 1

Discuss how the book of Revelation is both like and unlike other ancient apocalypses.

Answer 1

Revelation is like other apocalypses in many ways. It includes the following typical features: It encourages Christians who are suffering; it is a first-person narrative that combines features of a heavenly journey and historical sketch (two common types of apocalypses); it includes bizarre symbolic visions, violent repetitions, and a triumphalist tone. Unlike most apocalypses, Revelation is not pseudonymous. Students should be able to offer specific details related to many of these elements.

Question 2

Who or what appears to be the primary opponent of Christianity in the book of Revelation? How is the opposition portrayed and revealed in the narrative?

Answer 2

The primary opponent of Christianity in the book of Revelation appears to be Rome; though Rome itself is in the service of the cosmic forces of evil, including Satan. Rome is depicted symbolically, though some of the symbols, such as the "great whore of Babylon," are not so heavily veiled; they would have been easily understood by early Christians familiar with the Roman Empire. The number of the beast, 666, also seems to reference Nero, the first Roman emperor to persecute Christians.

Question 3

Discuss why apocalypses were written during times of suffering or distress. What purpose did they serve within such communities? How might this apply to the circumstances of the audience of Revelation?

Answer 3

Apocalypses promise their audiences that the present world order, under which they suffer, will change soon, and God will establish his perfect kingdom. This genre explains that righteous people suffer precisely because they are righteous, not because they have sinned. Their suffering, therefore, is understandable and should be expected, but it will end very soon when God defeats Satan and eliminates evil and suffering in the world. These texts encourage people to retain their faith to be rewarded when the judgment comes.

Question 4

Interpret the following symbols of Revelation in light of your knowledge of the book's historical context: the twenty-four human elders; the whore of Babylon; and the number of the beast, 666.

Question 5

The word "revelation" means _____.

A) unveiling
B) reasoned defense
C) secret teaching
D) heavenly journey

Question 6

Chapters 2 and 3 of the book of Revelation are _____.

A) a vision of Christ
B) a tour of hell
C) letters to churches
D) descriptions of the destruction of the world

Question 7

In Revelation, all of the following initiate disasters in the world except _____.

A) the seven seals
B) the seven trumpets
C) the seven bowls
D) the seven horses

Question 8

All of the following are true of the genre of apocalypse except _____.

A) they are first-person narratives
B) they are among the oldest books of the Hebrew Bible
C) they contain symbolic visions
D) they explain the realities of the world

Question 9

One way that Revelation is different from most apocalypses is _____.

A) it is not pseudonymous
B) it is pseudonymous
C) it has many repetitions
D) it uses symbolic animals to explain current conditions

Question 10

Which of the following is an apocalypse in the Hebrew Bible?

A) John
B) Adam
C) Daniel
D) Isaiah

Question 11

The author of Revelation _____.

A) wrote no other books in the New Testament
B) wrote the Gospel of John
C) wrote the Johannine epistles
D) was Jesus' brother

Question 12

The Revelation of John was probably completed around _____.

A) 45 CE
B) 80 CE
C) 95 CE
D) 105 CE

Question 13

In the book of Revelation, Christ is depicted as all of the following except _____.

A) the Son of Man
B) a slaughtered lamb
C) a king
D) a Roman emperor

Question 14

The number of the beast, 666, most likely refers to _____.

A) Satan
B) Nero
C) Herod
D) Pilate

Question 15

Jewish apocalypses are written in the names of all the following figures except _____.

A) Adam
B) Moses
C) Abraham
D) David

Question 16

Name the "great city" referred to in Revelation that was built on seven hills and ruled the world in John's day _____.

A) Constantinople
B) Rome
C) Ephesus
D) Jerusalem

Question 17

By writing pseudonymously in the name of a famous person of the past, the author of an apocalypse is able to do which of the following?

A) receive some funding
B) seemingly predict the future with accuracy
C) gain a pagan audience
D) confuse his readers

Question 18

The number of the beast in some manuscripts of Revelation is _____.

A) 616
B) 116
C) 661
D) 667

Question 19

The book of Revelation is all of the following except _____.

A) an apocalypse
B) anonymous
C) written in Greek
D) clumsy and even ungrammatical at times

Question 20

The author of Revelation addresses his book to seven churches of Asia Minor; these are located in all of the following cities except _____.

A) Pergamum
B) Laodicia
C) Philippi
D) Ephesus

Question 21

Which of the following is not addressed by the author of Revelation?

A) the present situation of the churches
B) the Synoptic Problem
C) his vision of the final cosmic battle
D) his vision of Christ

Question 22

How many sets of seven major disasters are depicted in Revelation?

A) one
B) two
C) three
D) four

Question 23

Which of the following serves as evidence that author of Revelation did not write the Gospel of John?

A) different writing styles
B) different sources
C) the fact that the author of the Gospel of John was Jewish
D) the fact that the author of Revelation remains anonymous

Question 24

Which ancient Christian recognized that the book of Revelation was not written by the author of the Gospel of John?

A) Paul
B) Athanasius
C) Dionysius
D) Peter

Question 25

Which of the following texts narrates a first-person guided tour of heaven and hell?

A) Apocalypse of Peter
B) Ecclesiastical History
C) Apocalypse of John
D) Apocalypse of Nero

Question 26

In early Jewish traditions, Babylon is code for _____.

A) the book of Daniel
B) the chief political enemy of God
C) Jesus
D) heaven

Question 27

Apocalypses often take the form of _____.

A) historical sketches
B) epistles
C) ancient biographies
D) psalms

Question 28

The book of Daniel appears to be written approximately how many years after it alleges?

A) one hundred
B) two hundred
C) three hundred
D) four hundred

Question 29

The bizarre symbolic visions in apocalypses are often interpreted by all of the following except _____.

A) the author
B) a heavenly being
C) the reader
D) God

Question 30

To six of the churches, Jesus gives both praises and admonitions. Which is the only church to which Jesus gives no praise to any of its members but only admonition?

A) Laodicea
B) Philadelphia
C) Smyrna
D) Ephesus

Question 31

In the book of Revelation, the number seven appears to symbolize _____.

A) divinity
B) virtue
C) the author
D) evil

Question 32

The book of Revelation was probably completed during the reign of which Roman emperor?

A) Caesar Augustus
B) Nero
C) Domitian
D) Tiberius

Question 33

The book of Revelation depicts the Christian church as _____.

A) wealthy
B) persecuted
C) favored by the Romans
D) thoroughly Jewish

Question 34

The book of Revelation is meant to do all of the following except _____.

A) admonish Christians who are tempted to abandon their views
B) encourage believers that God will soon vindicate their suffering
C) portray John's visions
D) encourage the church to join forces with Rome