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Imperial Cults and the Apocalypse of John: Reading Revelation in the Ruins

Online ISBN:
9780199834198
Print ISBN:
9780195131536
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
Book

Imperial Cults and the Apocalypse of John: Reading Revelation in the Ruins

Steven J. Friesen
Steven J. Friesen

Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Religious Studies

University of Missouri
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Published online:
1 November 2003
Published in print:
15 November 2001
Online ISBN:
9780199834198
Print ISBN:
9780195131536
Publisher:
Oxford University Press

Abstract

Examines the relationship between imperial cults and the Book of Revelation, focusing especially on the Roman province of Asia during the early Empire. The main argument is that Revelation and imperial cult institutions were in direct contradiction regarding cosmology and eschatology. The exaggerated cosmology of imperial cult institutions resulted in an absurd eschatology – their emphasis on Roman imperial order was so strong that they could not envision an end to Roman rule. Revelation, on the other hand, denigrated all temporal authority and focused attention on the throne of God in heaven and the eschatological inauguration of the New Jerusalem. In this way, the author of Revelation produced one of humanity's great religious critiques of hegemony, a critique that attempted to establish and maintain a just community in the face of imperial oppression.

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