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Essay / Revelation Theology - 2360
IntroductionTrinitarian theology in the book of Revelation is not easily recognizable at first glance among the plethora of images and prophecies recorded. The beauty of John's theology is that the Trinity is deeply embedded in the text, so the reader must dissect the book in order to glimpse the theological beauty that is present. This essay will seek to explore the sons of the Holy Trinity who appear in the book of Revelation by examining the characteristics of God, the specific Christology of John, and the role of the Holy Spirit in the book of Revelation. By viewing each of these three areas as distinct but overlapping threads, I hope to provide a succinct, scholastic Trinitarian theology of Revelation. Characteristics of God in Revelation According to Woodman, "the presence of God permeates the entire book of Revelation...God also appears as a character in the narrative...God is presented as the one behind the vision that Jesus communicates to John . The vision Woodman speaks of has its origins in the very first verse of the book, “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him (emphasis mine). » God is both behind the book as the vision-giver, within the book as a character, and throughout the narrative as an permeating figure. So when I look at the characteristics of God, it's important to digest this warning that God is actually in the whole book in one way or another. It is possible, however, to give three groups which may help in considering who God is in Revelation, namely: I. How God is titled, for example, The Almighty, The Alpha and OmegaII. How God is connected to things, for example God's temple III. The being and attributes of God, e.g. the way God speaks, his power...... middle of paper ...... The book of Revelation is not a black and white theological work white, but a pastoral and visionary book. Works Cited Aune, David E. "God and Time in the Apocalypse of John" in Apocalypticism, Prophecy, and Magic in Early Christianity: Collected Essays. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2006. Bauckham, Richard. The Theology of the Book of Revelation. Cambridge: CUP, 1993.Carrell, Peter R. BIBX 224, Reading Revelation Course Reader. 2011Carrell, Peter R. Jesus and the angels: angelology and christology of the Apocalypse of John. Cambridge, CUP, 1997.Johns, Loren L. The Christology of the Lamb of the Apocalypse of John. Tubingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2003. New Revised Standard Version Bible, Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1989. Waddell, Robby. The Spirit of the Book of Revelation. Dorset: Deo Publishing, 2006. Woodman, Simon. The book of Revelation. London: SCM Press, 2008.