Craig Koester – The Apocalypse: Controversies and Meaning in Western History

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Craig Koester – The Apocalypse: Controversies and Meaning in Western History

The Apocalypse: Controversies and Meaning in Western History

Decipher the most mysterious and controversial of all biblical works-the book of Revelations-in this spell-binding course by an acclaimed professor.

LECTURE (24)

01:Revelation and the Apocalyptic Tradition
Professor Koester introduces one of the most discussed books of all time: the book of Revelation, also known as the Apocalypse. Learn the original meaning of “apocalypse” and the importance of the apocalyptic tradition. Also survey the three-part structure of the course.

02:Apocalyptic Worldview in Judaism
Investigate the world of the Hebrew prophets, whose writings deeply influenced the author of the Apocalypse. First, focus on the themes of evil and hope in such works as Ezekiel and Isaiah. Then, see how these themes are taken up in the Dead Sea Scrolls and the apocalyptic book of Daniel.

03:Apocalyptic Dimension of Early Christianity
Consider how the apocalyptic worldview, with its strong sense of conflicting powers, was taken up and transformed by Christian writers in the New Testament. Apocalyptic themes had an important place in the early church, creating the religious matrix out of which the book of Revelation arose.

04:Origins of the Book of Revelation
Begin your close study of the text of the Apocalypse by looking behind the legends to surmise what can be said about its origins and author, identified only as John. Also examine the peculiar quality of John’s Greek, which is not apparent in most translations.

05:Issues Facing Revelation’s First Readers
The first two chapters of Revelation discuss the issues facing the Christian communities that first received the book. Delve deeper into the experiences of the men and women addressed by John. What was the nature of the persecution and other problems they faced? Who was this book written for?

06:God, the Lamb, and the Seven Seals
John’s distinctive images-his “word pictures”-have captured the imaginations of readers for centuries. Plunge into some of John’s most vivid scenes, including the breaking of the seven seals, which unleashes the four horsemen and other startling visions.

07:Seven Trumpets, Temple, and Celebration
Analyze the middle section of the Apocalypse from two contrasting perspectives: first, from the futurist view that Revelation is a book of ominous predictions; then, from the literary perspective that seeks to understand how John organizes his details into a narrative that is surprisingly hopeful.

08:The Dragon and the Problem of Evil
Turn to some of the most dramatic scenes in the Apocalypse, which deal with the problem of evil, personified by Satan, the great red dragon. John’s account draws on an ancient fascination with stories of good battling evil, but he gives a bold new interpretation to the conflict.

09:The Beasts and Evil in the Political Sphere
Trace John’s depiction of evil through the images of the two beasts. The beast from the sea, whose name equals 666, works in the realm of politics. The beast from the land supports the beast from the sea through practices that serve worldly empire.

10:The Harlot and the Imperial Economy
Encounter Babylon the harlot, one of the most remarkable figures in the Apocalypse. She symbolizes the city of Rome in all its ancient opulence. Two literary forms useful for understanding John’s metaphor are satire and the obituary. John is both satirizing Rome’s decadence and sounding its death knell.

11:The Battle, the Kingdom, and Last Judgment
Revelation’s final chapters feature scenes that have had a powerful effect on the modern imagination, ranging from the battle of Armageddon to the final defeat of Satan and the Last Judgment. Learn the ancient context for these images, which mark the climax of God’s battle against the forces of evil.

12:New Creation and New Jerusalem
Conclude your close reading of the text of Revelation with John’s vision of the new creation and the New Jerusalem. Professor Koester explores this triumphant ending, which is the source for the popular image of the pearly gates-along with so much more.

13:Antichrist and the Millennium
Start a new section of the course in which you probe the impact of the Apocalypse on Western history. Study the early debates about the nature of the Antichrist and the Millennium, two ideas that drew heavily on writings outside of Revelation.

14:Revelation’s Place in the Christian Bible
How did Revelation get into the Bible? Discover that, although it is unlike any other book in the New Testament, the Apocalypse met three broad criteria that early church leaders used to determine which books were authoritative and which were not.

15:The Apocalypse and Spiritual Life
By the 4th and 5th centuries, leading Christians were reading the Apocalypse for its spiritual truths, rather than what it had to say about coming events. Explore three topics that were especially important to this view: Revelation’s symbolism, internal repetitions, and timeless message.

16:The Key to the Meaning of History
Trace medieval responses to Revelation through the ideas of several influential thinkers, including the controversial monk Joachim of Fiore, whose struggle with the Apocalypse led him to the mystical insight that it was the key to the meaning of history since the Creation.

17:Apocalyptic Fervor in the Late Middle Ages
See how certain followers of St. Francis of Assisi carried Joachim’s ideas even further, styling themselves players in an apocalyptic drama and predicting that the present age would end in the 13th century.

18:Luther, Radicals, and Roman Catholics
Move into the world of the Reformation, where a renegade monk named Martin Luther first rejected Revelation but later used its imagery in his controversy with the papacy. During this period, Catholics discovered much of their standard iconography for the Virgin Mary in John’s text.

19:Revelation Takes Musical Form
Explore Revelation from a completely different perspective: its rich musical heritage. There are many songs within Revelation, and much music has been inspired by it. Examine Handel’s Messiah, the hymns compiled by Charles Wesley, and gospel songs such as “Shall We Gather at the River?”

20:Revelation in African American Culture
The Apocalypse has played a vital role in African American culture. Its visions of hope inspired the spirituals sung by slaves in the American South and the Dixieland favorite, “Oh when the saints go marching in.” Scenes of New Jerusalem caught the imagination of Sojourner Truth and others who worked for social change.

21:The Apocalypse and Social Progress
In the 18th and early 19th centuries, many Americans believed that Revelation outlined a progressive social destiny pointing to the great millennial age of peace on Earth. Meet leaders in this movement, including Jonathan Edwards, Charles Finney, and Julia Ward Howe, who wrote “Battle Hymn of the Republic.”

22:Awaiting the End in 1844 and Beyond
Chart a pivotal end-times crusade in America led by William Miller, who drew on the Apocalypse and book of Daniel to predict that 1844 would see Christ’s Second Coming. The heirs to this movement include the Seventh-Day Adventists and Jehovah’s Witnesses.

23:Rapture, Tribulation, and Armageddon
Turn to today’s most popular futuristic perspective on the end times, Dispensationalism, held by those who believe that all true Christians will be spirited up to heaven in an event called the Rapture. Examine the origins of this view, its connection to Revelation, and its mix of literal and symbolic interpretation.

24:The Modern Apocalyptic Renaissance
Finish the course by meeting some of the contemporary theologians who show how dynamic and engaging the study of Revelation continues to be. The book has an unparalleled ability to both challenge and encourage, proving that the Apocalypse is as powerful today as it was 1,900 years ago.

DETAILS

Overview

What are we to make of the book of Revelation? The Apocalypse: Controversies and Meaning in Western History, by scholar and Professor Craig R. Koester, is your guide to this extraordinary work and its impact on our civilization. These 24 thought-provoking and enlightening lectures are divided into three parts: the historical and intellectual background of the Apocalypse; a close reading of the book of Revelation, focusing on the meaning of its captivating and haunting images; and the wide-ranging legacy of its content on both Christian and Western history.

About

Craig R. Koester

“What I enjoy most is inviting people into a process of discovery. Asking good questions is central. Questions open paths to explore and enable people with differing views to engage the Christian tradition in meaningful ways.”

ALMA MATER Union Theological Seminary

INSTITUTION Luther Seminary

Dr. Craig R. Koester is the Asher O. and Carrie Nasby Professor of New Testament at Luther Seminary. He attended St. Olaf College and Luther Seminary, then earned his Ph.D. from Union Theological Seminary in New York before returning to Luther Seminary to teach. He has been a visiting professor at the University of Pretoria in South Africa, a scholar-in-residence at the Center of Theological Inquiry in Princeton, New Jersey, and a guest lecturer at universities in Europe and the United States. Professor Koester has written numerous articles and essays as well as the popular work Revelation and the End of All Things. He is also completing a major commentary on Revelation for Yale University Press, and he translated Revelation for the Common English Bible. Among his other writings are a landmark commentary on Hebrews and Word of Life: A Theology of John’s Gospel. Professor Koester is known for interweaving the study of biblical texts with their impact on art, literature, and music. A frequent presenter at conferences in the United States and Europe, he has also appeared in series for popular audiences, such as The Life of Apostle Paul with travel writer Rick Steves.

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