Why is a Judaica scholar staring intently at the New Testament book of Revelation? Because even though it's come down to us in Greek, it is at its heart a Jewish book. Its tone and content is of course far afield from Judaism today, but what we're talking about is ancient Judaism – a very different animal.
I often wonder why so many people are interested, indeed fascinated by this book. And my best explanation is that it does for us basically what a roller coaster ride, or the Tower of Terror, does. It scares us to death! And let's face it; for some unknown reason people like to be scared. It gives us a delicious, narcotic-like adrenaline rush.
As a professor of Judaic Studies I've actually avoided the book of Revelation for quite a few years. Among my academic colleagues, it's fairly easy to relegate the book to second-class status. Properly understood, the book isn't really "prophecy" at all. It's “apocalyptic.” Classical biblical prophecy, I like to say, isn't so much about “foretelling” as “forth-telling.” It's about great ethical messages that have to do with “change,” with compassion for the downtrodden and underprivileged. Put simply, it's about making the world a better place. (Remember Michael Jackson crooning “Heal the World”…) And when we do just that, the future, including the “messianic age,” will take care of itself.
Apocalyptic, by contrast, is properly understood as an “unveiling.” It's about pulling the curtain back to reveal divine mysteries at work in human history, shaping and molding future events to comport with the predestined divine will. The imagery and symbolism maybe understood only by a select few; to all others they are incomprehensible mysteries. So it is with the book of Revelation, which I argue is perhaps the most misunderstood book ever written. Do I have the audacity, the unbridled chutzpah, to pretend that I know exactly what the book of Revelation is all about? Well, actually, (call me arrogant if you like) I do! But that will have to wait for future posts.
In the meantime, if anything could be calculated to bring forth in the mind of this writer thoughts of a modern “apocalyptic” scenario of truly biblical proportions, it would be what's going on in the Middle East right now. Egypt, the most important Arab nation in the world, and one of only two Arab states with which Israel has diplomatic relations, is up in flames. The “Arab Spring,” just as predicted by certain pundits (Caroline Glick among them), has turned into a long harsh winter. With the military on one side, having seized power through coup, and the Muslim brotherhood on the other, the possibility of some sort of regional war erupting is higher than ever. And that of course brings us back full circle to the Apocalypse, back to the book of Revelation, and in a sense “back to the future.” In the words of the prophet Jeremiah (6:14), people talk of “peace, peace, when there is no peace.” My admonition: what out ahead! We're in for a very bumpy ride!
So very well written.. . Thank you so very much for all your efforts... Nam Myoho Renge Kyo....
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