RT Article
T1 Locating and leaving Babylon: A missional reading of Revelation 17 and 18 in light of ancient and contemporary political contexts
JF Missiology
VO 48
IS 2
SP 112
OP 126
A1 Flemming, Dean E. 1953-
LA English
PB Sage
YR 2020
UL https://ixtheo.de/Record/1700086995
AB This article explores a missional reading of Revelation 17 and 18, focusing on the significance of “Babylon” for John’s audience in Roman Asia and for Christian communities today. John uses the symbol of Babylon to shape missional communities, inviting them to reimagine their world. In John’s 1st-century context, Revelation 17 and 18 expose the idolatry, economic exploitation, and dehumanization of the empire. The symbol of Babylon, however, does not lie frozen in a 1st-century past; it continues to speak loudly into contemporary political and economic realities. The contextual reading in this article particularly describes Babylon’s presence within the civil religion, economic practices, arrogance, and violence of the current North American context. The article then asks, What does it mean to “come out” of Babylon (Rev 18:4), both for Christians in John’s world and today? Finally, the article reflects on nine implications that emerge from John’s treatment of Babylon in Revelation 17 and 18 for the ongoing task of missional hermeneutics.
K1 Bibel : Offenbarung des Johannes : 17-18
K1 Revelation 17
K1 Revelation 18
K1 Babylon
K1 missional hermeneutics
K1 missional reading
K1 American politics
K1 mission of God
K1 Civil Religion
K1 Rome
K1 Contextualization
DO 10.1177/0091829619887180