Episcopal Church of the Incarnation
Proper 29 B (Christ
the King)
Dan. 7.9-14 Ps. 93 Rev. 1.1-8 John 18.33-37
Daniel 7.9-14
1. The comments found about the writing of Daniel in the Bible Study
Summary for Proper 28 B should be reviewed.
2. Ch. 7 contains the first apocalyptic vision of Daniel.
a. This first
apocalypse was written in Aramaic; the next three in
Hebrew. (Different authors are likely.)
§
This vision is “symbolic.” The
meanings of the symbols are explained by an angel (later in the chapter).
b. The beast
(one of four in ch. 7) is one of the four successive
pagan empires (
that dominated the Jews).
§
The “horn” of the beast is Antiochus Epiphanes
IV.
3. Just as the four beasts are four pagan empires, the “one like a
human being” is the One who comes from God (“with the clouds of heaven”).
a. This One became in
apocalyptic scripture the “Son of Man,”
i.e., the Messiah.
§
Plenary dominion is granted to the Messiah over all creation. Jesus is King of all.
Psalm 93
1. Ps. 93 begins a series of “enthronement”
psalms celebrating the Lord as
the victorious king of creation.
a. The Lord’s might over the “waters” reflects
an ancient
cosmogony of God’s triumph over
chaos.
§
In the ancient Near East, creation represents a triumph over chaos.
2. Since God is king of all, His “testimonies are very sure,” because
God is fixed and immovable.
Revelation 1.1-8
1. The last book in the Bible, but not the last one written,
Revelation (also known as “Apocalypse,” the Greek word meaning “unveiling”) was
recorded at the end of the first century, A.D., during the great
persecution under the emperor Domitian.
a. The writer nowhere
identifies himself as an “apostle.”
§
Differences between the style and language in Revelation and the Gospel of John
are major.
§
However, from earliest times, the John of the gospel and of Revelation have been thought to be the same person.
2. The verses in this section are mainly introductory, with verses 7
& 8 being prophetic sayings.
a. John states this to
be the “revelation” of Jesus:
§
It is Jesus who leads us into all truth.
b. Compare the wording
in vv. 7-8 to hymn 57 in The Hymnal
1982.
c. The contrast between “the one who reads” and “those who hear”
(v. 3) indicates the
prophecy is to be used in public worship.
3. Jesus is the “firstborn of the dead.” His resurrection inaugurated the new age, and
the sign that the time of crisis has begun.
a. Jesus’ resurrection
is his inauguration as universal king.
(Cf. 1
Cor 15.20-28.)
b. “Crisis”
as a theme refers to the Greek root for the word.
“Crisis” = “time of decision.”
4. The prophetic saying in v. 7 echoes the apocalypse in Dan. 7. See also Zech. 12.10 and Matt. 24.30.
5. The prophecy in v. 8 identifies, explicitly, that the speaker is
God.
John 18.33-37
1. Jesus’ exchange with Pilate about kingship is the final time
reference is made in this Gospel to “truth.”
a. Jesus testifies to
the truth (5.33; 8.40, 45-46).
b. The religious establishment
has rejected the truth (8.44).
c. The disciples have
received the truth from Jesus (14.6; 17.17-
19).
2. Jesus offers the truth to Pilate (as to all), who rejects it.
3. “My kingdom is not of this world ...” The fact that Jesus reign is not “of”
the world does not mean that it cannot be found in this world.
a. The only other
mention in John of the kingdom is at 3.3-5, when
Jesus told Nicodemus of the
need to be born again of water and
of the Spirit, to enter into
the kingdom.
b. In Matthew, Mark and Luke, the “kingdom” becomes a
present
reality. In John, the kingdom is “eschatological” (i.e.,
referring
to the “end times”).
§
The kingdom refers to a community of believers, who have passed from a
former life (and lifestyle) into a new reality of Christian belief and
practice.
o
Whether or not written by the same person, the Gospel of John and
Revelation are addressed to the same people, in the same era of crisis.