The People of God in the Apocalypse Discourse, Structure and Exegesis [Paperback]

Linguistic analysis helps understand Revelation in the context of its time and its original audience.This book examines how the original audience of the Apocalypse would have heard themselves portrayed in the visions of chs 4-22, and in what directions it would have motivated them. The challenge is found to be that of following Christ's example of faithful witness, even to the point of death, and of resisting rival claimants to the allegience of the faithful. Stephen Pattemore uses Relevance Theory, a development in the linguistic field of pragmatics, to help understand Revelation against the background of allusion to other, biblical and non-biblical texts.This book examines how the original audience of the Apocalypse would have heard themselves portrayed in the visions of chs 4-22, and in what directions it would have motivated them. The challenge is found to be that of following Christ's example of faithful witness, even to the point of death, and of resisting rival claimants to the allegience of the faithful. Stephen Pattemore uses Relevance Theory, a development in the linguistic field of pragmatics, to help understand Revelation against the background of allusion to other, biblical and non-biblical texts.This book examines how the original audience of the Apocalypse would have heard themselves portrayed in the visions of Revelation 4-22, and in what directions it would have motivated them. The challenge is following Christ's example of faithful witness, even to the point of death, and resisting rival claimants to the allegiance of the faithful. Stephen Pattemore uses Relevance Theory, a development in the linguistic field of pragmatics, to help understand Revelation against the background of allusion to other, biblical and non-biblical texts.1. A question of relevance; 2. Relevance theory in biblical interpretation; 3. A cognitive environment for the Apocalypse; 4. Souls under the altar - a martyr ecclesiology; 5. Companions of the Lamb - a messianic ecclesiolol35