TELEVISION

Apocalypse: Controversies and Meaning in Western History

Series: Great Courses
4.4
(22)
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Episodes
24
Rating
NR
Year
2011
Language
English
Publisher
The Great Courses

About

What are we to make of the book of Revelation? The Apocalypse: Controversies and Meaning in Western History, by a leading scholar, Professor Craig R. Koester, is your guide to this extraordinary work and its impact on our civilization. Engage directly with Revelation, examining its meaning in John's day and how it continues to be meaningful to contemporary readers.

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Episodes

1 to 3 of 24

1. Revelation and the Apocalyptic Tradition

30m

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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.

2. Apocalyptic Worldview in Judaism

30m

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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.

3. Apocalyptic Dimension of Early Christianity

30m

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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.

4. Origins of the Book of Revelation

30m

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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.

5. Issues Facing Revelation's First Readers

30m

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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?

6. God, the Lamb, and the Seven Seals

30m

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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.

Extended Details

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Craig R. Koesteractor

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