Sunday, April 26, 2020

4Q246 and the Eschatological Worship of Believers


In 4Q246 from Qumran (AKA "the Son of God Text"; "Aramaic Apocalypse"), there is an expectation that believers who persevere will be the recipients of worship in the eschaton. In Column II we read:

4. Until the people of God arise; then all will have rest from warfare.

5. Their kingdom will be an eternal kingdom, and all their paths will be righteous. They will judge

6. the land justly, and all nations will make peace. Warfare will cease from the land,

7. and all the nations shall do obeisance to them . . . (source)

Such should be compared with Rev 3:9, 21 where Christians are promised to be the recipients of προσκυνεω and will sit on God the Father's throne, just as Jesus will sit on the Father’s throne (meaning, in light of Second Temple theology, they will be divinized [“Christification”]). For a fuller discussion of this, see the discussion of Rev 3:9, 21 at: