Friday, January 10, 2020

Traces of Salvation History in the First Six Letters to the Churches in Revelation 2-3


Eugenio Corsini, in his book on Revelation, argued that the first six of the seven letters admonishing the churches in Rev 2-3 reflect traces of the entirety of “salvation history”:

1. Ephesus
There is a reference to the fall, “You have abandoned the love you had at first” (v. 4), also in “your works, your toil and your patient endurance” (v. 2). Further clear indications to this moment are found in the command: “Remember then from what you have fallen” (v. 5) and especially in the promise made to the victorious one: “I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the paradise of God” (v. 7)

2. Smyrna
The situation described is that of persecution, poverty and hostility from the Jews, who have become “a synagogue of Satan” (2:9). This, of course, would be the situation of a Christian community, but it is not impossible that it harks back to another period of persecution and poverty: the slavery of the Hebrews in Egypt. This seems to be indicated by the “ten days” through which they will be tested (v. 10), probably a reference to the ten plagues which preceded the liberation (see Exod 7:14ff). The “Synagogue of Satan” would be an allusion to Egypt, as it would indicate the ultimate perversity of Israel, which began so well, but finally led to the slaying of Christ. As a consequence, in 11:8, we will find Israel described as “Sodom and Egypt.” The situation of suffering in Egypt prefigures the situation of the present, in which a new people of God is persecuted by a new Egypt. Certainly, this may be the situation of the community at Smyrna, but John has in mind the old situation, as is made clear again by the promise of “the crown of life.” This promise is made later in the book, as here, only to those who are “faithful unto death,” i.e., those who are killed. It will be offered in the fifth seal (6:9ff) and in the reign of a thousand years (20:4f) and also to those who are killed, during the period of the Old Economy.

3. Pergamum

There are clear references here to Israel’s presence in the desert after the liberation from Egypt; the episode of Balaam and Balak (2:14; see Num 25:1-2; 31:16), the “hidden manna” (v. 17, see Exod 16:32ff; Heb 9:4) and also, perhaps, the “white stone” with a name written on it, which may allude to the two stones with the names of the tribes of Israel which the High Priest carried on the shoulders of the Ephod (see Exod 28:9). There is probably also a reference to the desert in the fact that the community dwells “where Satan’s throne is” (v. 13), because Satan exercises his power in the desert, as well as his temptations and persecutions (see 12:13ff; 17:3ff).

4. Thyatira

Several commentators have already seen the description of the wealth and well-being of the community (v. 19) as a reference to the time of the Hebrew Kingdom. The spiritual prosperity came with David (see 2:19; 1 Kgs 1:47), but with Solomon, material and spiritual corruption (1 Kgs 11:1ff). This is the theme indicated by the reference to Jezebel (v. 2) the cruel wife of Achab, foreign idolatress in the nation (see 1 Kgs 16:31f). The terrible punishment warned against Jezebel recalls the prophecy of Elijah against Achab and his wife after the slaying of Naboth (1 Kgs 21:21ff). The prophecy of Elijah, however, also pointed forward to the end of the Kingdom of Israel when the ten tribes broke away from the others in the time of Jeroboam, a man who came to power because of his closeness to Solomon (935 B.C.). The letter to Thyatira describes Israel at its period of greatest power and splendour (Solomon) which already contained the seeds of religious corruption and the loss of the major part of the people in the division of the nation.

5. Sardis

The description of this Church reflects the state of desolation and death which followed the destruction of the Kingdoms, Israel and Judah. The kingdom is as if dead, reduced to a small group (see 3:2), and one thinks immediately of the “remnant of Israel” spoken of by Isaiah (see Is 1:9; 6:13; 65:8ff) or of the vision of the bones in Ezek 37, the period of the exile.

6. Philadelphia

Here we find a small community, weak but praised for faithfulness in perseverance in faith. A coming in the near future is announced (3:8-11). In the promise of this letter, there are references to a building, construction, keys, door, column of the temple, city of God, the New Jerusalem. This could well be an allusion to the period of the return from the exile and the reconstruction of Jerusalem and of the temple. (Eugenio Corsini, The Apocalypse: The Perennial Revelation of Jesus Christ [trans. Francis J. Moloney; Good News Studies 5; Dublin: Veritas Publications, 1983], 105-7)