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Dominion Shifts in Biblical Apocalyptic Literature: a Narrative Reading of Daniel 7 and Revelation 12-14 Vis-À-Vis Genesis 1-3
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Studies on the biblical apocalyptic visions of Daniel 7 and Revelation 12–14 have generally focused on potential extra-biblical sources. Little attention has been given to their canonical background and even less is available when it refers to their relationship to the creation accounts in Genesis. I document this problem in the Background to the Study in chapter one of this dissertation. This study aims at filling such gap in the literature by providing literary exploration of these relationships and seeking to understand the contribution of these passages (Gen 1–3; Dan 7; Rev 12–14) to the canonical metanarrative, especially insofar as they articulate the issues of dominion shifts (changes in rulership/administration) and divine legislation.
Methodology
This dissertation focuses on three crucial texts of the biblical metanarrative (Gen 1–3; Dan 7; Rev 12–14) in order to better understand their narrative function or contribution to the development of the biblical plotline. The biblical apocalyptic passages—Daniel 7 and Revelation 12–14—were chosen because they articulate dominion shifts reusing words, concepts, imagery, characters, and plot much similar to those found in Genesis 1–3. Thus, I pursue the assessment of these three passages by using four integrative methodologies in chapters two, three, and four: 1. narrative analysis (focusing especially on characterization and plot development), 2. a canonical approach, 3. intertextuality, and 4. biblical theology through the entry point of narrative theology.
Findings
The first dominion shift in the canonical metanarrative occurs in Genesis 3:6 as humans disobey the LORD God\u27s command/law to not eat from the forbidden tree. As a result of their action, the Genesis narrative describes humans as having forfeited their role as local rulers on behalf of the LORD God—their heavenly Father and cosmic Ruler. The divine legal stipulation in 2:16–17 plays a crucial role in the narrative. The assessment of Genesis 1–3 within a canonical frame suggests that human disobedience to the divine legal stipulation in Genesis 3:6 not only causes humanity to partially lose their delegated dominion, but it also transfers, to a certain extent, the administration of their former dominion to their antagonist. From a literary perspective, this is a major turning point in the biblical metanarrative that only finds partial resolution in Genesis 3 and redefines the perspective of the rest of the biblical story, namely, the world becomes morally and biologically broken. Daniel 7 reuses and reworks words, concepts, imagery, characters, and the story line of Genesis 1–3 to develop its parodic plot. It contains a dominion shift as well. However, in reverse order from Genesis. Instead of depicting human rule being replaced by beastly rule (that of a serpent) as in Genesis 3, Daniel 7 describes the transfer of power (dominion shift) from ferocious beasts to a benevolent human rule led by the Son of Man (Dan 7:13–14, 18, 22, 26–27). From a literary standpoint, the dominion shift in Daniel 7 is a major turning point in the canonical metanarrative. Since it presents a permanent change in administration on earth, it represents a reversal of the fall described in Genesis 3. The text also suggests that legislation is an important part of the conflict described in Daniel 7 as the foremost antagonist (represented by the fourth beast) attacks God and his people by meddling with divine law (Dan 7:25). Revelation 12–14 relates intertextually both to Genesis 1–3 and Daniel 7 (parodically to the former). The segment also articulates a dominion shift from beastly to human rule. Throughout the passage, the issue of legislation comes to the fore as the unholy trinity (the dragon and the beasts) attack the first four commandments of the Decalogue. The related issues of the mark of the beast and the seal of God seem to function as tokens of allegiance to ultimate sovereigns. Resolution to the storyline in Revelation 12–14 occurs as a result of cosmic judgment whose outcome is introduced by the coming of the Son of Man to earth as heavenly savior/judge and the distribution of covenantal blessings and curses described by means of agricultural metaphors (two harvests). All the three passages (Gen 1–3, Dan 7, and Rev 12–14) contain similar words, concepts, imagery, and plot and describe major (global) dominion shifts in the canonical metanarrative. In Genesis, the shift is from human to beastly rule—a perversion of the creational intent. In Daniel and Revelation, the shifts are reversals from beastly to human rule—restorations of the creational intent. In all these passages divine legislation seems to be a part of or even play the central role in the contention. Divine legislation in these passages seems to signify divine sovereignty. Thus, narrative participants determine their fates as a direct result of their position in regards to divine legislation. While rejection of the divine legislation suggests allegiance to God\u27s antagonist, adherence to the divine legislation suggests allegiance to the divine Sovereign. From a literary perspective, the dominion shift in Genesis 3 represents a major complication in the canonical metanarrative while those in Daniel 7 and Revelation 14 represent major shifts toward the final canonical denouement. These finding are presented in chapter five along with a suggestion for further research
Divine Attachment: A Canonical Model for Discipleship and Religious Education
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Christianity is in decline in the United States and, with it, discipleship engagement. While several explanations and many remedies have been offered as solutions to the problem over the last half-century, demographic research shows that the decline continues. The problem addressed in this dissertation is the lack of a theological model to augment psychological models of religious attachment theory. The research sought to identify a canonical model of divine attachment which may contribute to the revitalization of personal discipleship and religious education by offering a new relational context. This model is based on an understanding of God as an attachment figure.
Method
Because God is not visible to humans and therefore unobservable, demonstrations of divine attachment behavior were sought by examining direct divine utterance through an inductive reading of Scripture. Ample evidence was collected that God self-reveals in ways that may be interpreted as providing the two attachment caregiving behaviors reasonably expected of attachment figures: a secure base and a safe haven.
Results
This study shows from a theological perspective that does God self-reveal in ways that may be interpreted as engaging in attachment caregiving behaviors. Additionally, the canonical data revealed that God also self-identifies in ways that may be interpreted as attachment-seeking behaviors.
Conclusions
Attachment theory provides a relational context that has been recognized for its applicability to religion and religious expression. The idea that God is a sufficient attachment figure is supported in the literature; however, that support is based on subjective perceptions. This research contributes to the literature and expands the understanding of God as an attachment figure by providing an intersubjective theological model based on evidence found in the biblical canon: God self-reveals in way that may be interpreted as engaging in attachment caregiving and attachment seeking behaviors. The God of the canonical model of divine attachment is an incredibly relational God seeking reciprocated connection with humans
The Student Movement Volume 108 Issue 9: Perfect Landing: Acrofest Comes to Andrews University
Get PDFHUMANS
Blessings Outnumbering The Autumn Leaves, Savannah Tyler
The James White Library Archives, Grace No
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving!, Lexie Dunham
Art: Reclaiming the Narrative, Madison Vath
A Trip to Detroit Through Nandi Comer\u27s Eyes, Ameilia Stefanescu
NEWS
Taking Flight at Acrofest, Nate Miller
Andrews Celebrates Veterans, Andrew Francis
Instruments of His Peace in a Broken World, Anna Rybachek
IDEAS
Are Aliens Real?, Katie Davis
Stay Vaccinated for the Sassy Man Epidemic, Charisse Lapuebla
The Thanksgiving Debate, Ruben Colón
PULSE
Artificial Intelligence: Are We Playing God?, Alyssa Caruthers
How Mission Work Impacts the Missionary: Advice for SMs, Caitlin Adap
Moral Conflict Part 2, Katie Davis,
The Illusion of Romantic Love, Nicole Compton-Gray
LAST WORD
The Joys of Journaling, Ian Freemanhttps://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/sm-108/1008/thumbnail.jp
