It took me a year, but I've finally finished summarizing this book. I hope this summary is enough to convey the main ideas-- but you should still put it on your to-read list!
Chapter 7: Anthem of the Lamb
Zahd shifts gears for the last third of the book and deals with a topic near to his heart: Revelation. Having grown up in the shadow of popular dispensational readings of John's apocalyptic narrative, Zahnd understands that many of us require some serious de-education on the topic. Having heard a number of different interpretations over the years, I've simply required clarification on how to interpret the book rather than a complete restructuring, but it was still immensely helpful. Though hardcore dispensationalists out there may resist his interpretation, I found his perspective compelling.
The message of Revelation is more relevant for Americans now more than ever. Simply put, Revelation subverts empire, civil religion, and religious patriotism. Unfortunately, those who are so passionate about their mistaken reading of Revelation are also the most complicit in American empire-worship. The beast, the great whore, and Babylon are all veiled references to the Roman Empire, but can be equally applied to the 21st Century American Empire. As a humble Lamb, Jesus conquers the powerful beast, putting an end to the cycle of one beast conquering another. "The kingdom of God does not conquer the world by the violent means of the beast but by the self-sacrificing way of the Lamb." Clothed in garments stained with his own blood, the Lamb of God is the only one worthy of our worship-- not Caesar.
Chapter 8: War of the Lamb
Zahd continues his discourse on Revelation, turning to the topic of the war which some have interpreted as representing Jesus' violent return, when 200 million people will die in the Middle East and rivers of blood will flow. Fortunately, this is the worst possible misreading of the book. Jesus will never renounce the nonviolence of the Sermon on the Mount, hop on a red warhorse, and slay massive armies. Rather, he is depicted as riding the white horse of victory, with a sword coming from his mouth representing the good news of peace, forgiveness, and reconciliation with God. He vanquishes the unholy trinity of the accuser, empire, and propaganda, depicted as the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. The whole point of the incarnation and the book of Revelation is that Jesus comes to subvert the violent way of empires and Caesars. Revelation simply symbolizes this process as a war. And "this is not a future war. Christ is waging this war right now."
Unfortunately, that is not how most modern evangelicals read it. And this misreading of Revelation has led many to disastrously condone violence and war, and even hope for a war in the Middle East that will somehow precipitate the New Jerusalem. Does that sound like good news? I didn't think so.
Chapter 9: City of the Lamb
Zahnd concludes his exploration of Revelation with a discussion of the New Jerusalem, symbolized also as the Bride of Christ, and clearly representing the Church. Though the church has been anything but pure over the last two millennia, we nevertheless have been entrusted with keeping and sharing the life-giving gospel of peace. And as the New Jerusalem is depicted as coming down from heaven to earth, so the church is the primary vehicle the divine is using to reconcile humanity to itself.
Chapter 10: Love Alone is Credible
In his wrap-up, Zahd draws on John's meditation that "God is love" in I John 4:8 and 16. Referring to these passages as "the summit of the holy mountain," he reiterates his point that "God is not a bloodthirsty deity requiring ritual killing. Though this may have been the only way we could understand God four millennia ago on the flanks of the holy mountain [where God's only self-revelation was "I am who I am], the truth remains that God is not bloodthirsty; God is love." We have the benefit of Jesus Christ. In contrast to Moses, who said that "no one can see the face of God and live," Paul says that we have seen the face of God in Christ! "John tells us, 'Indeed, God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.'"
So the next time you find yourself listening to someone talking about an angry God, please know: that's not the true God revealed in Christ. That God is dead. And may that religion die too.
Chapter 7: Anthem of the Lamb
Zahd shifts gears for the last third of the book and deals with a topic near to his heart: Revelation. Having grown up in the shadow of popular dispensational readings of John's apocalyptic narrative, Zahnd understands that many of us require some serious de-education on the topic. Having heard a number of different interpretations over the years, I've simply required clarification on how to interpret the book rather than a complete restructuring, but it was still immensely helpful. Though hardcore dispensationalists out there may resist his interpretation, I found his perspective compelling.
The message of Revelation is more relevant for Americans now more than ever. Simply put, Revelation subverts empire, civil religion, and religious patriotism. Unfortunately, those who are so passionate about their mistaken reading of Revelation are also the most complicit in American empire-worship. The beast, the great whore, and Babylon are all veiled references to the Roman Empire, but can be equally applied to the 21st Century American Empire. As a humble Lamb, Jesus conquers the powerful beast, putting an end to the cycle of one beast conquering another. "The kingdom of God does not conquer the world by the violent means of the beast but by the self-sacrificing way of the Lamb." Clothed in garments stained with his own blood, the Lamb of God is the only one worthy of our worship-- not Caesar.
Chapter 8: War of the Lamb
Zahd continues his discourse on Revelation, turning to the topic of the war which some have interpreted as representing Jesus' violent return, when 200 million people will die in the Middle East and rivers of blood will flow. Fortunately, this is the worst possible misreading of the book. Jesus will never renounce the nonviolence of the Sermon on the Mount, hop on a red warhorse, and slay massive armies. Rather, he is depicted as riding the white horse of victory, with a sword coming from his mouth representing the good news of peace, forgiveness, and reconciliation with God. He vanquishes the unholy trinity of the accuser, empire, and propaganda, depicted as the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. The whole point of the incarnation and the book of Revelation is that Jesus comes to subvert the violent way of empires and Caesars. Revelation simply symbolizes this process as a war. And "this is not a future war. Christ is waging this war right now."
Unfortunately, that is not how most modern evangelicals read it. And this misreading of Revelation has led many to disastrously condone violence and war, and even hope for a war in the Middle East that will somehow precipitate the New Jerusalem. Does that sound like good news? I didn't think so.
Chapter 9: City of the Lamb
Zahnd concludes his exploration of Revelation with a discussion of the New Jerusalem, symbolized also as the Bride of Christ, and clearly representing the Church. Though the church has been anything but pure over the last two millennia, we nevertheless have been entrusted with keeping and sharing the life-giving gospel of peace. And as the New Jerusalem is depicted as coming down from heaven to earth, so the church is the primary vehicle the divine is using to reconcile humanity to itself.
Chapter 10: Love Alone is Credible
In his wrap-up, Zahd draws on John's meditation that "God is love" in I John 4:8 and 16. Referring to these passages as "the summit of the holy mountain," he reiterates his point that "God is not a bloodthirsty deity requiring ritual killing. Though this may have been the only way we could understand God four millennia ago on the flanks of the holy mountain [where God's only self-revelation was "I am who I am], the truth remains that God is not bloodthirsty; God is love." We have the benefit of Jesus Christ. In contrast to Moses, who said that "no one can see the face of God and live," Paul says that we have seen the face of God in Christ! "John tells us, 'Indeed, God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.'"
So the next time you find yourself listening to someone talking about an angry God, please know: that's not the true God revealed in Christ. That God is dead. And may that religion die too.
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