Rudy-Froese, Allan

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For the healing of the nations: the book of Revelation in an age of cultural conflict

Wilfrid Laurier University

ConsensusVolume 26Issue 2 Apocalyptic Article 1211-1-2000For the healing of the nations: the book ofRevelation in an age of cultural conflictAllan Rudy-FroeseFollow this and additional works at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensusThis Book Reviews is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in Consensus by anauthorized editor of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact scholarscommons@wlu.ca.Recommended CitationRudy-Froese, Allan (2000) "For the healing of the nations: the book of Revelation in an age of cultural conflict," Consensus: Vol. 26 :Iss. 2 , Article 12.Available at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus/vol26/iss2/12For the Healing of the Nations: The Book of Revelation in an Age ofCultural ConflictJusto L. GonzalezNew York: Orbis Books, 1999117 pages, $22.25 SoftcoverOn the way to making the book of Revelation relevant for today this shortstudy gives us new multicultural lenses with which to view the first century biblicalworld as well the contemporary world.These chapters were originally a series of lectures given by Gonzalez(sometimes with his wife Catherine) in various theological schools and seminariesin the United States. You may remember Gonzalez as the historian who wrote thestandard two volumes of church history that you read, or were supposed to read,in seminary. Here we see his historical mind and cross-cultural heart at work inunderstanding the book of Revelation for our time.Gonzalez begins by giving us a brief sweep of modern western history withfocus on how it is that we find ourselves at the turn of the century confronted dailywith cultural differences in a land that was once much more homogenous (Theaudience for this work is clearly North American). He asserts here that how wedeal with the clash of cultures in the church and in society is very much at theheart of the gospel. Chapter two gives the reader background into the clash ofcultures (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Jewish, Persian) which came together inPalestine in the first century. Focus is not only on cultural wars but economic andpolitical power plays like the Pax Romana. How the early church dealt with thesecultural differences is the focus of the next chapter. Here Gonzalez re-reads keytexts from the letters of Paul and Acts to say that the early church felt called to andeven “thrived at those edges where conflict was inevitable” (53).Having given us a firm historical backdrop, Gonzalez turns in the last threechapters to the book of Revelation. John, he contends, is a Palestinian Jew whohas gone to Asia Minor to work in the Gentile mission. Not at home in this newculture, John is alarmed at the way Christians have accommodated themselvesto the Roman world. As a prophet and poet who is new to the culture, he is sharpwith his critique and to the point. Looking mainly at Revelation 13, Gonzaleznotes that John was exhorting his fellow Christians to be aware of the evil lure ofthe Empire and seek rather the slaughtered but triumphant Lamb of God. In thenext chapter Gonzales examines those texts in Revelation which speak of everytribe, language and nation coming together under Christ. Here Gonzalezencourages the modern believer, as John encouraged the ancient, to appreciatebut not romanticize or deify any one culture, for at the heart of the gospel is itsability to exist in many cultures. His last chapter, entitled “Our Eyes have seen theGlory”, is a study of the throne room scenes in chapters five and seven of John’s122 Consensusbook. Here we are treated to one the best explanations of how knowing God’spromise of the future might move the Christian church to live a life of love withGod’s many people today. Wolfhart Pannenberg is never quoted here butGonzalez explains the “ontological presupposition of the priority of the future” ina language we can all understand.Gonzalez hits the mark with this book. He is an excellent communicator whouses good illustrations, humour, and personal passion in getting his pointsacross to the reader. His brief sweeps of history are colourful, economical andrelevant. His grappling with biblical texts in the context of historical and culturalissues then and now are fresh and highly topical for a church today which findsitself in need of new life in the midst of cultural upheaval. His multiculturalreading of the book of Acts and Revelation is especially powerful as we struggleto form churches and communities with many peoples.While inspiring a re-reading of the biblical text and our own times with newmulticultural lenses, Gonzalez is not naive. He uses stories from his own life andfrom the early church to say that while there is something “sweet” about amulticultural vision of church or society, the “bitter” side is there too: Themulticultural church “involves much more than bringing a bit of colour andfolklore into our traditional worship services. It involves radical changes...” (92).This is an excellent short read which brings missiology, history and goodBible study to bear on current cultural conflicts in the church. This is a book forthe pastor and for students of the New Testament. What the work is ideal for,though, is adult Sunday School class. You get to hit two birds vdth this one stone.This easy to read book will gently introduce the church both to a newunderstanding of Revelation and inspire informed debate of a new vision of achurch which does not hide from cultural debates but thrives there where theHoly Spirit is tenaciously working.Allan Rudy-FroeseErb Street Mennonite ChurchWaterloo, OntarioThe Choice Between Two Cities: Whore, Bride and Empire in theApocalypseBarbara R. RossingHarrisburg, Pennsylvania: Trinity Press International, 1999180 pages, $25.25 SoftcoverThe thesis of Rossing’s work is simple. The two women of John’s

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For the healing of the nations: the book of Revelation in an age of cultural conflict

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