DOCSLIB.ORG

What Is the Function of the Lamb in Revelation 5?

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
What Is the Function of the Lamb in Revelation 5? POINT LOMA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY What is the function of the lamb in Revelation 5? Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements for graduation with Masters of Arts in Religion: Theology Department of Theology and Philosophy By: Billy Jack Blankenship San Diego, California October 2011 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 1 CHAPTER 1. AUTHORSHIP, DATING, AND SETTING 6 Apocalypticism and Apocalyptic Genre 6 Revelation: John’s Apocalypse 21 CHAPTER 2. SURVEY OF RECENT SCHOLARSHIP 27 CHAPTER 3. METAPHOR THEORY 43 Metaphor Defined 43 Metaphor in Biblical Thought 46 Lion and Lamb Metaphors 51 CHAPTER 3. THE FUNCTION OF THE LAMB 64 Lamb: A Surprising Character in the Narrative 66 Victory: The way of God vs. the way of the Empire 73 The Lamb: Revelation of God’s Character 81 CONCLUSION 86 BIBLIOGRAPHY 90 Introduction “It is that Lamb, slaughtered for our sins and risen for our salvation, who is in control of the events that sweep and swirl around us, clouding with the dust of history in our vision of that final goal.”1 The book of Revelation is a mysterious text, and the response to the book varies greatly for those in the church and academic institutions. Unfortunately these sacred texts are often misunderstood, abused, or altogether ignored. Many congregations can go years without engaging these texts, foregoing personal or group study, or teaching from the pulpit. On the other hand, some writers and preachers misrepresent the book of Revelation as a text that predicts future events, portrays the violent end of the world, or presents a picture of God’s narrative that undermines the beauty and hope of the text. The work undertaken in this project is an opportunity to engage in the ongoing conversation with scholars, church leaders, and others who study John’s apocalypse. The goal of this project is multileveled. First, it is an exercise in how to thoughtfully engage biblical texts from the first century social setting. One will not be able to understand the meaning of John’s message by simply reading the words on the pages. Misunderstandings often occur in regard to the prophetic nature, violent language, and unclear imagery of the book of Revelation. The process of researching and writing this thesis is a great lesson in how to approach ancient texts found in scripture—taking into account the context, use of metaphor and imagery, and past research. Second, it provides the opportunity to approach the book of Revelation within the context of 1 Paul J. Achtemeier, “Revelation 5:1-14,” Interpretation 40, no. 3 (1986): 288. 1 ministry in the local church. There is often a gap between those in the pews and those in the academic institution—a gap that is seemingly apparent in the study of John’s Apocalypse. One aspiration of this work is that those in the church who are not involved in academic research can engage the beautiful themes of worship and hope in John’s apocalypse. Admittedly, one element of this thesis is to undo some of what has been done by church leaders and teachers in my own past. Therefore, this project allows me the opportunity to converse with and teach these texts to those in the local church who seek the hope offered in the message of the revelation of Jesus Christ (1:1). Thesis Topic and Project Goal The goal of this project is to explore the role of the lamb metaphor in Revelation 5. The function of the lamb is the key to unlock the layers of imagery and meaning of the message in John’s Apocalypse. In brief, the function of the lamb metaphor in Revelation 5 is to reveal the nature of God and the way God achieves victory over evil—most clearly portrayed in the worthiness of the lamb, which is understood to be the sacrificial death and resurrection of Christ. John transformed the messianic expectations of his first century audience by utilizing an unexpected metaphor—the lamb rather than the lion. Through this surprising switch, John transformed the notion of victory (nike). God’s victory over evil does not come through the military force, violence, or exploitation that is characteristic of the emperor and the Roman Empire—characteristics often associated with the power and ferocity of the lion metaphor. Rather, true victory is demonstrated through God’s sacrificial love in Jesus the messiah, a slaughtered lamb. 2 By utilizing the lamb metaphor, John not only transformed the messianic expectations of his audience, he undermined the ideology that defined the Roman Empire—power, coercion, and worship of the emperor. For those under Roman rule during the first century nike occurred through brutal military might and coercion. If John had used the lion metaphor, the narrative would have taken on a different form. God’s victory would be achieved through the same means as that of Rome—power, force, and ferocity. By employing the vulnerable, non-violent lamb, not only did John portray the sacrificial nature of God’s love, he also raised a figure that stood in opposition of the empire. Therefore, the function of the lamb revealed the true nature of God’s love. But it also showed a new way for the followers of the lamb, an alternate way than that of caesar and the dominant empire. Chapter Organization To support the thesis above, my investigation is organized in four chapters. Chapter 1 is a general outline of the cultural setting and context of John’s apocalypse. When did John write, and how did that culture affect his use of language and imagery? After the authorship and dating of the composition are discussed, the central thrust of chapter 1 covers the apocalyptic literary genre, and the form, content, and function of this movement. In this section, I will rely heavily on the scholarship of John J. Collins, Adela Yarbro Collins, and David Aune. In particular, I will reference their works on apocalyptic thought, early Christian apocalypticism, and the issues of genre that shaped John’s apocalypse. Reconstructing historical context has proven to be a difficult undertaking. However, if one is to engage the message of Revelation, the lamb in Revelation 5 in particular, he or she must have a solid understanding of the type of literary devices that 3 were common in ancient Mediterranean literature, the movement of apocalypticism, and the cultural realities that shaped the author’s message, themes, and purpose. The setting and context of first century Rome and early Christian apocalyptic was the literary “air” that John breathed. In order to fully comprehend his use of the lamb in Revelation 5, we must first root the study in that cultural context. Chapter 2 is a survey of recent scholarship on Revelation 5, in particular the lamb metaphor. The sections of chapter 2 are organized by the names of scholars that have contributed to the on-going dialogue and study of Revelation 5—through books, articles, lectures, and/or commentaries. The amount of scholarship and research that has been conducted on this topic is considerable, and much of it is beyond the limits of this study. Therefore, the works referenced in the survey of scholarship reflect the direction of this thesis. While all of the works referred to in this chapter contributed to this thesis, the most notable works that supported this project are Loren L. Johns’s The Lamb Christology of the Apocalypse of John,2 David Aune’s three-volume work on Revelation,3 and Russell S. Morton’s One Upon the Throne and the Lamb: A Tradition Historical/Theological Analysis of Revelation 4-5.4 The survey of recent scholarship lays a foundation to engage in the ongoing dialogue on chapter 5 of John’s apocalypse. Chapter 3 sets the stage for the method utilized in this project to support the overall thesis: a study of metaphor. This chapter is an overview of metaphor theory that helps shape our understanding of John’s use of the lamb metaphor and the rhetorical 2 Loren L. Johns, The Lamb Christology of the Apocalypse of John (Tubigen: Mohr Siebeck, 2003). 3 David Aune, Revelation (3 vols., WBC; Dallas , Texas: Word Books, 1997-98). 4 Russell S. Morton, One Upon the Throne and the Lamb: A Tradition Historical/Theological Analysis of Revelation 4-5 (New York: Peter Lang, 2007), 10. 4 force of the metaphor in Revelation 5. To be clear, this is a study of the metaphor of the lamb, rather than an exegetical study of Revelation 5. This section will outline past and current scholarship on metaphor theory and the use of metaphor in the Bible. While there were no theories of metaphor during the time John composed his apocalypse, metaphors were certainly employed by John and other authors. The key feature of this section is to review the work of scholars such as Max Black, George Lakoff, and Peter Macky. By doing so, I hope to better define metaphor and understand the use of metaphor in the biblical texts, focusing particularly on Peter Macky’s work on metaphor in biblical settings. John’s use of metaphor is extensive, and chapter 3 helps us lay a foundation to study the function of the lamb metaphor. Lastly, chapter 4 is a description of the central argument of the project, the function of the lamb in Revelation 5. The lamb was not a typical metaphor utilized in apocalyptic literature; John’s use of this vulnerable figure was a surprising, if not shocking, change in the narrative. The rhetorical force of John’s message is centered in his use of the lamb metaphor that transformed the way his first century audience understood the nature of God’s victory over evil.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Revelation 5 6-14 Revised
    Borrowing from Fannie Crosby’s fantastic hymn, “Blessed Assurance”: WHAT IS YOUR STORY, WHAT IS YOUR SONG? Revelation 5:6-14 www.prshockley.org I. Introduction: In his thought-provoking work on the historical meaning and significance of church design, Heaven in Stone and Glass: Experiencing the Spirituality of the Great Cathedrals , Richard Barron observes the following: If you were to study the Gothic cathedrals in Europe you would find that almost all the Gothic cathedrals face the rising sun. The eastern point of a typical Gothic church is where the altar is located and where communion takes place (called an apse). The altar area tends to be semi-circular in shape. When the medieval priest conducted communion he was situated here at this eastern point, looking to the east, towards the altar and further, the rising sun, and not towards the people. The audience, following the priest, was also facing the east. This architectural orientation of the altar area was intentional, the design spiritually intense. The symbolic idea of worshipping God facing the east was done to be both a reminder to believers to look to Jesus Christ who is the light of the world and foster longing for Him who has risen and will one day return. But let me add: When we turn toward something you inevitably turn away from something else. In other words, to set your face upon something is also to set your back on something. Therefore, the west side or front of the cathedral was used to symbolize the Christian resistance to all that is opposed to the light of Christ.
    [Show full text]
  • Shiloh United Methodist Church Resistance Stories: Prophecy Or Headline? Revelation 5:12, 13:1-4 Rev. Tyler Amundson July 21
    Shiloh United Methodist Church Resistance Stories: Prophecy or Headline? Revelation 5:12, 13:1-4 Rev. Tyler Amundson July 21, 2019 Revelation 5:12 Common English Bible (CEB) 12 They said in a loud voice, “Worthy is the slaughtered Lamb to receive power, wealth, wisdom, and might, and honor, glory, and blessing.” Revelation 13:1-4 Common English Bible (CEB) 13 1 and I saw a beast coming up out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads. Each of its horns was decorated with a royal crown, and on its heads were blasphemous names.2 The beast I saw was like a leopard. Its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. The dragon gave it his power, throne, and great authority. 3 One of its heads appeared to have been slain and killed, but its deadly wound was healed. So the whole earth was amazed and followed the beast. 4 They worshipped the dragon because it had given the beast its authority. They worshipped the beast and said, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?” (Break for first serviCe for response to God’s word) First serviCe watChed this animation of the moon landing – https://www.youtube.Com/watCh?v=t6VpHyKXHBM This week I met the 4 other Methodist Clergy for a meeting at a City Brew here in town. 2 of us got their early and were talking, when a man who had been sleeping in the Chairs next to us woke up. He was dressed in a patChwork of Clothing, Lakers Jersey, Army fatigue pants, and bandannas on his head.
    [Show full text]
  • The Background and Meaning of the Image of the Beast in Rev. 13:14, 15
    Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Dissertations Graduate Research 2016 The Background and Meaning of the Image of the Beast in Rev. 13:14, 15 Rebekah Yi Liu [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations Part of the Biblical Studies Commons Recommended Citation Liu, Rebekah Yi, "The Background and Meaning of the Image of the Beast in Rev. 13:14, 15" (2016). Dissertations. 1602. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations/1602 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ABSTRACT THE BACKGROUNDS AND MEANING OF THE IMAGE OF THE BEAST IN REV 13:14, 15 by Rebekah Yi Liu Adviser: Dr. Jon Paulien ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STDUENT RESEARCH Dissertation Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary Title: THE BACKGROUNDS AND MEANING OF THE IMAGE OF THE BEAST IN REV 13:14, 15 Name of researcher: Rebekah Yi Liu Name and degree of faculty adviser: Jon Paulien, Ph.D. Date Completed: May 2016 Problem This dissertation investigates the first century Greco-Roman cultural backgrounds and the literary context of the motif of the image of the beast in Rev 13:14, 15, in order to answer the problem of the author’s intended meaning of the image of the beast to his first century Greco-Roman readers. Method There are six steps necessary to accomplish the task of this dissertation.
    [Show full text]
  • Revelation 5:6-13 Lesson Title: Worthy Is the Lamb
    International Sunday School Lesson Study Notes Lesson Text: Revelation 5:6-13 Lesson Title: Worthy Is the Lamb Introduction Although the Book of Revelation was authored by John, the son of Zebedee, author of the Gospel of John and I, II, and III John, it is not "The Revelation of Saint John the Divine." It is "The Revelation of Jesus Christ" (Revelation 1:1). The word "revelation" means "a disclosure or unveiling." The entire book is the revelation of our Lord's person in a new relationship to the church and to the world. The book also reveals titles given to our Lord as related to His future work in His people and the world at large. The book of Revelation was probably written during the reign of the Roman emperor Domitian, around A.D. 95. Rome was governed by decrees and orders handed down from Domitian to his subjects. Any document or decree issued from the throne of Domitian carried authority and took precedence over all other rules and decrees. When Domitian issued a decree, it was written on a sheet of papyrus, rolled, sealed and delivered. Only an authorized person could break the seal and put the decree into action. The scene John describes in Revelation 5 takes place in heaven and continues John's vision of the throne in heaven presented in Revelation 4. The events in Revelation 5 are after the rapture of the church (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 4:1) and prior to the Great Tribulation. In Revelation 5, John is introduced a "book"(Revelation 5:1-5) which contains the prophecy of events to be unfolded in the book of Revelation.
    [Show full text]
  • “Who Is Worthy to Open the Scroll?” Revelation 5:1-2 the Wo
    THE SEVEN SEALED SCROLL Revelation 5:1-14 THE PROCLAMATION: “Who is Worthy to open the Scroll?” Revelation 5:1-2 The word "book" is the word biblion which could be a book with leaves or a scroll. The reference here is to a scroll because it is rolled out and would be made of lamb's skin or papyrus. It is recorded that it would take 500 lamb skins’ to write the whole Bible and it would take a scribe 15 years to copy it. A scroll was written generally written on only one side, but a similar scroll is described in Ezekiel 2:9-10 which was written on both sides. A scroll is read by slowly unrolling one side to the other. As the scroll is unrolled one by one the judgments of God are revealed, beginning with the Seal Judgments, followed by the Trumpet and Bowl Judgments. The scroll of Revelation 5 is a unique scroll which God has sealed with seven seals. God revealed to Daniel the events that precede the Second Coming of the Messiah in the Tribulation by sending Michael the Arch angel to answer his questions ( Dan.12:8-9 ). Daniel did not understand all he was told and ask in verse eight, "what shall be the end of these things." He was told to, “. go thy way . the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end” which indicates that until the events recorded here occur, the seals has been closed. This scroll is in heaven and remains sealed, however it will be opened by Christ at the beginning of the Tribulation.
    [Show full text]
  • The `Comings' of Christ in Revelation 2–3
    TMSJ 7/2 (Fall 1996) 153-181 THE `COMINGS' OF CHRIST IN REVELATION 2–3 Robert L. Thomas Professor of New Testament Six of the seven messages of Christ in Rev 2–3 contain references to His coming. In three instances He promises to come and deliver His faithful from persecution, and in three He threatens to come and judge the unfaithful. In all six His coming is imminent, whether for deliverance or for judgment. The only way this can happen is for the deliverance—the rapture of the church—and the judgment—the beginning of Daniel's seventieth week—to occur simultaneously. The two chapters provide three more passages that refer to His coming indirectly. The forecast in these too is for His return at any moment. A survey of other relevant NT passages reflects the same dual imminence for the two events. The phenomena surrounding these predicted comings lead inevitably to the conclusion that Christ's return for His church must be pretribulational, because this is the only way to explain satisfactorily how the two future events can be simultaneous. * * * * * In Revelation 2–3 Christ speaks of His coming explicitly in six of the messages to the seven churches of Asia. He does so in three of the messages through a form of the verb5e rxomai (erchomai, "I will come"1) (2:5, 16; 3:11). In two of the messages he does so with the verb 1Though5e rxomai (erchomai, "I will come") is present tense, contextual nuances in Revelation and the verbal idea of "coming" warrant construing it as a futuristic use of the present tense.
    [Show full text]
  • THE DEVIL's PAYDAY 6 CHAPTER 1 Armageddon
    ARMAGEDDON: THE DEVIL’S PAYDAY CHAPTER 1 Armageddon: The Devil’s Payday The morning of January 16, 1991, I was attending a class on the biblical doctrine of end-time events when the news broke that United Nations forces had attacked Iraq. The professor cancelled the afternoon session. The rest of that day and on into the next, we kept our eyes riveted on our television sets. Fifty days later, Saddam Hussein s troops hunkered in underground bunkers as Allied aircraft pounded them with a hail of bombs. The petrified Iraqi soldiers defected to the Allies in droves. The Gulf War was very real to those of us who saw it on our television sets. But it was a thousand times more real to those who experienced it. I have bad news for you. Another war is just around the corner, and it’s going to make Desert Storm seem like a kids game of cowboys and Indians. Revelation calls this coming war Armageddon. Fortunately, we haven’t been left in the dark - Revelation has a lot to say about this war. Let’s look at a few of its more descriptive verses: • The dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring (chapter 12:17). • I saw a beast coming out of the sea….He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them (chapter 13:1, 7). • I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns.
    [Show full text]
  • Read Revelation 5 the Seven-Sealed Scroll
    A Study of the book of Revelation 1 Read Revelation 5 The seven-sealed scroll - The key to Revelation This little seven-sealed scroll in the hand of the One on the Throne contains the secret of the chapters that follow and is the key, which opens the entire book of the Revelation. A correct interpretation of the mysterious scroll will give a correct understanding of the rest of the book of Revelation, however, a mistake here, and one will...with all probably... have a misunderstanding of the rest of the book of Revelation. In the first chapter of Revelation we have the vision of the glorified Christ in the majesty of His second coming. In chapters 2 and 3 we have the history of "professing" Christendom pre- written under the figure of seven churches. When the last of the church ages has run its course, it is then that John, representing the true Church, is caught away into heaven and sees, first of all Christ on the throne in all His glory and majesty, followed by heaven's song of praise and adoration of the entire hosts of glory ...the twenty-four elders, representing the saints of all ages, and the four "living creatures." (Revelation 4) The scene is in heaven where John was caught up to meet the Lord and where he saw Christ on the throne. At first John sees nothing but Him, the Savior, and is completely occupied by his rapturous vision of his Lord and his God. However, John, now, notices something else, of which he had not been aware.
    [Show full text]
  • REVELATION 5:6-14 LESSON: BLESSING, GLORY, and HONOR FOREVER — April 29, 2018
    PITWM VERSE BY VERSE REVELATION 5:6-14 LESSON: BLESSING, GLORY, AND HONOR FOREVER — April 29, 2018 INTRODUCTION: "Revelation" means an unveiling of things previously concealed, therefore, this book is revealing previously concealed information. 5:1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. John continues his description of his heavenly vision. "Him that sat on the throne is the Father." The Father’s position is Administrator. The term "God's right hand" refers to authority and power. 1. The book He’s holding, He holds it in His right hand. o It has never been opened. o It is kept with utmost secrecy; not known by man until God Himself is ready to reveal all. What He wills for those who have rejected and cursed Him. What He wills for those who have accepted and worshipped Him. 2. The book He’s holding is known as a scroll, having writing on the inside on the back. 3. The book He’s holding is sealed with seven seals. It’s large, not just one seal could hold it, but sealed with seven seals. These seals each represent a particular judgment...the judgments that begin in chapter 6. In John’s day, books were written on scrolls, long and rolled up having the last sheet exposed. After rolling the scroll, it is sealed with clay or a wax seal. Some scrolls may have more than one seal, like the seven seals which had to be broken in order to unroll the parchment.
    [Show full text]
  • The Redeemer Is Worshiped
    Unit 36, Session 3 Unit 36, Session 3 The Redeemer Is Worshiped SESSION IN A SENTENCE: Jesus is worthy of worship because He is the slaughtered Lamb who was slain and raised again for our redemption. BACKGROUND PASSAGE: Revelation 4–5 Can you recall a time when you experienced the presence of the Lord in a palpable way during a worship service? What was that moment like? For some, the atmosphere may have been full of lively music and expressive actions. For others, it may have been the fittingness of the liturgy, the depths of the prayers being spoken, or the majesty of the music. When it comes to worship, what matters most is the centrality of Christ. He must be the focal point of worship. It’s not about a style or a preference or an obligation. Worship—which, by the way, encompasses more than just music—involves the heart’s orientation toward Jesus, who is worthy of all praise. How would you define worship? What characteristics should be true of a worshiper of Christ? 112 Date of My Bible Study: ______________________________ © 2021 LifeWay Christian Resources Group Time Point 1: Worship the Lamb who is a worthy conqueror (Rev. 5:1-7). 1 Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, 4 and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.
    [Show full text]
  • The Rapture and the Book of Revelation
    TMSJ 13/2 (Fall 2002) 215-239 THE RAPTURE AND THE BOOK OF REVELATION Keith H. Essex Assistant Professor of Bible Exposition The relevance of the book of Revelation to the issue of the timing of the rapture is unquestioned. Assumptions common to many who participate in discussing the issue include the authorship of the book by John the apostle, the date of its writing in the last decade of the first century A.D., and the book’s prophetic nature in continuation of OT prophecies related to national Israel. Ten proposed references to the rapture in Revelation include Rev 3:10-11; 4:1-2; 4:4 and 5:9-10; 6:2; 7:9-17; 11:3-12; 11:15-19; 12:5; 14:14-16; and 20:4. An evaluation of these ten leads to Rev 3:10-11 as the only passage in Revelation to speak of the rapture. Rightly understood, that passage implicitly supports a pretribulational rapture of the church. That understanding of the passage fits well into the context of the message to the church at Philadelphia. * * * * * “As the major book of prophecy in the NT, Revelation has great pertinence to discussion of the rapture.”1 Participants in the discussion concerning the timing of the rapture would concur with this statement. Proponents of a pretribulational, midtribulational, pre-wrath, and posttribulational rapture all seek support for their positions in the book of Revelation.2 Many suggestions as to where Revelation 1Robert H. Gundry, The Church and the Tribulation (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1973) 64. 2Many books dealing with the rapture include sections specifically discussing the book of Revelation.
    [Show full text]
  • Armageddon and Beyond
    Armageddon and Beyond by Richard F. Ames Mankind is developing newer and more frightening technologies with which to destroy itself, while political and social tensions increase around the world. Will the years just ahead of us bring worldwide nuclear devastation, or usher in an era of lasting peace? Will the prophesied “Battle of Armageddon” soon bring destruction and death to our planet? What will “Armageddon” mean to you and your loved ones? And what will come afterward? Your Bible reveals a frightening time ahead—but there is ultimate hope! Read on, to learn the amazing truth! AB Edition 1.0, December 2007 ©2007 LIVING CHURCH OF GODTM All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. This booklet is not to be sold! It has been provided as a free public educational service by the Living Church of God Scriptures in this booklet are quoted from the New King James Version (©Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers) unless otherwise noted. Cover: Tomorrow’s World Illustration n the first decade of the 21st century, most of us realize we live in a very dangerous world. It was just six decades ago that a I new weapon of unprecedented capacity was first unleashed, when the United States dropped atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan on August 6 and 9, 1945. A new era of mass destruction had begun. At the end of World War II, General Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers, accepted Japan’s uncondi- tional surrender. Aboard the battleship U.S.S. Missouri, General MacArthur summarized the danger and the choice facing humanity in this new era: “Military alliances, balances of power, leagues of nations, all in turn failed, leaving the only path to be the way of the crucible of war.
    [Show full text]