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The Background and Meaning of the Image of the Beast in Rev. 13:14, 15

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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. These steps are taken in the form of the exegetical studies which are done in six chapters, respectively. Following the introductory chapter, the second chapter is a brief history of the historical interpretations of the image of the beast in Rev 13:14, 15, starting with the interpretations from scholars of the first three centuries and continuing on to the present. This historical survey in Chapter 2 demonstrates that an in depth exegetical study of the image of the beast is much needed. Chapters 3-6 were an attempt to make up for this deficiency by providing an exegetical study of the image of the beast motif in its original cultural and literary context of the book of Revelation. Chapter 3 is a study of the image-of-the-beast motif within its immediate context of Revelation 13. Chapters 4-6 provide a study of the image-of-the-beast motif in the latter half of Revelation, i.e., Revelation 14-20, with Chapters 4-5 studying the image-of-the-beast motif in the chapters (Revelation 14-16, 19, and 20) in which this term occurs, and Chapter 6 studying this motif in the chapters (Revelation 17, 18) in which this term is absent. Conclusion As I have come to see it, the narrative of Rev 13:14, 15 depicts the attempt of an unholy trinity to counteract God’s goal for the plan of salvation, i.e., the restoration of Imago Dei in human beings in the last days by creating the image of the beast on Earth. The image of the beast is an end time entity, comprised of a community of people who reflect the character of the dragon, and has the three-fold religious-economic-political power to impose false worship on Earth. The image of the beast is best identified with the end time Babylon the Great of chapters 17-18. Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary THE BACKGROUNDS AND MEANING OF THE IMAGE OF THE BEAST IN REV 13:14, 15 A Dissertation Presented In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy by Rebekah Yi Liu May 2016 THE BACKGROUNDS AND MEANING OF THE IMAGE OF THE BEAST IN REV 13:14, 15 A dissertation presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy by Rebekah Yi Liu APPROVAL BY THE COMMITTEE: _____________________________ ________________________________ Faculty Adviser, Director of PhD/ThD Religion Program Jon Paulien Tom Shepherd Dean, School of Religion Loma Linda University _____________________________ _______________________________ P. Richard Choi Jirí Moskala Professor of New Testament Dean, SDA Theological Seminary _____________________________ Roy Gane Professor of Old Testament _____________________________ Teresa Reeve Professor of New Testament _____________________________ _______________________________ David L. Barr Date approved Professor of DEDICATION To My Husband Dezhang: who has willingly taken upon himself the burden of solely nurturing our son most of the time for more than 10 years, and who always supports me in my academic pursuits without complaint. To My 11-year-old son Haojü: who was put on the altar of sacrifice when he was only 16 months old without his consent, and who is the one person on Earth whom I always felt deeply sorry for not being able to fulfill my duties when he needed me. This was done for the sake of a greater cause, i.e., the advancement of God’s Kingdom in the land of the Middle Kingdom. And to my Lord Jesus Christ: who has known me and searched my soul, and has nevertheless chosen to reveal to me a tiny portion of the great mystery of his Word in the last days, despite my sinfulness and unworthiness. TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ................................... vii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ..................................... xiii Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION ..................................... 1 Background ...................................... 1 Problem ........................................ 6 Purpose ........................................ 7 Justification ...................................... 7 Scope and Delimitations .............................. 9 Methodology ..................................... 10 2. HISTORY OF INTERPRETATION OF “THE IMAGE OF THE BEAST” ......................... 13 Introduction ..................................... 13 The First Three Centuries ............................ 16 Irenaeus ..................................... 18 Hippolytus of Rome ............................. 21 Victorinus of Pettau .............................. 24 Summary .................................... 27 The Fourth Century Through the Eleventh Century .............. 28 Tyconius .................................... 32 Augustine .................................... 35 The Twelfth Through the Eighteenth Century ................. 37 Joachim of Fiore ................................ 37 Protestant Scholars .............................. 41 Roman Catholic Scholars ........................... 44 The Nineteenth Century .............................. 47 The Twentieth Century to the Present ..................... 50 Summary and Conclusions ............................. 58 3. EXEGESIS OF “THE IMAGE OF THE BEAST” IN REV 13:14, 15 .................................. 63 Introduction ..................................... 63 The Meaning of the Words Eikōn and Thēriou ................. 64 Eikōn ...................................... 64 In the LXX ................................ 64 In Connection to Its Hebrew/Aramaic Equivalents: Tselem, Semel, Pesel and Demûth ................ 65 In Second Temple Judaism ...................... 69 In Greco-Roman Literature ...................... 71 Summary ................................. 76 Thērion ..................................... 78 In the LXX ................................ 79 In Connection to Its Hebrew/Aramaic Equivalents: Chāyāh and Behemah ....................... 81 In Second Temple Judaism ...................... 84 In Greco-Roman Literature ...................... 87 Summary ................................. 90 The Literary Context of “The Image of the Beast” In Rev 13:14, 15 ................................ 91 Key Themes of Revelation 13 ........................ 91 The Theme of Beasts 99 Allusions to Old and New Testament Passages In Rev 13:14, 15 ............................. 98 Cultural Background of “The Image of the Beast” ............... 111 Cultic Practices in the ANE ......................... 113 Cultic Practices in Greco-Roman World .................. 119 The Power of the Cult Image ........................ 122 Echoes in Rev 13:14, 15 of the Cultic Practices in the ANE And the Greco-Roman World ..................... 129 Summary and Conclusions ............................. 131 4. THE IMAGE OF THE BEAST IN REVELATION 14-16 .............. 136 Introduction ..................................... 136 The Image of the Beast in Revelation 14 ..................... 141 The Literary Context of Revelation 14 ................... 141 Major Themes of Revelation 14 ....................... 144 Summary .................................... 164 The Image of the Beast in Revelation 15 .................... 164 The Literary Context of Revelation 15 ................... 164 Major Themes of Revelation 15 ....................... 165 Summary .................................... 176 The Image of the Beast in Revelation 16 .................... 177 The Literary Context of Revelation 16 ................... 177 Major Themes of Revelation 16 ....................... 179 Summary .................................... 201 Summary and Conclusions ............................. 202 5. THE IMAGE OF THE BEAST IN REVELATION 19 and 20 ............ 204 Introduction ..................................... 204 The Image of the Beast in Revelation 19 ..................... 204 The Literary Context of Revelation 19 ................... 204 Major Themes of Revelation 19 ....................... 205 Summary .................................... 225 The Image of the Beast in Revelation 20 ...................
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