Ben Witherington states that this commentary is first of it’s kind in that he approaches Revelation from socio-rhetorical perspective by his willingness to bring into the commentary key elements of the Roman-Greco world that would have influenced the writer of the book. This commentary goes beyond just re-telling the storyline of the Revelation that you would find in a typical commentary, it seeks to connect the world of the seven first century churches of Asia Minor and their cultural, political and religious environments with today’s reader of Revelation. Revelation is and always has been a controversial piece of scripture. It is hard to read and very difficult to understand given the style of writing and the subject matter. Witherington …show more content…
The purpose here is for John to share his experiences through receiving a series of revelations to give his audience hope and the desire to persevere despite the trial and hardships they were facing. “Revelation reassures the saints not only about personal individual vindication in the afterlife but about justice for God’s people in the end.” (40) This is despite the fact that it was a very dark and scary the situation at the time, …God …show more content…
Revelation uses the following bring home the message…”His language of imminence is a clarion call to be prepared for the end, whenever it may come. The church is called to be the church expectant, prepared for what will come.” (49) This expectant church is what the purpose of Revelation is. It was to bring comfort and hope to the church and people who were hanging on by thread because of persecution that at time even led to people being martyred for their refusal to give into the emperor cult of Domitian and other emperors like