Fr. Sieg, «The Introductory Formula of Rev 4:1-2a in the Context of Traditions.» filologia-neotestamentaria, Vol. 18 (2005) 33-43 page 43

Vol 18 (2005)

Fr. Sieg, «The Introductory Formula of Rev 4:1-2a in the Context of Traditions.», Vol. 18 (2005) 33-43

The formula of Rev 4:1-2a is composed of three phrases: 1. "Then, in my vision, I saw"; 2. "a door open in heaven"; 3. "the same voice... With that, the Spirit possessed me". The first and the second phrase, which serve to introduce a new vision, were most likely taken from the Pseudoepigrapha of the Old Testament, where they find plentiful analogies, as features of literary style. For the third phrase we cannot find precise parallels in other sources. The author of the article arrives at the conclusion that the subject of the voice (4:1c) was the "One who was sitting on the throne" himself, who, by means of his voice, introduces the visionary into a state of ecstasy.

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43 The Introductory Formula of Rev 4:1-2a in the Context of Traditions enter and cognize it by means of a special revelation48, which consists in a special enlightenment49. Namely, the visionary or a prophet is given the authority and mission to pass the information about God, his plans and decisions concerning men and the world to other people. The revelation given in the Book of Revelation of St John concerns Godâ€™s New People, bought by the redeeming sacrifice of Jesus Christ (Rev 5:9 ff). Fr. SIEG SJ Pont. Fac. Theol. S. Bobolanum Warsaw (POLAND) 48 A. LÃ¤pple, Die Apokalypse nach Johannes (MÃ¼nchen 1966) 88. According to D.W. Hadorn, Offenbarung, 70, â€œOffenbarung geht von Gott aus. Wenn auch die Niederschrift der vorangegangenen Botschaften an die Gemeinden nicht en pneumati erfolgt ist, so verleiht der pneumatische Ursprung natÃ¼rlich auch der schriftlichen Wiedergabe die AutoritÃ¤t eines inspirierten Zeugnissesâ€. 49 C. BrÃ¼tsch, Lâ€™Apocalypse (Neuchatel, Paris 1957) 24, gives here the following com- ment: â€œIl [Jean] nâ€™entre pas non plus en Ã©tat de transe, mais il reste entiÄrement lucide. TransportÃ© dans le domaine surnaturel, il est dÃ©ppassÃ© par la grandeur de la vision; il nous la dÃ©crit ensuite comment il peut, avec nos pauvres paroles et images imparfaitesâ€.