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Document Details : Title: Final Judgments and Ultimate Blessings Subtitle: The Climactic Visions of Revelation 20,11-21,8 Author(s): LAMBRECHT, Jan Journal: Biblica Volume: 81 Issue: 3 Date: 2000 Pages: 362-385 DOI: 10.2143/BIB.81.3.3200443 Abstract : Rev 20,11-15 and 21,1-8 contain the last two vision reports. The first does not deal with a general resurrection followed by a general judgment with respectively reward and condemnation. Attention is negatively focused on the final judgments of Death and Hades, as well as of those whose names are not found written in the book of life. In the second vision John sees a new heaven and a new earth and, more specifically, the new Jerusalem, i.e., the church universal of the end-time. The voice from the throne and God himself climactically proclaim final blessings. The covenant formula announces God's dwelling among the peoples, the adoption formula even a divine filial relationship: these are the main content of the ultimate blessings. Hermeneutical reflection on annihilation or transformation, on theocentrism versus human responsibilty and on the expectation of Christ's imminent parousia conclude the study. |
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