Author:
Edith M. Humphrey Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

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Abstract

The complex descriptions of New Jerusalem, the City-Bride, are here discussed in terms of positive and negative connections. First considered are scholars who appear to deny paradox in one way or another as they deal with this figure, and present their particular view of the Apocalypse and its ideology or theology: their dismissal or suppression of polarity is seen to miss the mark in fully appreciating what John is doing. We then look to John’s initial presentations of the figure prior to his full description at the finale, and see that these “cameos” also suggest polarity. We go on to interpret the symbolic figure at the conclusion of the Apocalypse in terms of contrast (who she is not) and similarity (who she is like), gleaning examples especially from Scripture and Jewish tradition. Finally, we seek to understand this inverse and direct symbolism as the seer’s way of handling mystery (cf. apophatic and kataphatic categories in theology). Though not absolutely central (for this role is reserved for the Lamb-Messiah), the figure of the City-Bride emerges as one of John’s most important mysteries, and so is plotted for the reader throughout this work according to the visionary’s key questions of “who,” “when,” and “what.”

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