The Apocalypse: In the Teachings of Ancient Christianity

[furay]

Has anyone read this book by Archbishop Averky (in Russian) translated by Fr. Seraphim Rose? I've heard good things about it from some of the Orthodox forums I hang around at. Here's a brief description of it:

Originally appearing in Russian, THE APOCALYPSE IN THE TEACHINGS OF ANCIENT CHRISTIANITY by Archbishop Averky (Taushev) of Jordanville is the first complete Orthodox commentary on the book of Revelation to be published in the English language. “The subject of the Apocalypse is a mystical depiction of the future fate of the Church of Christ and of the whole world; it describes the battle of the Church against all its enemies and its final triumph over them. Thus, the reading of this book is a great consolation especially in times of persecutions and discouragements for Christians—such as our own times.”


It's only $8.50 at Amazon. (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0938635670/qid%3D1110566211/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/103-1796778-8879040) Maybe I'll pick it up... although, Eschatology is not really my schtick.

EDIT: Oh, and if anyone feels this belongs in the library or something - feel free to move it. I just feel nifty for posting my first thread in Eschatology 201. :teeth:

[furay]

Think I'm gonna purchase this one mighty soon. Let ya'll know how it is.

[furay]

Review here. (http://raphael.doxos.com/more.php?id=20_0_1_50_M9)

This book was a wonderful antidote to the current Left Behind craze which is running seriously amuck in the evangelical world. In my own history, I was raised with Hal Lindsey saying, "Jesus will be back by 1980, no... wait, 1984. No... wait, sometime in the 90s..." I could not only quote Revelation (and Daniel and Mathew) by heart, but I also knew exactly what type of helicopters were prefigured in the "locusts with heads of horses..." That the Left Behind series reads much of those things as literal (small demons the size of grasshoppers trapped in flower pots) makes it no less funny or inaccurate.

The late Archbishop Averky (†1976) and his translator/editor, Blessed Heiromonk Seraphim Rose (†1982) take great pains in this volume to remind the reader that the Church has, for nearly 2000 years, had an interesting take on the symbols shown in this book. The current hype is based on only the last 30 years. When I note that I, as a single person have no right to ask 2000 years of Christianity to change it's moral positions, such a philosophy needs to be extended into theology as well: why read a brand new latest theory of "what revelation means" when there are 2000 years of tradition that disagree with the Newest Cool Thing?

For me the whole issue of "The Rapture" and the "Millennial Reign" had to be dealt with. The Church doesn't belive in "the Rapture" and any idea of "Millennial Reign" here on Earth was condemns by an ecumenical council in 381: the symbol of the 1000 years is the life of the Church - which is heaven on Earth. (There is also a good resource on the OCA website (http://yya.oca.org/pages/ChurchwidePrograms/Yo_Mail/back-issues/2001-05-07.htm)).

The book deals (a la Lindsey) with a verse-by-verse reading of the book, but instead of filling up pages with fantastic descriptions of bloody war between Israel and Russia, the these two saints of the Church use St. Andrew of Caesarea's 6th Century commentary and draw on their own vast knowledge of Christian Teaching to show the Christian what should be the correct understanding of these signs. But they also urge - on nearly every page - that the reader needs to be ready, to prepare. It is the daily struggle against sin that moves us way from the camp of the Antichrist towards the Heavenly Kingdom. Daily preparation for battle moves us towards Salvation, an frequent attendance at worship moves us into heaven on earth.

The book is beautifully illustrated with photos of ancient line drawings of images from the Apocalypse. The pictures themselves are worth in depth meditation. There are also a couple of interesting essays in the book.

In all honesty, while the grace and peace of Orthodoxy is highly evident in this book, it takes the whole Apocalypse out of the Hyper-Sensationalistic Rapture Now Left Behind, look out for barcodes kinda mind set and it is, therefore, kinda boring. Good solid teaching, wonderful material, but still...

[studyhound]

Review here. (http://raphael.doxos.com/more.php?id=20_0_1_50_M9)

This book was a wonderful antidote to the current Left Behind craze which is running seriously amuck in the evangelical world. In my own history, I was raised with Hal Lindsey saying, "Jesus will be back by 1980, no... wait, 1984. No... wait, sometime in the 90s..." I could not only quote Revelation (and Daniel and Mathew) by heart, but I also knew exactly what type of helicopters were prefigured in the "locusts with heads of horses..." That the Left Behind series reads much of those things as literal (small demons the size of grasshoppers trapped in flower pots) makes it no less funny or inaccurate.

The late Archbishop Averky (†1976) and his translator/editor, Blessed Heiromonk Seraphim Rose (†1982) take great pains in this volume to remind the reader that the Church has, for nearly 2000 years, had an interesting take on the symbols shown in this book. The current hype is based on only the last 30 years. When I note that I, as a single person have no right to ask 2000 years of Christianity to change it's moral positions, such a philosophy needs to be extended into theology as well: why read a brand new latest theory of "what revelation means" when there are 2000 years of tradition that disagree with the Newest Cool Thing?

For me the whole issue of "The Rapture" and the "Millennial Reign" had to be dealt with. The Church doesn't belive in "the Rapture" and any idea of "Millennial Reign" here on Earth was condemns by an ecumenical council in 381: the symbol of the 1000 years is the life of the Church - which is heaven on Earth. (There is also a good resource on the OCA website (http://yya.oca.org/pages/ChurchwidePrograms/Yo_Mail/back-issues/2001-05-07.htm)).

The book deals (a la Lindsey) with a verse-by-verse reading of the book, but instead of filling up pages with fantastic descriptions of bloody war between Israel and Russia, the these two saints of the Church use St. Andrew of Caesarea's 6th Century commentary and draw on their own vast knowledge of Christian Teaching to show the Christian what should be the correct understanding of these signs. But they also urge - on nearly every page - that the reader needs to be ready, to prepare. It is the daily struggle against sin that moves us way from the camp of the Antichrist towards the Heavenly Kingdom. Daily preparation for battle moves us towards Salvation, an frequent attendance at worship moves us into heaven on earth.

The book is beautifully illustrated with photos of ancient line drawings of images from the Apocalypse. The pictures themselves are worth in depth meditation. There are also a couple of interesting essays in the book.

In all honesty, while the grace and peace of Orthodoxy is highly evident in this book, it takes the whole Apocalypse out of the Hyper-Sensationalistic Rapture Now Left Behind, look out for barcodes kinda mind set and it is, therefore, kinda boring. Good solid teaching, wonderful material, but still...

:popcorn: