Abstract
D.Litt. et Phil.
In the words of du Rand (1997:1), ' ... theology is the primary
unifying thread in the narrative of the Apocalypse'. The reason
for this is the God who occupies centre-stage in the book. God
hold the entire book in His hand. Everything is linked to Him.
The next step is to appreciate how God gives both a particular
perspective and then a resultant thrust to the book. This
perspective on life, history and salvation is called the
world-view (Weltanschauung) in this thesis. It's the view from
the position of transcendence. Yet unlike deists or the pagan
helpless gods, the God of the Bible (which is also the God of
the Apocalypse) is directly involved in the affairs of this
world. This is true from creation in the past, the sustaining
process, the saving reality and ultimately the terminating of
history. It's at this point that this thesis chose the word
'influence' to be part of its title. It is God who initiates,
sustains and terminates matters in the theological thrust.
The theological thrust is not a mere evolutionary development or
a dialectical process. God in His transcendence enters the
process and thus becomes 'immanent'! 'The reader gets the
impression that the whole drama originates with God on his
throne, coming to earth through the Lamb, as God's agent, and
concludes with God on his throne'. (Du Rand, 1997:4).
Crucial to God's influence is the agency of the 'Lamb'.
'Christ's sacrificial death belongs to the way God rules on
earth. What has been accomplished in heaven, namely God's
reign, is visibly manifested on earth through the slaughtering
of the Lamb' (Du Rand, 1997:11). The method is that of triumph
through suffering, first - with apparent defeat. Then comes
resurrection at the hands of God - an intervention of God as He
accomplishes His purposes. This mode was demonstrated in the
death and resurrection of Jesus. In turn - this becomes the
model to the Church as it triumphs through suffering (See
Rev.11:1-11).