Here Comes the Judge: Violent Pacifism in the Book of Revelation

The author of Revelation sees violence as perfectly legitimate as long as it is initiated by the appropriate authority (God). The author of Revelation does not believe that violence in any form is wrong. Rather, he believes that it is wrong for anyone other than God or his appointed agents to enact violence, and in his eyes it is possible for humans to condemn the wicked to death if they prove themselves by dying in imitation of Christ.

In this book Matthew Streett argues that 'bridge figures', such as Jesus Christ, have demonstrated their authority by transitioning from the human realm of the judged to the divine realm of the judge and have earned the right to judge. Initially, only Christ has this right but, as the narrative progresses, figures such as martyrs are shown to have active, judging authority as well. The challenge for the reader is to understand the Book of Revelation's sometimes disturbing message on its own terms.

• Table of contents
• Part I: The Heavenly Judge
  • 1. The Heavenly Judge in the Address to the Seven Churches
  • 2. The Heavenly Judge and the Seven Seals
  • 3. The Heavenly Judge and the Seven Trumpets
  • 4. The Heavenly Judge and the Seven Bowls
  • 5. The Heavenly Judge in the Remainder of Revelation
• Part II: The Judged on Earth
  • 6. The Judged in the Address to the Seven Churches
  • 7. The Judged in the Remainder of Revelation
• Part III: Bridging Judge and Judged
  • 8. Introduction to Christ as the Lamb
  • 9. Bridge Figures in the Address to the Seven Churches
  • 10. Bridge Figures in the Remainder of Revelation
• Part IV: Analysis
  • 11. Analysis of Violence and Nonviolence in Revelation