2021/08/30

2. The Worldview

Daily effort of reading aloud the words of the Book of Revelation and listening to the voice makes "what must soon take place," which is stressed in the book, happen to me. It means that I find in what I said and in small things that I experience in daily life the hidden meanings and have good opportunities to experience the Holy Spirit guiding me not by words but meanings. Some may say such an experience will happen in any case, but I can say that in my case, that happened in this situation. Also, when I talked with people who recently started the practice of reciting the Book of Revelation as I do, I noticed an interesting fact. They experience "what must soon take place," but they are not aware of it. They, without knowing it, often talk about their experience of finding in their words and deeds or what happened to them the hidden meanings. When I pointed out this fact, they were surprised but admitted what happened to them. As we talked about such topics, we realized that our communication with the theme of faith got smoother and that we could share our values more quickly on the day. Even when the argument that we had never agreed with each other before came up again, we could understand what each of us said as if we had seen and heard it ourselves. I thought this was because we were beginning to share the worldview of Jesus Christ with him as we made our daily efforts of reciting the Revelation and listening to the voice of it. The phrase "in my name" that Jesus speaks could mean the state in which one is sharing the worldview of Jesus with him.

Reference: The Estuary of Theology issue 22 "The Book of Revelation and the Twofold Spirituality of the Holy Spirit," issue 24 "The White Robe."

Maria K. M.

 2021/08/26

A world map of major civilizations according to Clash of Civilizations by Samuel P. Huntington (Wikipedia)

1. Civilizations

According to the American political scientist Samuel P. Huntington, Japanese civilization is classified as a unique independent civilization in the major civilizations of the 20th century. The history of Japan, where I was born and grew up, has never experienced the influence of Greek culture or Barbarian invasions or Islamic culture. On the other hand, the history of Christianity is Western history itself, which has developed mixing with these happenings. Therefore, the hermeneutics of the Bible has been strongly influenced by them. However, the process of the establishment of the Bible is independent of Western history itself. So, when I, a Japanese, even studying Western history, read the Bible and try to understand its teachings, I cannot share all the understandings Western history has been nurturing and embracing until now. But at the same time, I may encounter unexpected discoveries. In this situation, it is recent that I knew that the Book of Revelation expresses the worldview of Jesus Christ. When I realized this fact, I immediately decided to follow the recommendation: "Blessed is he who reads aloud the words of the prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written therein; for the time is near" (Revelation 1:3). It was because I wanted to become the blessed one who reads aloud the words of the prophecy, hears the voice, and keeps "what is written therein" in her memory.

Maria K. M.