Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
This automated analysis scores the text on the likely presence of emotional, language, and social tones. There are no right or wrong scores; this is just an indication of tones readers or listeners may pick up from the text.
A score of 0.5 or higher indicates the tone is likely present.
Emotion Tone
Anger
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Fear
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Joy
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Language Tone
Analytical
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Confident
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Tentative
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Social Tone
Openness
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Conscientiousness
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Extraversion
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Agreeableness
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Emotional Range
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Tone of specific sentences
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Anger
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Introduction
A tale of two cities
Talk about Augustine and the city of God
Analysis
Rev 17:1-
is a cohesive unit and presented in the style of an ekphrasis
It is a vision of judgement on Rome in particular
Sexual immorality is a metaphor for the way Rome had seduced its client nations through wealth and power
Rev 17:
John’s vision here is static and note the use of the past tense
It is likely based on a statue that was depicted on a coin minted during Vespasians reign
Babylon had become a symbol for the power wielded by nations hostile to the Jews and then the gospel
Rev 17:6
Rome was literally drunk with the blood of Christian witnesses
John’s marvelling is a set up for what the angel is about to tell him.
This is an example of a common apocalyptic literary form where there is an interpreting angel.
This is the only place such a form is used in Revelation.
Note the play on words: was and is not.
Jesus is describe as the one is, who was and is to come.
Rev 17:8-
This is likely another reference to the Nero myth
The woman is the goddess Roma who is seated on 7 hills of Rome
There was a widespread belief amongst the Romans that they had exactly 7 kings
Rev 17:11
God is going to bring judgement on Rome through an unholy alliance represented by the Beast
Rev 17:15-
The waters represent the nations that Rome had asserted its power over.
Note the contrast being set up with the holy city that is coming which will also consist of many nations, languages and multitudes.
God will use the unholy alliance represented by the Beast to destroy Rome.
This is one of many examples in scripture where God is seen to use pagan nations to bring judgement; even calling them his servants.
Rev 18:1-2
Conclusion
God still holds nations accountable.
He is not ignoring injustice; especially nations who are “drunk” with the blood of Christian witnesses
It is God who brings judgement on nations and we are not tasked with this responsibility.
It is clear all through the book of Revelation that God’s judgement will be brought about by him without the use of Christian as his agents.
We are to be witnesses the gospel of grace not agents of judgement.
The nations play an important role in the book of Revelation as does the city of Rome which John sets up as a contrast to the heavenly city that is coming.
The new Jerusalem comes from God to earth and not the other way around.
The city of God will not come about by human means.
Christian eschatology is not a utopian, or for that matter, dystopian vision.
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