Texts in Conversation
Revelation 3:21 promises that those who overcome will sit with the risen Jesus on his throne, mirroring the apocalyptic Dead Sea Scroll 4Q521, which declares that the pious will be glorified on the throne of the eternal kingdom. Both texts envision a future reward in which the faithful are elevated to royal status.
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4Q521
A Messianic Apocalypse
Dead Sea Scrolls
... [the hea]vens and the earth will listen to His Messiah, and none therein will stray from the commandments of the holy ones. Seekers of the Lord, strengthen yourselves in His service! All you hopeful in (your) heart, will you not find the Lord in this? For the Lord will consider the pious (hasidim) and call the righteous by name. Over the poor His spirit will hover and will renew the faithful with His power. And He will glorify the pious on the throne of the eternal Kingdom. He who liberates the captives, restores sight to the blind, straightens the b[ent] (Ps. cxlvi, 7-8). And f[or] ever I will clea[ve to the h]opeful and in His mercy ... And the fr[uit ... ] will not be delayed for anyone And the Lord will accomplish glorious things which have never been as [He ... ] For He will heal the wounded, and revive the dead and bring good news to the poor (Isa. lxi, 1). ... He will lead the uprooted and make the hungry rich ...
Date: 100 B.C.E. - 50 B.C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
Source
Revelation 3:21
New Testament
20 Listen! I am standing at the door and knocking! If anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come into his home and share a meal with him, and he with me. 21 I will grant the one who conquers permission to sit with me on my throne, just as I, too, conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”
Date: 92-96 C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... Again, in Revelation, the messages to the seven churches conclude with a promise by the risen Jesus that “I will grant to sit with me on my throne, just as I myself conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne” (Revelation 3:21) A similar reward is awaited for the pious, according to 4QMessianic Apocalypse = 4Q521 ..."
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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