Royal Ideologies in the Book of Revelation

Studies of the Apocalypse have long neglected the royal and messianic dimensions of its portrait of the Lamb. In this volume Justin P. Jeffcoat Schedtler offers new insights on this topic arguing that royal and messianic ideologies and discourses are not merely evident in the book of Revelation but also constitute one of its primary organizing principles. Moreover they shape Revelation's Christology. Schedtler explores ideologies of kingship in the ancient Greek and Roman world as well as Second Temple Judaism. Making previously unexplored connections in Revelations' ideological portrait of the Lamb he shows that the portrayal of Jesus as God's chosen viceregent offers new insights into several of the central Christological tenets in the text. They include the Lamb's reception of the scroll to rule on God's behalf his place on a heavenly throne the many benefactions he offers to those who remain faithful to him and the hymnic praise he receives in response.