AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE MEANING AND IDENTITY

The objective of this study was to determine the meaning and identity of "those who pierced Him and all the tribes of the earth" who will mourn because of Him (Rev 1:7). The study began by considering the unending debate among scholars regarding the meaning of Rev 1:7, especially the last two clauses. Basically, the contention of scholars has been how John used Dan 7:13 and Zech 12:10-14 to serve his intended purpose. The other concern has been the syntax of Rev 1:7. Though an exegetical study, I attempted to address the problem of the meaning of the last two clauses. The study reveals that first, "those who pierced Him" are those who participated in the events connected with Christ's crucifixion, namely, the Jewish and Roman representatives. Second, "all the tribes of the earth" are the wicked. The will mourn in despair as Christ brings judgment on them. This conclusion , based on the grammatical and syntactical considerations of the last two clauses of Rev 1:7, fits both the historical and literary contexts.

Autorentext

Dr. D. Berchie completed his undergraduate studies (BA Theology, Hons, 2002) at Valley View University, Accra, Ghana. He did both his Master of Arts and Doctoral degrees in the area of New Testament (2002-2009) at Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies, Philippines. He is currently teaching at Valley View University(Dept. Theology).