Theologischer Kommentar zum Neuen Testament (Band 23) Apoka

For a current understanding of the Apocalypse of John, the text itself provides the hermeneutical guidelines: The reign of God and Christ comes against all appearances and historical experience; the potential of the text and its images lies precisely in their failure to be fulfilled so far. Text and images keep a future open that is not determined by human rule; they throw light from a world where God's will is done, onto this world where God's will will be done. The addressees of the Apocalypse are harried Christians in Asia Minor around 100 A.D., to whom the reign of Christ and the coming of the new world is proclaimed, in which "there will be no more suffering nor crying nor pain".