The Descent of the New Jerusalem: A Discourse Analysis of Rev 21:1-22:5

This study applies discourse analysis to the book of Revelation and offers thus a novel approach to an important biblical text. The object of examination is the last of John’s visions in his Apocalypse, Rev. 21:1-22:5, a text famous for its biblical-theological density and for the great problems of literary and exegetical quality revealed by the history of exegesis. The author accurately defines his text concept, explains what he means by discourse analysis of the text and states its phases of application. He evaluates recognized exegetes of the Apocalypse and then moves on to his analysis of the pericope 21:1-22:5. Seven macro-sentences are marked out and explained. The novelty of the method applied yields a fresh and invigorating exegesis through a distinctive adherance to the literary data of the text while observing unusual alertness toward verb tenses.