요한계시록에 나타난 혼합주의와 한국 교회

The Syncretism in the Book of Revelation and Korean Church

This article probes the syncretism(or compromising behavior) caused by the false teachers and the opponents in the book of Revelation. John clearly sees a serious problem with what Christians are doing in accommodating themselves to the Greco-Roman life. In order to investigate the syncretism which threatened John's audiences, firstly the writing date of Revelation and the historical setting of John and his audiences should be cleared. Then, the expressions and themes connected with syncretism(for example, the Nicolaitans, Balaam, Jezebel, the synagogue of Satan, hearing formula, parody) need to be analyzed. John's answers against the syncretism are shown in various ways. John tries to reject it by suggesting the true kinsman relationship with Jesus to his audiences(Rev. 19:7). And John also attempts to convince his audiences with the dualistic world views in which the seven churches are persuaded to make the right choices. In Revelation, several dualistic contrasts come to the fore as follows: the bride-the harlot(Rev. 17:1; 21:9), honor-shame, eternity-temporality, patron-client, and insider-outsider. The audiences might have overcome the syncretism by recognizing the essence of the parody by evil powers(for example, the harlot Babylon, beasts, dragon). Moreover, the churches must have rejected the false prosperity and temporal peace promised by the compromisers in spite of seduction and persecutions. The current situation of the Korean church is similar with that of the seven churches in Asia Minor. Then, what is the way for the Korean church to overcome the modern syncretism? What can the Korean church learn from John's prescription? How can the Korean church as a nonaccommodating Christians establish her boundaries the secular and compromised society?