Lecturer first to use new method to analyse seven trumpets
Brenton Stacey
Public relations officer
Avondale College of Higher Education
Cooranbong, New South Wales, Australia
A lecturer at Avondale College of Higher Education is the first academic to use socio-rhetorical interpretation to analyse the biblical book of Revelation.
PhD in print: A thesis written by Dr Kayle de Waal for his Doctor of Philosophy will be published by The Edwin Mellen Press. Credit: Kent Marcus.
The methodology, developed by Professor Vernon Robbins of Emory University (Atlanta, Georgia, USA), uses five textures—inner texture, intertexture, social and cultural texture, ideological texture and sacred texture—to interpret Scripture. Dr Kayle de Waal extended the methodology for his Doctor of Philosophy by introducing the idea of intratexture. He did so because of the complexity of the book—its allusions, echoes and layers are like an “intricate web.” This is part of the beauty of the book, says Kayle. “It entices readers to unravel the mystery developing in the narrative.”
The trumpets
Kayle, a lecturer in New Testament in the School of Ministry and Theology, used the methodology to analyse Revelation 8:2-9:21 and 11:15-18. The development in these passages of what Kayle describes as the “cosmic conflict tradition” surprised him. “It emerges more strongly as each trumpet is blown—the text grows in intensity as the issues in the conflict become more evident.”
The findings of “Trumpeting God’s mercy: a socio-rhetorical interpretation of the seven trumpets of Revelation,” which The Edwin Mellen Press will publish, have helped Kayle rediscover the Old Testament. “It’s so rich,” he says, “because it helps us understand the New Testament.” He uses the symbolism of the earthquake as an example. “It appears first in the Old Testament in the context of judgement and then again in Revelation 4:5, 8:5, 11:19 and 16:18, increasing in intensity as the narrative builds.”
A modern application
However, it is the revelation of the “cosmic conflict tradition” that is more relevant, says Kayle. “We’re reaching the culmination of this controversy, but our victory is assured because of what Jesus has done.”
Kayle thanks Avondale for its financial support and his wife Charmaine and children Kerryn and Charé for their emotional support. “I couldn’t have made it without them.” While conferred, he will graduate with his Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Auckland in May this year.