Description (en)
At first glance, Revelation seems to be based on dualistic categories like abovebelow,
inside-outside, saved-condemned, male-female. Under the point of view of spatial theory,
especially the dualism between inside and outside is of interest. This dualism is closely
connected to gendered images within Revelation: Jezebel (Rev 2:20) is portrayed as exterior
to the community of Christ believers in Thyatira. Likewise, John appeals to his addressees to
come out of the whore Babylon (Rev 18:4), but to enter the New Jerusalem, which is portrayed
as a bride. Flawed outsiders, however, have to stay outside (Rev 22:15). Thus, the spatial
categories “inside” and “outside” bring about positive or negative connotations. In this article,
networks of dualistic categories are being explored to show that they are not as dualistic as
the first impression suggests. Instead, they help to describe the Christ believing community
as an existence on the threshold between spaces.