Allusions from Revelation in Edgar Allen Poe's "The Pit and the Pendulum"

The Bible is probably one of the most referenced pieces of literature ever written. The book of Revelations specifically is alluded from a lot in pop culture and with different artists, bands, painters and writers. With one of my favorite writers, Edgar Allen Poe, he uses biblical allusions all throughout his short story, “The Pit and the Pendulum.” Both books are filled with dark, gloomy imagery and Poe uses two major allusions from Revelations to help engage the reader.

At the beginning of the story is the first allusion from Revelations when the narrator talks about when his vision “fell upon the seven tall candles upon the table.”  At first the candles “seemed white and slender angels” and then they appeared to vanish.  In the first chapter of Revelations, verse 12-13 talks about the narrator seeing “seven golden lampstands;” it says “seven golden candlesticks” in the King James Version. While in Poe’s story the candles are burning around “black robed judges,” the candles in Revelations are burning brightly around “one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe.” The allusion with the judges is because Revelations deals with the judgement of man.

The second main allusion comes from the end of the story where Poe writes about “a loud blast of many trumpets” and the use of his apocalyptic images using “fiery walls” and “a thousand thunders” to describe his freedom by General Lasalle to allude the Second Coming of Christ. In Revelation, seven angels were given seven trumpets to blow when the destruction on Earth was about to begin. In Revelation 8:5 it talks about how there were “voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.” In the end, the blasts of the trumpets mean devastation in Revelation, but here in Poe’s writing, the trumpets represent the narrator’s restoration.

There are plenty of other biblical allusions used in many of Poe’s writings. I remember the teacher I had when I first read this story saying that he felt Poe used the allusions to pervert and corrupt the images he was trying to display. I think the allusions helps support his imagery and engages the reader better.

Click here to read "The Pit and the Pendulum"

How did Peter die?

There is no talk in the bible on how Peter died so one could up with many ways or theories of his death, but after doing some research, most sources have the same conclusion… Crucifixion. One source says that the most commonly accepted church tradition is that Peter was crucified upside-down after Peter requested to be crucified on an inverted cross. The reason for the appeal was because he had previously denied Jesus three times, so he didn’t think he was worthy enough to die the same way Jesus did.

Below is a video better explaining the meaning of the upside down cross:

The only thing the bible really tells us about Peter’s death is back in John 21:18-19. Jesus prophesied about the manner of his death. To me, it would be very uncomfortable to be around someone who knew my fate and talk about my death in a casual manner. Maybe it was to prepare him for Jesus’ resurrection but it is possible that Peter found comfort in hearing that his death would glorify God. Reading that passage of scripture though makes me ask myself why would he deny knowing someone like his friend Jesus and why would he feel not worthy enough to die on a regular cross if his death was supposed to glorify God? 

One source says that Peter was killed by Roman emperor Nero during the mid-sixties. Eusebius, an early church historian, wrote that, “Peter seems to have preached in Pontus and Galatia and Bithynia and Cappadocia and Asia, to the Jews of the Dispersion, and at last, having come to Rome, he was crucified head downward, for so he himself had asked to suffer. (Ecclesiastical History III, I) Even Wikipedia says that Peter died of crucifixion. The only recorded death of one the apostles is in Acts 12:1-2 where it talks about how “Herod the king laid violent hand on some who belonged to the church” and how James was killed “with the sword.”

Another source says that Peter died about 33-34 years after the death of Jesus and talks about how Smith’s Bible Dictionary says that there is “satisfactory evidence that he and Paul were the founders of the church at Rome and died in that city. The time and manner of the apostle’s martyrdom are less certain.” The National GeographicChannel talks about how Peter is viewed by Roman Catholics as the first pope and was eventually martyred in Rome during the reign of Emperor Nero.

I think it’s interesting to find that most sources are saying the same thing about Peter’s death in a world full of conspiracy theorists. Even though there is no textual evidence in the bible of exactly how Peter died, in John 21:19 Jesus says that his death “was to glorify God.” I do find it interesting that no one knows exactly how he died or that it was recorded because of how important he is in the scripture and to the Roman Catholics. He was also a close friend of one of the most popular people in history, Jesus. 

Why was the letter of Philemon written?

The book of Philemon is about the story of the slave, or bondservant, Onesimus, who runs away from his master, Philemon, and finds favor with Paul. John Rutherfurd tells us Philemon was a well-off resident of Colosse and a prominent member of the church there. Textually, it doesn’t say exactly why Onesimus has run away, but it could be because he stole from Philemon because Paul says to “charge it to my account” and that “I will repay it” if Onesimus has wronged him in any way. While he had run away from Philemon, he somehow travels to Rome where he has met Paul and has been converted to Christianity.  One source says that they story behind Paul’s appeal is a deeply religious one and has community implications.

We can clearly see that Onesimushas been influential in Paul’s life because he makes a personal appeal to Philemon on Onesimus’ behalf and even says he became a father to Onesimus. He even goes so far to say “If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account” knowing that Onesimus probably could not afford to pay him back. He also doesn’t want Onesimus to be treated as a stealing runaway slave when he returns, but as a “beloved brother” and wants him to be received as if it was Paul himself because Philemon was more than likely very angry with Onesimus. He adds in verse 12 that while he is sending Onesimus back, he is “sending my very heart.”

William MacDonald tells us how Martin Luther said ,“Here we see how St. Paul lays himself out for poor Onesimus, and with all his means pleads his cause with his master: and so sets himself as if he were Onesimus, and had himself done wrong to Philemon. Even as Christ did for us with God the Father, thus also St. Paul does for Onesimus with Philemon… We are all His Onesimi, to my thinking.” Bible Gateway shows how each demand Paul makes aids Philemon in understanding that Christ's exchange for him must be concretely demonstrated by receiving his slave home as an equal companion of the congregation's life (v. 17); or by paying another's debt (vv. 18-19); or by showing compassion toward another (vv. 20-21); or by providing a room in his home to a guest (v. 22). Such are the necessities of being a new creature in Christ. Paul trusts that Philemon will make the right decision concerning Onesimus. If Philemon wasn’t a Christian or Paul wasn’t as respected as he was, Onesimus probably would have never returned knowing that his punishment would be great. To me, Paul is definitely relying on his friendship with Philemon to find it in his heart to forgive Onesimus and he says at the end of his letter to “prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping that through your prayers I will be graciously given to you.”

In this letter, Paul writes to Philemon saying, “formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.” Onesimus goes from the useless slave to a useful brother in Christ.  He left a slave but he returned as a son.

“The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed”

John 8:35-36 ESV

Why did Paul write to the Church of Galatia?

Even though a short letter, you can tell the severity in Paul’s tone of writing. His greeting is extremely short compared to his other writings and you can tell that he is furious with the church of Galatia. I think Paul would be extremely devastated if he saw the churches of today and all the different denominations and all the different things said over the pulpit. One of my sources says that despite all of Paul’s effort to push the matter of “faith” throughout his letter, he still clearly expects certain behavior from the believers in Galatia.

One source says that more than any other book in the New Testament, perhaps even including Romans, that Paul’s letter to the Galatians has been the source of religious instruction for the church in the midst of its deepest crisis. The Jewish-Christian missionaries, also called the “Judaizers,” were false teachers telling Gentiles that in order to be Christians that they had to obey Jewish tradition, especially by receiving the sign of circumcision. Paul felt that what they were a teaching went against God’s free grace and to defend the truth.

Every letter that Paul wrote was always to deal with specific problems, but with the churches of Galatia, the matter was especially urgent. He even went so far as to call them “foolish Galatians” in chapter 3 for not only questioning him as an apostle, but his doctrine that he taught them. Paul felt compelled to write to the churches of Galatia, which he founded, because they were turning to what Galatians 1:6 a “different gospel” while Paul wasn’t with them. Paul says that he was “astonished” that the people of God were so quickly “deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ.” Paul had to defend his apostleship by reminding them right off the back that he was sent “not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father.” He also urges them to understand, what one source says, “the integrity of the Christian message is at stake.”

The fact that Paul actually took the time out to write this to the Galatians shows that, even with his harsh tone, he loves the people of Galatia. He shows them what my dad would call “tough love.” He could have just been frustrated and let them follow their new gospel and been out of God’s grace. He could’ve washed his hand and been done with the Galatians but instead he decided to have patience with them and sense of urgency only shows that he is trying to help them and do what God has called him to do.

Maybe the churches felt like Judaizers were richer or more charming than they were? Maybe they missed Paul and felt he abandoned them? Why the people were so easily persuaded after all they had seen or been taught is a major question. Ligonier Ministries posed the question “Why did the Gentile Galatians believe the Judaizers?” They also went on to say maybe it was because the Galatians had not shed their “cultural baggage,” so they found the Judaizers “higher” religious life attractive.

Paul felt that the Judaizers were destroying the unity of the church. The Judaizers felt they had a better advantage of knowing God because they were circumcised; but in Galatians 5:2 though, Paul tells them that “if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law.” He also says that “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.” He also quotes them an Old Testament scripture and reminds them of Abraham who “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.”

Below is a short video that also talks about Paul's journey and again, why he wrote this specific letter.

Who is the Apostle formerly known as Saul?

Saul was a king whose focus was to murder and imprison as many Christians as he could. He approved of the execution of the first Christian martyr, Stephen, in Acts 8. After Stephen’s execution, “Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison (Acts 8:3 ESV).”  After getting letters, he found out there were more Christians in Damascus that were friends and brothers of the people he had already in prison. He decided to go there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished (Acts 22:5).” On his way to Damascus though, Saul said “a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me (Acts 22:6 ESV).”

“And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’ Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand the voice of the one who was speaking to me. And I said, ‘What shall I do Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do. And since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand of those who were with me, and came into Damascus."

Acts 22:6-11

That’s  when Saul’s whole life changed.

Saul is given his sight back after a reluctant Ananias, who had heard evil things about Saul, lays hands on him with instruction from the Lord. Many people think that God changed Saul’s name from Saul to Paul but there is no scripture evidence of that. In Acts 13:9, it says “Saul, who was also called Paul.” Saul means 'asked or prayed for', and Paul meanslittle or small. Paul would certainly agree with becoming less or smaller soChrist could become greater. It is a meek humble name, in its' meaning, whichare traits God likes.

Paul wrote 13 of the 27 books in the New Testament. Nine of Paul’s letters, (Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians and 2 Thessalonians), were addressed to local churches in certain areas of the Roman empire. On the whole, these epistles tend to deal with three general issues:

Doctrine: what Christians should know

Application: what Christians should do with doctrine

Logistics: specific instructions, greetings, etc.

They are often called the “Pauline Epistles.” Unlike the Gospels and Acts, the Pauline epistles hardly contain any narrative. 

Who is Stephen?

Stephen was a Hellenist (Greek-speaking Jews) who was deemed the first “Christian Martyr.” The Hellenists, who probably formed a minority in the Christian community, complained that the care of their elderly widows was neglected in Jerusalem.The apostles presented the matter to the congregation and, pleading the press of responsibilities, instructed it to select seven deacons for this community service.   “Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty.” (Acts 7:3 ESV) Stephen was the first selected. But Stephen did more than to look after the needy ones. Hebegan to preach the gospel of Christ, and to preach with such power as made everyonewho heard him feel the truth. Stephen saw before any other man in the churchsaw, that the gospel of Christ was not for Jews only, but was for all men; thatall men might be saved if they would believe in Jesus; and this great truthStephen began to preach with all his power.

Stephen the Martyr

mar·tyrˈmärdər/noun1. a person who is killed because of their religious or other beliefs."saints, martyrs, and witnesses to the faith"verb1. kill (someone) because of their beliefs."she was martyredfor her faith"

Therewas no doubt as to Stephen's exceptionally good character, and the miraculouspower that he had been given by God. It's interesting to note that althoughStephen was "just" a deacon, he certainly had gifts and powers fromGod that were at least equal to that of the apostles. He engaged in religious discussions among the adherents of synagogues of Diaspora Jews in the capital. Such preaching as this, that men who were not Jews might be saved by believing in Christ, made many of the Jews very angry. Like Jesus, he was seen as a major threat to the local religious authorities but had done nothing wrong but was arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin. “And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.” (Acts 6:15 ESV)

He was found guilty and cast out of the city where he was stoned to death. His last words were similar to Jesus’ when he asked his heavenly Father to “forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34 ESV) An innocent and good hearted Stephen said, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” (Acts 7:60 ESV) 

What does Jesus' friendship with Peter teach us?

Can you imagine having Jesus as a friend?

Him knowing everything about you?

               

Your future?

Your past? 

Your thoughts?

Could heal you or anyone else?

Well the disciples know everything about it.

“14) You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15) No longer do I call your servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.”

John 15:14-15

In Luke 6:12, it says he prayed all night before going to choose his friends. Even though Jesus could basically do anything and was known to be “King of the Jews,” he still found some of his best friendships in fishermen.

Peter was enthusiastic, strong-willed, impulsive and, at times, brash. But for all his strengths, Peter had several failings in his life. Still, the Lord who chose him continued to mold him into exactly who He intended Peter to be. Peter was one of the ones given the special task of preparing the final Passover meal. He was also the first to confess that Jesus  is the Christ and Son of the living God. Jesus’friendship with Peter probably kept Jesus smiling. He knew what was ahead forHis friend. So when Peter denied, Jesus prayed. When Peter failed, Jesusforgave. And when Jesus suffered, Peter followed…

Jesus’ friendship with Peter taught us that he lived by his greatest commandment to “love your neighbor as yourself.” Through all of Peter’s ups and downs, Jesus remained his loving Lord and faithful guide.

 To me, Peter had the most interesting relationship with Jesus. First of all, how would you take it if one of your friends just totally renamed you AND made you an apostle?? Peter’s original name was Simon. Jesus changed it to Peter… and Peter never left his side. “Simon, whom he named Peter…” [Luke 6:13] And Peter was very protective of Jesus. Every time Jesus told the disciples that he would be departing soon, Peter was always very defensive. When the guards came to arrest Jesus, Peter cut off one of their ears.

Jesus helped Peter overcome fear when he stepped off the boat to walk on water. And Jesus loved him enough not to let him drown. Jesus forgives unfaithfulness.  EVEN THOUGH Jesus knew Peter would deny even knowing him 3 times before his death. Jesus even caught Peter denying him the third time “and he went out and wept bitterly.’