Slayer's album covers feature graphic depictions of hell, judgment, and satan. But are there connections between these images and the visions written in the book of Revelation?
Album: South of Heaven (1988)
Revelation 20: 7-10
7 When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from
his prison.
8 He will go out to deceive the nations at the four corners of the
earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is
like the sand of the sea.
9 They invaded the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of
the holy ones and the beloved city. But fire came down from heaven and
consumed them.
10 The Devil who had led them astray was thrown into the pool of fire
and sulfur, where the beast and the
false prophet were. There they will be tormented day and night forever
and ever.
Album: Show No mercy (1983)
Revelation 13: 11-15
11 Then I saw another beast come up out of the earth; it had two horns
like a lamb's but spoke like a dragon.
12 It wielded all the authority of the first beast in its sight and
made the earth and its inhabitants worship the
first beast, whose mortal wound had been healed.
13 It performed great signs, even making fire come down from heaven
to earth in the sight of everyone.
14 It deceived the inhabitants of the earth with the signs it was allowed
to perform in the sight of the first beast,
telling them to make an image for the beast who had been wounded by
the sword and revived.
15 It was then permitted to breathe life into the beast's image, so
that the beast's image could speak and
(could) have anyone who did not worship it put to death.
Album: Hell Awaits (1985)
Revelation 12: 7-9
7 Then war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against
the dragon. The dragon and its
angels fought back,
8 but they did not prevail and there was no longer any place for them
in heaven.
9 The huge dragon, the ancient serpent, who is called the Devil
and Satan, who deceived the whole world,
was thrown down to earth, and its angels were thrown down with
it.
Album: Reign In Blood (1986)
Revelation 14: 9-11
9 A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice, "Anyone who
worships the beast or its image, or
accepts its mark on forehead or hand,
10 will also drink the wine of God's fury, poured full strength
into the cup of his wrath, and will be tormented
in burning sulfur before the holy angels and before the Lamb.
11 The smoke of the fire that torments them will rise forever and ever,
and there will be no relief day or night
for those who worship the beast or its image or accept the mark of
its name."
Although some of Slayer's demonic imagery may be exaggerated for shock value, one can see that the images from Revelation and the one's on Slayer's album covers are not much different. Having said that, they both greatly differ in purpose.
What do you think is the purpose for Slayer's imagery versus the imagery in Revelation?
What message do each represent?
For anyone that has read Revelation it is clear that the message is a warning. Those that obey God's law and worship his name are saved, and those that live sinful lives are condemned. Revelation has a positive side to the horrific imagery, namely heaven, whereas Slayer's view does not offer much hope. Both views have negative aspects. Unless you're mentally distraught it is obvious that eternal damnation is not fun. Thus, there is not much positive in submerging one's self with death and destruction with Slayer's message.
On the other hand it is also negative to use eternal damnation as
an incentive to believe in Jesus or God. I feel that the book of Revelation
is used in terrible ways by certain Christian groups to separate themselves
from those that don't share their views. Preaching to people that if they
don't believe in something then they will be punished in hell is also wrong.
However, one cannot dismiss Christianity entirely based on certain people's
misinterpretations. The Bible is filled with other beautiful books that
offer a more positive view for believing in Jesus Christ and God. If you
are not familiar with the Bible I would recommend you read the four Gospels
which speak of the life of Jesus as a man who carried a unique vision of
reality. Don't let other people's awful interpretations turn you away from
religion.
Decide for yourself...
Click here for the Gospels and the rest of the Bible online
Click
here for the entire book of Revelation