THE COMPLETION OF THE EXODUS (12 OF 18)
Scripture: Revelation 14:1-20, Revelation 15:1-4
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The Completion of the Exodus (12 of 18)
Series: Revelation
Patrick Edwards
Revelation 14:1-15:4
Introduction
It was August 23 1973 when four women were taken hostage at a bank in Stockholm, Sweden by 32-year-old career-criminal Jan-Erik Olsson. Six days later when the stand-off ended, it became evident that the victims had formed some kind of positive relationship with their captors. Stockholm Syndrome was born by way of explanation. During the remaining decade, psychiatrist Dr. Frank Ochberg was intrigued by the phenomenon and went on to define the syndrome for the FBI and Scotland Yard in the 1970s.
His criteria for the syndrome included the following:
''First people would experience something terrifying that just comes at them out of the blue. They are certain they are going to die.
''Then they experience a type of infantilisation - where, like a child, they are unable to eat, speak or go to the toilet without permission.''
Small acts of kindness - such as being given food - prompts a ''primitive gratitude for the gift of life,'' he explains.
''The hostages experience a powerful, primitive positive feeling towards their captor. They are in denial that this is the person who put them in that situation. In their mind, they think this is the person who is going to let them live.''
Though police say that such situations are extremely rare in hostage situations, the phrase ''Stockholm Syndrome'' has become well-known in our vernacular. We use it to describe times when captives fall in love with their captors or seem to want to stay or return to their captivity. Watching ''The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt'' on Netflix with my wife makes me think of one such humorous example. But perhaps a better illustration comes to us from the book of Exodus.
You recall that as the Israelites begin to be tested by God in the wilderness and begin facing various challenges or trials that they begin to long for Egypt. Some miss it; some want to return. ...
Series: Revelation
Patrick Edwards
Revelation 14:1-15:4
Introduction
It was August 23 1973 when four women were taken hostage at a bank in Stockholm, Sweden by 32-year-old career-criminal Jan-Erik Olsson. Six days later when the stand-off ended, it became evident that the victims had formed some kind of positive relationship with their captors. Stockholm Syndrome was born by way of explanation. During the remaining decade, psychiatrist Dr. Frank Ochberg was intrigued by the phenomenon and went on to define the syndrome for the FBI and Scotland Yard in the 1970s.
His criteria for the syndrome included the following:
''First people would experience something terrifying that just comes at them out of the blue. They are certain they are going to die.
''Then they experience a type of infantilisation - where, like a child, they are unable to eat, speak or go to the toilet without permission.''
Small acts of kindness - such as being given food - prompts a ''primitive gratitude for the gift of life,'' he explains.
''The hostages experience a powerful, primitive positive feeling towards their captor. They are in denial that this is the person who put them in that situation. In their mind, they think this is the person who is going to let them live.''
Though police say that such situations are extremely rare in hostage situations, the phrase ''Stockholm Syndrome'' has become well-known in our vernacular. We use it to describe times when captives fall in love with their captors or seem to want to stay or return to their captivity. Watching ''The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt'' on Netflix with my wife makes me think of one such humorous example. But perhaps a better illustration comes to us from the book of Exodus.
You recall that as the Israelites begin to be tested by God in the wilderness and begin facing various challenges or trials that they begin to long for Egypt. Some miss it; some want to return. ...
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