The book of revelation, the surreal apocalyptic vision of the end of the world. In the aftermath of that war, john of patmos, a jewish prophet. Johns book of revelation appeals not only to fear but also to hope. Mar 06, 2012 elaine pagels explores the surprising history of the most controversial book of the bible. Daniel says to watch for a decree that will allow the rebuilding of jerusalem.
The book brings comfort as we learn that god is in control and he is moving toward the return of jesus to this earth and the working out his plan. Its title is derived from the first word of the koine greek text. It cant be said that no one pays any attention to scholarly books about the bible. This is also the book that doesnt mention jesus even through the new testament is supposed to be all about jesus. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation by elaine pagels viking her central point is that this most famous story about the end is a window on the beginnings. These symbols, which often seem strange and bizarre, have resulted in. The jews will reject the antichrist, and he will respond with an attempt to annihilate them, killing twothirds of them in the process revelation 12. In the aftermath of that war, john of patmos, a jewish prophet and. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation elaine pagels a startling exploration of the history of the most controversial book of the bible, by the bestselling author of beyond belief.
The book of revelation is not, as pagels points out, and as scholars have known for centuries, a no other book in the bible has as much impact on our way of life as the book of revelation. Philip wrens revelations of jesus christ may be unique in the way it takes us through the book of revelation. The author names himself as john, but modern scholars consider it unlikely that the author of revelation also wrote the gospel of john. Phenomenologically, every religion finds its starting point in a revelation. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation 2012. Listen online or offline with android, ios, web, chromecast, and.
Most of the other revelations, and this fascinated me, many of them were found with the gnostic gospels in upper egypt, and they had been censored by. Through the bestselling books of elaine pagels, thousands of readers have come to know and treasure the suppressed biblical texts known as the gnostic. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation by elaine h. Subtitled a devotional study, it centres around how the hebrew names of god relate to the various ways in which jesus is presented in revelation. Elaine pagels on the book of revelation february 24, 2012.
The revelation of peter, and the revelation of paul, and the revelation of zostrianos and almost anyone you can mention. While most christians are led to believe that all books of the bible were compiled by some sort of divine mandate, the book of revelation was not an inevitable addition to the canon. After all, works by robert alter and harold bloom are often. No book from the bible is more controversial than the book of revelation. He was a jewish christian prophet, probably belonging to a group of such prophets, and was accepted by the. A profound exploration of the bibles most controversial bookfrom the author of beyond belief and the gnostic gospels. By this, i mean he often relates major future events to things that will happen to the jews as a nation. This is the book with the number of the beast in it. Mar 24, 2011 revelation speaks of the coordinated establishment of a one world economic system entrapping us in terms of our bodies control over our ability to buy and sell and hence survive, a one world political system entrapping us in terms of our souls control over our consciousness, intellect and emotions, and a one world religion entrapping us in terms of our spirits control over. Her most recent book and topic of this session, is revelations. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Mar 19, 2019 the book of revelation starts with this is a revelation from jesus christ, which god gave him to show his servants the events that must soon take place.
Mar 07, 2012 the book of revelation, the final book of the new testament, has some of the most dramatic and frightening language in the bible. Just like bad dreams are inexplicable the morning after one awakes, johns dream seems to become more and more contorted the more people try to spin it for the present day or near future. Worship, politics, and devotion in the book of revelation by kraybill. To be sure, this phenomenon belongs to the realm of human reality, but it is experienced by man as coming from god. Apr 08, 2012 that book, published in the old testament under the pseudonym daniel, is one of the earliest ancient apocalypses, and it influenced jewish and christian literature thereafter. Rather than attempting to set a new end date, we will investigate the culture and context in which the book was written. She has james, jesus elder brother, killed by a jewish mob in jerusalem and she does not even quote in a note the tremendous work of robert eisenman on the subject, not even a mention in a bibliography since the book does not.
Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation at. Revelation, an act whereby the hidden, unknown god shows himself to man. Perhaps best known as the author of the gnostic gospels, she has published widely in the history of religion. Through the bestselling books of elaine pagels, thousands of readers have come to know and treasure the suppressed biblical texts known as the gnostic gospels. Princeton religious scholar elaine pagels puts the new testaments last book in historical context. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read revelations.
Elaine pagels and the jewish cult behind the book of. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation by elaine pagels. These are the socalled gnostic or apocryphal texts expunged by order of egyptian bishop athanasius in the 4th century c. The prophecy concerning rome seems to have received many interpolations and alterations at the hands of jewish and christian compilers. The book of revelation starts with this is a revelation from jesus christ, which god gave him to show his servants the events that must soon take place. The book of revelation often called the revelation to john, apocalypse of john, the revelation from jesus christ from its opening words, the apocalypse, the revelation, or simply revelation is the final book of the new testament, and consequently is also the final book of the christian bible.
The ancient hebrews expressed this idea in different ways. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation viking, elaine pagels sets out. Lorna raver author elaine pagels returns the book of revelation to its historical origin, written as its author john of patmos took aim at the roman empire after what is now known as the jewish. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation 1 by pagels, elaine isbn. Its as though you take all of your nightmares about plague or destruction or war or torture or natural catastrophe, and you just wrap it into a. That book, published in the old testament under the pseudonym daniel, is one of the earliest ancient apocalypses, and it influenced jewish and christian literature thereafter. Dinah dye and ryan white as we bring some sanity into the discussion about the book of revelation. Sociologists from weber to durkheim have shown how certain elements of ancient western religion like the torah and jesus revision of the. The following article unravels the mystery surrounding the babylonian harlot of the book of revelation.
The most mysterious, controversial and disturbing of all of the books of the new testament portion of the christian bible is the book of revelation. A startling exploration of the history of the most controversial book of the bible, by the bestselling author of beyond belief. The book of revelation, a prophecy of warning and hope. Elaine pagels explores the surprising history of the most controversial book of the bible. Over the past 2,000 years, revelation has inspired great paintings, songs and literature, has been used to justify wars, and has led many christian groups to believe the end of the word is imminent. Her thesis is that apocalyptic literature visions, prophecies, predictions of cataclysm has always carried political ramifications, both. It is common to think of prophecy as predictions, but to an israelite mind prophecy is primarily a proclamation of previously known truth, a call. Most of the other revelations, and this fascinated me, many of them were found with the gnostic gospels in upper egypt, and they had been censored by church leaders for over a thousand and a half years. Both the second beast, the false prophet who aids in the worship of the image of the emperor xiii. The jews in end time bible prophecy jews lamb and lion. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation audiobook written by elaine pagels.
As one of the worlds foremost religion scholars, she has been a pioneer in interpreting these books and. The book of revelation audiobook by king james bible. The book of revelation, the final book of the new testament, has some of the most dramatic and frightening language in the bible. Finally a book about the revelation of john that puts the book in its historical and political context. Prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation by. The book of revelation is the most difficult of all new testament books to interpret because of the extensive symbolism. Visions, prophecy and politics a new and very exciting book about the last book in the bible, the revelation of st john. Mar 07, 2012 revelations npr coverage of revelations. Elaine pagels on the book of revelation february 24. In this startling and timely book, pagels returns the book of revelation to its historical origin, written as its author john of patmos took aim at the. It was popular to see jesus and the earliest christians as a continuation of the old testament prophets and standing apart from the apocalyptic tradition see. The book of revelation is a key book to help gods children know how gods plan for our world is going to end. Following the lamb into the new creation by gorman. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation.
Viewing the book through the prism of the gnostic gospels and the other accounts of prophetic visions that proliferated at the time, she advances the modern theory that revelation is a jewish christian document fighting back against pauls mission to abrogate jewish law and bring christs message to the gentiles. Revelation speaks of the coordinated establishment of a one world economic system entrapping us in terms of our bodies control over our ability to buy and sell and hence survive, a one world political system entrapping us in terms of our souls control over our consciousness, intellect and emotions, and a one world religion entrapping us in terms of our spirits control over. Her new book, however, tackles a text that is firmly, dramatically within the new testament canon. Visions, prophecy and politics fresh air march 7, 2012 princeton religious scholar elaine pagels puts the new testaments last book in historical context. Many christians today believe that the book of revelation which some mistakenly call revelations was written by the same john who wrote the gospel of john, speaks to an audience of. He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant john. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation reprint by pagels, elaine isbn.
Author elaine pagels includes here discussion of not only john of patmoss book of revelations, so wellknown from the new testament, but also discussion of the numerous revelation texts found at nag hammadi in upper egypt in 1945. Gary demar every year, we are served up a platter of new predictions of doom by christian bible prophecy pundits who believe we are living in the end times. Book of revelation, bibles nightmarish finale, put in. Mar 21, 2012 the book of revelation, attributed by ms. Militant jews in jerusalem, fired with religious fervor, waged an allout war against romes occupation of judea and their defeat. In other cases he offers a value judgment that underlines the particular point he wishes to make but seems inaccurate.
So, the divine author of revelation is jesus christ and the human author is the apostle john. The name revelation comes from the first word of the book in koine greek. At the end of the tribulation, when the jews have come to the end of themselves, they will turn to god and receive yeshua as their messiah zechariah 12. This will serve to develop a better home page read more. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation paperback bargain price, feb 26 20.
Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation ebook written by elaine pagels. Daniels prophecy of the 70 weeks of years is a good example. Confira tambem os ebooks mais vendidos, lancamentos e livros digitais exclusivos. Elaine pagels joined the princeton faculty in 1982, shortly after receiving a macarthur fellowship.
Jewish refugees from hitler totaled about 90,000 in the united kingdom between 1930 and 1945, and in the last half of the 20 th century the jewish population there declined as shavit himself writes elsewhere in the book. It influences our nations religion, worldview and foreign policy in a way that the gospels do not, and perhaps never have. Pagels to john of patmos, is the last book in the new testament and the only one thats apocalyptic rather than historical or morally prescriptive. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation kindle edition.
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