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A startling exploration of the history of the most controversial book of the Bible, by the bestselling author of Beyond Belief. 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. As one of the world's foremost religion scholars, she has been a pioneer in interpreting these books and illuminating their place in the early history of Christianity. Her new book, however, tackles a text that is firmly, dramatically within the New Testament canon: The Book of Revelation, the surreal apocalyptic vision of the end of the world . . . or is it? 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 Roman Empire after what is now known as "the Jewish War," in 66 CE. Militant Jews in Jerusalem, fired with religious fervor, waged an all-out war against Rome's occupation of Judea and their defeat resulted in the desecration of Jerusalem and its Great Temple. Pagels persuasively interprets Revelation as a scathing attack on the decadence of Rome. Soon after, however, a new sect known as "Christians" seized on John's text as a weapon against heresy and infidels of all kinds-Jews, even Christians who dissented from their increasingly rigid doctrines and hierarchies. In a time when global religious violence surges, Revelations explores how often those in power throughout history have sought to force "God's enemies" to submit or be killed. It is sure to appeal to Pagels's committed readers and bring her a whole new audience who want to understand the roots of dissent, violence, and division in the world's religions, and to appreciate the lasting appeal of this extraordinary text.
The final book of the Bible, Revelation prophesies the ultimate judgement of mankind in a series of allegorical visions, grisly images and numerological predictions. According to these, empires will fall, the "Beast" will be destroyed and Christ will rule a new Jerusalem. With an introduction by Will Self.
This commentary on Revelation is for those who are looking for an easy-to-read, biblically central, and Christologically focused commentary on one of the most intriguing books of the Bible. It is a shame that pastors and followers of Jesus avoid the book of Revelation because of the confusing theories they heard about in the past, or just too many movies! This commentary attempts to get away from the needless debate (though different views are presented) and focus the reader’s attention on the primary focus of the book, the Lamb of God. The Lamb holds history in his hand by virtue of his eternal authority and his invested authority because of the blood that he spilled and his testimony. Therein lies his victory, and therein lies the victory for those who follow him.
From the Preface: There are indeed few books in the Bible where the modern student does not need deft guidance if reading is to prove profitable. In the case of the Book of Revelation that need becomes absolutely essential. When the average student takes up this book, almost without exception the going is tough, the language baffling, the sense of profit minimal. This situation represents a curious reversal, for in earlier centuries no other part of Scripture so greatly intrigued the imagination of Christendom or so greatly fascinated its painters and musicians .... The book at hand is designed to restore the Apocalypse to its rightful place in Christian thinking. The title asserts a continuing conviction: John as a prophet actually saw a new earth. The ordinary ways of perceiving reality had been radically altered by his faith in Christ.... Even moderns., in their traffic with Òthe earth,Ó have accessible a greater diversity of visions than they suppose. The ancient prophet may still have power to enable us to see a new earth. Such at least is the premise that prompted the publication of this book.
Most people associate visions, and dream as wired and superstitious thing but from the biblical perspective and from my personal experience over a period of an effective time in the ministry, I believe that this supernatural spiritual phenomenon are still authentic now as it was then. Those who believe that life is just about the natural realm where we now live are deceived and need someone to bring them to the dimension of spirituality. In this book I will prove to you how God used visions, revelations and dream to make his word real to me and for me. I believe that some of you who are reading some of these account of what God did in my life have also had your own share of experiences with God. It is important for those who want to grow spiritually to know that God does use Visions, dreams, and revelation as one of his ways of teaching us about who he is and about his words. In other words, no one is that a born again Holy Spirit Christian that will not have an account of a time that God taught them spiritual things through a dream, vision or revelation. If Paul was taught by God through visions, and revelations then the same God who taught him by those means will do the same today. Some may argue that we don't need to get vision, revelations and dreams anymore because we have the written word; but they forget to understand that the bible never said that God was never going to teach us or show us things by visions or revelations or dreams but rather whatever he teaches us by those means ill line up with his word or else it may lead to deception. It is important that I warn people however, that those who walk with God do not go about conjuring for visions, revelations and dreams; this things happens only by the doing of the Holy Spirit if is really of God. Those who go about telling people to pay them so that they will get revelations, dreams, and visions are out of the will of God; people that operate like that are likely false prophets and those who follow such may end in end up not in the gospel but in spiritism instead of true spirituality. Since Christianity is not a cult it is important that visions, revelations, and even dream be from God and not of human making. If those who are believers trust God he will know when it may be necessary to communicate to them by these means. Jesus said that when the Holy Spirit comes he will show us things to come; how is he going to show us things to come without doing so by revelation. Paul the Apostle praying for the Church of Ephesus prayed that God will grant them the spirit of revelation in the knowledge of him. There are two ways to learn from God one is through information from the word and the second is from revelation of his spirit. It is important to know that Christianity is not all about information only it is also about revelations. The word “Apocalyptic” means the hidden knowledge. How are Christians going to deal with apocalyptic events if they have no clue that every knowledge about God and the universe is not all written in the bible; the bible gives us a guideline to c coming to the knowledge of those things and the Holy Spirit reveals them when it is necessary in God's timing. I often ponder when I read the last chapter of the gospel of John. It states: “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written” [John 21:25 NIV].There are no book in the world or library that can contain all the information about God however, God teaches us about these things through vision, dreams and revelations. We now live in a world that believe and only trust in television but the apostles did not have television yet they were able to transact the business of the kingdom of God through heavenly visions. I submit to you that vision is for us today and those who truly walk with God are going to be shown things to come by the Holy Spirit as promised by God.
Jesus Christ is arguably the most famous man who ever lived. His image adorns countless churches, icons, and paintings. He is the subject of millions of statues, sculptures, devotional objects and works of art. Everyone can conjure an image of Jesus: usually as a handsome, white man with flowing locks and pristine linen robes. But what did Jesus really look like? Is our popular image of Jesus overly westernized and untrue to historical reality? This question continues to fascinate. Leading Christian Origins scholar Joan E. Taylor surveys the historical evidence, and the prevalent image of Jesus in art and culture, to suggest an entirely different vision of this most famous of men. He may even have had short hair.
The Book of Revelation is a work of profound theology. But its literary form makes it impenetrable to many modern readers and open to all kinds of misinterpretations. Richard Bauckham explains how the book's imagery conveyed meaning in its original context and how the book's theology is inseparable from its literary structure and composition. Revelation is seen to offer not an esoteric and encoded forecast of historical events but rather a theocentric vision of the coming of God's universal kingdom, contextualised in the late first-century world dominated by Roman power and ideology. It calls on Christians to confront the political idolatries of the time and to participate in God's purpose of gathering all the nations into his kingdom. Once Revelation is properly grounded in its original context it is seen to transcend that context and speak to the contemporary church. This study concludes by highlighting Revelation's continuing relevance for today.
Selected by the Modern Library as one of the 100 best nonfiction books of all time The Gnostic Gospels is a landmark study of the long-buried roots of Christianity, a work of luminous scholarship and wide popular appeal. First published in 1979 to critical acclaim, winning the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award, The Gnostic Gospels has continued to grow in reputation and influence over the past two decades. It is now widely recognized as one of the most brilliant and accessible histories of early Christian spirituality published in our time. In 1945 an Egyptian peasant unearthed what proved to be the Gnostic Gospels, thirteen papyrus volumes that expounded a radically different view of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ from that of the New Testament. In this spellbinding book, renowned religious scholar Elaine Pagels elucidates the mysteries and meanings of these sacred texts both in the world of the first Christians and in the context of Christianity today. With insight and passion, Pagels explores a remarkable range of recently discovered gospels, including the Gospel of Thomas and the Gospel of Mary Magdalene, to show how a variety of “Christianities” emerged at a time of extraordinary spiritual upheaval. Some Christians questioned the need for clergy and church doctrine, and taught that the divine could be discovered through spiritual search. Many others, like Buddhists and Hindus, sought enlightenment—and access to God—within. Such explorations raised questions: Was the resurrection to be understood symbolically and not literally? Was God to be envisioned only in masculine form, or feminine as well? Was martyrdom a necessary—or worthy—expression of faith? These early Christians dared to ask questions that orthodox Christians later suppressed—and their explorations led to profoundly different visions of Jesus and his message. Brilliant, provocative, and stunning in its implications, The Gnostic Gospels is a radical, eloquent reconsideration of the origins of the Christian faith.