Project muse visions, prophecy, and politics in the book. Daniel boyarin bio elaine pagels, visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation new york. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation paperback by elaine pagels on. Elaine pagels burst the myth of the early christian church as a unified movement in her 1979 book the gnostic gospels, which won both the national book critics circle award and the national book award, and was chosen by the modern library as one of the 100 best books of the 20th century. Visions, prophecy and politics in the book of revelation, by elaine pagels. 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. Mar 15, 2012 elaine pagels burst the myth of the early christian church as a unified movement in her 1979 book the gnostic gospels, which won both the national book critics circle award and the national book award, and was chosen by the modern library as one of the 100 best books of the 20th century. Nov, 2016 bishop myers discusses the truth about the book of revelation and also teaches us how to remember the 10 commandments using a pictorial mnemonic device. The structure of revelation and its relevance for interpretation hebrew bible intertextuality in the book of revelation e. Any reader of revelation will see that the book reflects sharp divisions within the churches john addresses. Elaine pagels tends to emphasize conflict in early christian circles, and her next argument will persuade some interpreters but not most. Elaine pagels on revelation and revelations huffpost.
Visions, prophecy and politics princeton religious scholar elaine pagels puts the new testaments last book in historical context. Elaine pagels explores the surprising history of the most controversial book of the bible. Sacramental theology in the book of revelation charles a. Daniel, ezekiel, isaiah the sociocultural background to the book of revelation second essay options. 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. About revelations a startling exploration of the history of the most controversial book of the bible, by the bestselling author of beyond belief.
Visions, prophecy and politics in the book of revelation. A few years ago, people were publically reading current events into the book of revelation, and like a lot of people, i was concerned at the fusing of religion and politics. The book of revelation, a dark and enigmatic account of an apocalyptic endtimes vision populated by warring demons and manyheaded beasts, has given rise to more competing interpretations than most of the rest of the bible combined. The book of revelation last podcast on the left reading list. Exegetical essay on one or more passages in revelation related to empire andor ecology. Probably the most consequential vision of the future ever written is the bibles book of revelation. Elaine pagels revelations public radio international. Elaine pagels a profound exploration of the bibles most controversial book from the author of beyond belief and the gnostic gospels the strangest book of the new testament, filled with visions of the rapture, the whore of babylon, and apocalyptic writing of the end of times, the book of revelation has fascinated readers for more than two. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Can a prechristian version of the book of revelation be. Apr 28, 2015 revelation is not too hard to comprehend, and we should benefit from it.
The book of revelation provides some of the keenest insights in scripture concerning the big picture of work. And the voice i had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, come up here, and i will show you what must take place after this. Jul 18, 2016 why doesnt christianity remove the book of revelation from the bible. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation, discusses how the book of revelation is a multipurpose story. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation. Jun 19, 2012 brooding bishops squelched this independent thinking, pagels declares. Mar 06, 2012 her new book, however, tackles a text that is firmly, dramatically within the new testament canon. 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. It will be no surprise to anyone familiar with pagels that she draws parallels to gnostic gospels, but she insists on calling nonbiblical apocalyptic books of. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation, pagels analyzes other revelations of the time they were common and examines how johns particular version of apocalypse made it into the worlds.
Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read revelations. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation kindle edition by pagels, elaine. Elaine pagels, professor of religion, discusses evil in the context of the history of religion elaine pagels, professor of religion at princeton university,explains that many interpretations of evil throughout history are inspired by the book of revelation. Elaine pagels you book conflict dream the antichrist is often identified with the second beast in the book of revelation that arises from the land, the beast that tries to. Nov 19, 2012 this is the holy book of revelation, known as the revelation of st. Pagels to john of patmos, is the last book in the new testament and the only one thats apocalyptic. The apocalypse, or revelation to john, the last book of the bible, is one of the most difficult to understand because it abounds in unfamiliar and extravagant symbolism, which at best appears unusual to the modern reader.
John of patmos was a war refugee, writing sixty years after the death of jesus and twenty years after. After this i looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. Professor elaine pagels reading from the book of revelation. Elaine pagels book of revelation elaine pagels inti. Pagels, the author of the gnostic gospels, details how revelation and other apocalyptic writings have frequently urged fear and hatred of ruling powers, if not so often armed revolt. The book of revelation is the strangest book in the bible.
Dec 28, 2018 blessed are those who read and study from the book of revelation. Through the bestselling books of elaine pagels, thousands of readers have come to know and treasure the. Elaine pagels on what the book of revelation reveals wsj. The book of revelations is indeed a revelation in elaine pagels s understanding of it. The book features pagels characteristic vivid historical imagination, along with helpful explanations and provocative, sometimes dubious. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation by elaine pagels online at alibris. See revelation 23 for hints of those divisions, along with johns insistence that readers must. The book of revelation is the final book of the christian new testament and describes the time on earth when jesus christ will return and the world as we know it will end with a great battle. Elaine pagels, nee hiesey born february, 1943, is an american religious historian. The book of revelation had considerable trouble finding acceptance in the. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation reprint by pagels, elaine isbn. The title of the book the revelation of jesus christ 1.
In this 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. Elaine pagels is the harrington spear paine professor of religion at princeton university and the author of reading judas, the gnostic gospelswinner of the national book critics circle award and the national book award and the new york times bestseller beyond belief. Over the centuries, it continued to draw the ire of critics, from theologian martin luther to author d. Jun 20, 2009 preparing a top 5 list of commentaries on the book of revelation is extremely challenging in a number of ways. The book of revelation and work bible commentary theology. Spirited, erudite and engaged best describe her exploration of a longago world that continues to inform our own. 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. Listen online or offline with android, ios, web, chromecast, and. If god didnt write it through the sainted instrument of someone named john, then who did, and why. Elaine pagels and the jewish cult behind the book of revelations. Author of the gnostic gospels, professor and scholar elaine pagels is a preeminent figure in the theological community whose impressive scholarship has earned her international respect. Revelation niv bible the dragon stood on the shore of.
Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation by elaine pagels isbn. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation pagels, elaine on. On the book of revelation and the ten commandments youtube. Pagels, who changed forever how we look at christianity with books like the gnostic gospels, here rethinks the book of revelation, which has always been regarded as a nearfantastic vision of the worlds end.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading revelations. Gieschen the book of revelation is often interpreted as a document that is full of eschatology, namely, it is understood as depicting the gloom of the last days and the glory of eternity. These various groups emphasised personal spiritual knowledge over orthodox teachings, traditions, and ecclesiastical authority. Revelation never describes itself as a symbolic code of future events plotted on a timeline. Book of revelation is a multipurpose story youtube. It is not a reading of the book of revelation, of which we have, by now. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation by elaine pagels viking. The book of the revelation pastor david legge 4 reign of righteousness. Her new book, however, tackles a text that is firmly, dramatically within the new testament canon. In the waning days of the roman empire, militant jews in jerusalem had waged an allout war against romes occupation of judea, and their defeat resulted in the desecration of the great temple in jerusalem. 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. But people have clashed over the meaning of revelation ever since it was virtually forced into the new testament canon over the protests of some early church leaders, pagels says. Why doesnt christianity remove the book of revelation from.
I cannot point to a single commentary with which i agree entirely. So this book is a revelation of jesus christ, not in the sense that matthew, mark, luke and john revealed him, but rather than the humiliated christ, we have. Revelations a startling exploration of the history of the most controversial book of the bible, by the bestselling author of beyond belief. Yet it is a tough nut to crack, not only because of its intrinsic difficulty but because of the myriad interpretations that have grown up around the book. Princeton religious scholar elaine pagels puts the new testaments last book in historical context. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. Multidimensional reading of the strangest book in the bibleand the most controversial. Among the strange and psychedelic imagery is the fall of mans cities, the.
The book of the revelation study introduction 5 the book of the revelation of jesus christ study introduction i. Elaine pagels, professor of religion, discusses evil in. Most scholars also think that this book was written in the 90s, and they question whether the apostle john is likely to have lived to so advanced an age if, indeed, he escaped the martyrdom that jesus predicts will befall him in mark 10. This quite marvelous book is marred by a terribly misleading title. Elaine pagels recounts what scholars know about the book of revelation in terms of its composition, how it was viewed by contemporaries and its eventual inclusion into the new testament. Elaine pagels on the book of revelation february 24, 2012. Revelations is a slim book that packs in dense layers of scholarship and meaning. Elaine pagels is well known for her books on gnosticism. The book of revelation is not, as pagels points out, and as scholars have known for centuries, a prediction of events thousands of years in the future, but rather, the prayer of a man who had witnessed the destruction of everything he believed in and could only conclude that this meant the end of the world was at hand. God told moses, and the lord said unto moses, write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of joshua.
Visions, prophecy and politics in the book of revelation, princeton university religious professor elaine pagels places the book of revelation in its historical context. Elaine pagels quotes dionysius of alexandria, who wrote of revelation, i take the view that the interpretation of the various sections is largely a mystery i do not understand it, but i suspect that some deeper meaning is hidden in the words p. Ad 95 on patmos island off the coast of asia minor by an exile named john, in the wake of local persecution by the emperor domitian ad 8196. These are the socalled gnostic or apocryphal texts expunged by order of egyptian bishop athanasius in the 4th century c. Even stranger, it was only one of many now forgotten.
List of books and articles about revelation theology. The bibles scariest book elaine pagels explains that the book of revelation has always been more politics than prophecy. There are a total of 66 books in our bible, but there is only one book that promises some kind of a special blessing for those who will attempt to try and read it and keep the words, revelation, and knowledge that is contained in it and that one book is the very last book of the bible, the book of revelation. A profound exploration of the bibles most controversial bookfrom the author of beyond belief and the gnostic gospels the strangest book of the new testament. John of patmos was a war refugee, writing sixty years after the death of jesus and twenty years after 60,000 roman troops crushed the jewish rebellion in judea and destroyed jerusalem. Then the entire weight of the church came down upon it after constantines conversion.
Oct 24, 20 james tabor suggests that in the same way the basic apocalyptic texts of the dead sea scrolls have as their historical reference points the parties and politics of the mid1st century bce, the urtext of revelation is most likely composed against the backdrop of local events in judea in the 40s and 50s ceand has little to do with rome and its emperors. Revelation 4 niv bible after this i looked, and there. Elaine pagels on revelation npr has a nice interview with elaine pagels discussing her new book, revelations. In her new book, revelations, elaine pagels surveys this most savage and peculiar book of the new testament with unruffled authority. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation by elaine pagels 2012, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. 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. 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. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation audiobook written by elaine pagels.
The beast i saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of. Prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation, which you can expect to get much attention. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation considers this vivid and controversial text. I had been taught that the separation between religion and politics happened in the enlightenment. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation by elaine pagels. 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. Pagels offers a sharp, accessible, and perceptive interpretation of one of the bibles most divisive books. Elaine pagels on the book of revelation february 24. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation, discusses how the book of revelation is a. A profound exploration of the bibles most controversial book from the author of beyond belief and the gnostic gospels the strangest book of the new testament. Pagels has conducted extensive research into early christianity and gnosticism. The canonical book of revelation sometimes provided ammunition for traditionalists who associated gnostics and other heretics with the beast seen by john of patmos. Known for her work in translating the nag hammadi library, she joined the princeton faculty in. Elaine pagels has a persuasive answer, spectacularly illustrated.
She is the harrington spear paine professor of religion at princeton university. The holy bible book 66 revelation kjv dramatized audio. Like the books of prophecy in the old testament, revelation proclaims a message. Revelations by elaine pagels is a startling exploration of the history of the most controversial book of the bible. The book of revelation, the surreal apocalyptic vision of the end of the world. Dec 07, 2009 revelation, the final book in the new testament, was squeezed into the canon in the fourth century, said pagels, and barely made it into the 27book lineup. Seiss, jesus of the apocalypse by barbara thiering. The book of revelation is war literature, pagels explained.
Elaine pagels, a bestselling author and professor of religion at princeton university, dives into the debate in her new book revelations. Revelation 1, king james version kjv the bible app. One of elaine pagelss great gifts is much in abundance. Her answers may disturb people who see the book as a prophecy about the end of the world. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation ebook written by elaine pagels. Its name comes from the greek word apokalypsis, which means revelation.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Through the bestselling books of elaine pagels, thousands of readers have come to know and treasure the suppressed biblical texts known as the gnostic. John the divine, although the godgiven title is at the very beginning of the text, the revelation of jesus christ, which god. Mar 07, 2012 close overlay buy featured book title revelations subtitle visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation author elaine h. Its supposed prophesies of end times and armageddon are not good for modern society. Apr 01, 2012 pagels book is built around a simple question.
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