Amidst the fervor of popular apocalyptic books and unfounded "end
times" theology, deSilva has written an excellent book that will help
readers thoughtfully and properly approach the book of Revelation.
This is a truly unique book that studies Revelation by (1) stating the
context in which it was written (Roman Asia in the first century), (2)
noting why John wrote what he did to the church, and (3) powerfully
applying John's message to the church today. It is concisely written
and carries a genuine spiritual message.
Chapters include:
- Debunking Popular Myths about Revelation
- Divine Emperor, Eternal Rome: The Public Story About Roman
Imperialism
- The True Center and the Unholy Scam: John's Biblical Critique of
the Public Story
- Looking at the Immediate in Light of the Infinite: The Seven Oracles
to the Churches of Asia
- John's Proclamation of the One Who Is, Who Was, and Is Coming
From the Preface:
"Many books on Revelation written for a general audience push
the readers to accept the author's new and innovative decoding of
Revelation's "prophecies" in the current world situation. Often this
includes some prediction of what the author believes will come to
pass in the readers' near future based on his or her alignment of
Revelation with current world politics.
I wrote this book for people who are not satisfied with this kind of
speculative, fanciful, often manipulative approach to Revelation. I
wrote this book for those who suspect that Revelation does have
an important word to speak to the churches today, but also that
John's concern is not to provide a play-book for the end times. . .
Surely it is time to take John's word to John's congregations in Asia
Minor more seriously . . ."