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Visions, Prophecy, and Politics in the Book of Revelation
Viking
May 2012
On Sale: May 6, 2012
256 pages ISBN: 0670023345 EAN: 9780670023349 Kindle: B006LU1O44 Hardcover / e-Book
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Non-Fiction
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.
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