Revelation: Introductions

A leading evangelical theologian provides a comprehensive and objective examination of the various evangelical views of the millennium.

Full of awesome and gruesome scenes that seem to provoke more fear than faith, the Book of Revelation is often read as a roadmap through the doom and gloom of the end time. Correctly understood, however, this grand finale of the New Testament is aloud and clear call to conversion as well as a message of hope and consolation for Christians of every age. Catherine Cory carefully explains the variety of Visions that unfold in kaleidoscopic fashion throughout the book. Scenes from the Old Testament form collages that convey the central theme; namely, that God is in control and evil is being conquered. The breathtaking conclusion resounds with God's promise, Behold, I make al things new." Cory's lucid style reveals the true message of the Book of Revelation. Catherine Ann Cory, PhD, is an associate professor in the theology department, at the University of Saint Thomas, St.Paul, Minnesota.

Christ Our Hope is a masterful reflection on Christian eschatology, in a textbook of twelve accessible chapters. Paul O¿Callaghan considers the return of Christ in glory at the end of time, final resurrection, the renewal of the cosmos, and general judgment. An extensive chapter explores eternal life, perpetual communion with God in heaven, as well as perpetual condemnation, the possibility of forever losing what God has promised to those who are faithful to him. The guiding principle of the work is the theological virtue of hope, in keeping with Benedict XVI¿s 2007 encyclical, Spe Salvi. The book also considers the impact of hope on the earthly life of the believer, and especially the process of the purification of hope through death and purgatory.

Contents:
Introduction: -- 1. The re-birth of apocalyptic study -- 2. Reasons for this re-birth of interest -- Availability of new texts -- Recognition of its importance for theological study -- Its affinity with today's world
I. The literature: Identification and definition -- 1. Books and more books -- A spate of books -- The 'outside books': apocrypha and pseudepigrapha -- Types of literature --
The Dead Sea Scrolls -- 2. Apocalyptic and apocalyptic literature -- Derivation -- Identification -- Methodology -- 3. A question of definition -- A confusing situation -- The listing method -- A literary phenomenon -- A three-fold division -- A theological concept -- Apocalypse: An attempted definition -- Conclusion
II. Apocalyptic: Its birth and growth -- 1. Apocalyptic and its historical background -- 'Tracts for the time' -- Hellenistic culture and Jewish hope -- Antiochus IV and the Book of Daniel -- Hasmoneans and Romans -- 2. The roots of apocalyptic -- Apocalyptic and prophecy -- Apocalyptic and wisdom -- Apocalyptic and scribalism -- Apocalyptic and the priesthood -- Apocalyptic and culture -- 3. The birth and growth of apocalyptic -- Coventicles in Israel -- Two rival factions -- Groups and parties: 'the wise' and the Hasidim -- 4. Its 'popularity'
III. Apocalyptic groups and Apocalyptic books -- 1. Apocalyptic groups -- 2. I Enoch (Ethiopic Book of Enoch) -- A popular book -- A composite work -- A lost tradition -- 3. The Book of Daniel -- The name -- A Daniel tradition? -- The book -- 4. The Book of Jubilees -- Its nature and origin -- Its teaching -- 5. Other apocalyptic books -- The Testament of Moses -- The Testament of Levi 2-5 -- II Enoch (Slavonic Book of Enoch) -- The Treatise of Shem -- The Apocalypse of Abraham -- The Testament of Abraham -- The Apocalypse of Zephaniah -- IV Ezra (II Esdras) -- II Baruch (Syriac Apocalypse of Baruch)
IV. Revelation: Its reception and expression -- 1. Inspiration and revelation -- Voice of prophecy dumb -- Revelation through Torah -- A new revelation: apocalyptic and Torah -- A new revelation: apocalyptic and prophecy -- 2. Methods and modes of revelation -- Pseudonymous authorship -- Symbolic in language -- 3. Media of revelation -- Dream-visions -- Otherworldly journeys -- Mediation of angels -- Secret books -- Meditation on scripture
V. Divine secrets revealed -- 1. Cosmology -- The created world -- The throne of God -- 2. History -- The God of history -- The unity of history -- 'Predicting' the past -- History systematized and predetermined -- 3. Eschatology -- The future hope -- The 'messianic woes' -- Participation in the Kingdom -- The transcendence of death -- The nature of survival -- Resurrection -- The Final Judgment
VI. Dualism and Apocalyptic -- 1. Worlds apart -- Two worlds -- Two dimensions -- Two ages -- 2. Cosmic dualism -- The 'fall' of the angels -- In battle array -- 3. Ethical dualism -- Two ways -- Two spirits
VII. Messiah and 'Son of Man' -- 1. Expectation and speculation -- As king and priest -- Two eschatological prophets -- The Messiah in heaven -- 2. Messiah and 'son of man' -- The expression 'son of man' -- In Daniel 7:13 -- Later messianic interpretation
VIII. Apocalyptic interpretation: A Christian perspective -- 1. In the New Testament -- The framework of apocalyptic -- The transformation of apocalyptic -- 2. Criteria of interpretation -- The integrity of the texts -- Prediction, not static but dynamic -- The test of scripture -- 3. The message of apocalyptic -- God is in control -- The Kingdom will come.

A complete introduction to the Christian view of the future. What does the Bible say about the future, about death, about human destiny and heaven and hell? This volume presents a clear and comprehensive introduction to the Christian hope for the future that is particularly relevant to today's world. Hans Schwarz guides readers through the range of opinions on this fascinating subject, showing how our understanding of eschatology has developed and laying out the factors that must be considered when speaking meaningfully about the Christian hope here in the twenty-first century. He surveys the teachings about the future in both the Old and New Testaments, discusses the views of Christian and secular thinkers throughout history--including the challenges posed by science, philosophy, and New Age beliefs--and explores the major themes of eschatology, including death, immortality, and resurrection.

Contents: Discovering the Christ of the Apocalypse -- Reading Prophecy for the Present -- The Apocalypse in Figures and Colours: Learning the Symbols -- Entering into the World of the Apocalypses -- The Apocalypse is Good News! -- Hear what the Spirit says to the Churches... (Apocalypse 2-3) -- 'The Lamb Standing as Though it had been Slain' or the True Face of God (Apocalypse 4-5) -- From Judgment to Salvation (Apocalypse 6-7) -- The Battle of the Dragon with the Woman (Apocalypse 12) -- From the 'End of the World' to a New Creation (Apocalypse 21-22) -- The Last Word

'[The Apocalypse] is a book widely misunderstood, that has given rise to numerous strange heresies; and yet it is a book that we neglect at our peril, for it speaks to us, in the most literal sense, about matters of life and death'eternal life, eternal death. Here, more than anywhere else in Scripture, we recognize the truth of the Ethiopian's reply to Philip: 'How can I understand what I am reading, unless someone guides me?' (Acts 8:31) 'In Fr Columba Flegg we have found exactly the guide who can help us. His tone is sober and his words are as precise as possible; and this is of crucial importance when commenting on a text that has occasioned so much bizarre speculation. While open to the insights provide by modern biblical scholarship, he takes as his basic guideline the interpretation given by the Fathers. As we read his pages, gradually we see unfolding before us the coherence of the Apocalypse, the true unity of its cosmic vision.' Bishop Kallistos (Ware) of Diokleia, from the Foreword

This work presents the student with the tools and information required to understand the many commentaries written on the book of Revelations. It focuses on the nature of hermeneutics itself and leads students to have confidence in their own interpretations.

Eschatology is the study of the last things: death, judgment, the afterlife, and the end of the world. Through centuries of Christian thoughtfrom the early Church fathers through the Middle Ages and the Reformationthese issues were of the utmost importance. In other religions, too, eschatological concerns were central. After the Enlightenment, though, many religious thinkers began to downplay the importance of eschatology which, in light of rationalism, came to be seen as something of anembarrassment. The twentieth century, however, saw the rise of phenomena that placed eschatology back at the forefront of religious thought. From the rapid expansion of fundamentalist forms of Christianity, with their focus on the end times; to the proliferation of apocalyptic new religious movements; to the recent (and very public) debates about suicide, martyrdom, and paradise in Islam, interest in eschatology is once again on the rise. In addition to its popular resurgence, in recent yearssome of the worlds most important theologians have returned eschatology to its former position of prominence. The Oxford Handbook of Eschatology will provide an important critical survey of this diverse body of thought and practice from a variety of perspectives: biblical, historical, theological, philosophical, and cultural. This volume will be the primary resource for students, scholars, and others interested in questions of our ultimate existence.