General and scholarly interest in Revelation has never been greater. This is a specially commissioned set of state-of-the-art studies on the most important aspects of Revelation and its significance for the 21st century--by the world's leading scholars. The studies can be grouped in relation to three main themes: strategies of interpretation (theological, literary, feminist, metaphorical); the nature of the violent imagery; and passages of particular interest (the letter to Laodicea, 'praise and politics', Old Testament allusions, the second coming of Christ).This book will provide an invaluable resource for researchers and students alike.

There is a development between expectation for the rebuilding of the New Jerusalem/Temple in the Old Testament and the coming of the New Jerusalem/Temple in Revelation. In Revelation, there is a dynamic relation between the New Jerusalem and the Heavenly Jerusalem: the New Jerusalem is the descent of the Heavenly Jerusalem. Moreover, there is no Temple building which was expected as the eschatological promise in the Old Testament but rather God and the Lamb is the Temple. How can this shift be explained? Pilchan Lee examines the exegetical tradition which existed between the Old Testament and Revelation. He assumes that as the exegetical tradition, the early Jewish (apocalyptic) literature functions as a key element for forming the idea of the New Jerusalem in Revelation. John's main argument is that the church (which is symbolized by several images) is placed in heaven now (chapters 4-20) and the church (which is symbolized by the New Jerusalem) will descend to the earth from heaven in the future (21-22).

The interpretation of the Apocalypse is explored through various methods including historical, literary, and social analysis, in combination with such reading strategies as process, postcolonial, and religion studies perspectives. Shows how diverse methods produce divergent readings of a text. Paperback edition available from the Society of Biblical Literature (www.sbl-site.org).

This first-of-its-kind charts book does not seek to support specific interpretations of end-times prophecies. Instead, it depicts the literary, historical, and theological backgrounds of Revelation, arguably the New Testament's most challenging book. Includes seventy-nine charts, timelines, and maps. All charts are reproducible for classroom use.

This study guide explores the origins and reception history of the Book of Revelation and its continuing fascination for readers from both religious and secular backgrounds. Stephen D. Moore examines the transcultural impact Revelation has had, both within and beyond Christianity, not only on imaginings of when and how the world will end, but also on imaginings of the risen Jesus, heaven and hell, Satan, the Antichrist, and even Mary the mother of Jesus. Moore traces Revelation's remarkable reception through the ages, with special emphasis on its twentieth and twenty-first century appropriations, before resituating the book in its original context of production: Who wrote it, where, when, why, and modelled on what? The study guide culminates with a miniature commentary on the entire text of Revelation, weaving together liberationist, postcolonial, feminist, womanist, queer, and ecological approaches to the book in order to discern what it might mean for contemporary readers and communities concerned with issues of social justice.

The Journal of Biblical and Pneumatological Research (JBPR) is a new international peer-reviewed journal dedicated to narratively and rhetorically minded exegesis of biblical and related texts. Topics include theological and pneumatological interpretation, the role of spiritual experience within authorial, canonical, and contemporary contexts, and the activity of Ruach Yahweh, Ruach Elohim, and various identifications of the Holy Spirit. The journal hopes to stimulate new thematic and narrative-critical exploration and discovery in potentially under-explored areas of research. Editor: Paul Elbert, Pentecostal Theological Seminary, 900 Walker Street, NE, Cleveland, Tennessee 37311. Professor Elbert, physicist-theologian and NT scholar, is currently the co-chair of the Formation of Luke-Acts Section with the Society of Biblical Literature. Editorial Board: There are twenty-seven biblical scholars in twelve countries serving the critical editorial process of JBPR: Guillermo Acero (Institution Biblico Pastoral Latinamericano, Universidad Minuto de Dios, Bogota, COLUMBIA); Mervin Breneman (Escuela de Estudios Pastorales, COSTA RICA); Christopher Carter (Asia Pacific Theological Seminary, PHILIPPINES); Blaine Charette (Northwest University, USA); Roger Cotton (Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, USA); Andrew Davies (Mattersey Hall, UK); David Dorman (Near East School of Theology, Beirut, LEBANON); Kay Fountain (Southern Cross College, Auckland, NEW ZEALAND); Jacqueline Grey (Alphacrucis College, Sydney, AUSTRALIA); Jon Huntzinger (King's Seminary, USA); William Kay (Bangor University, UK); Dongsoo Kim (Pyeongtaek University, SOUTH KOREA); William Kurz (Marquette University, USA); Leonard MarŽ (Auckland Park Theological Seminary, University of Johannesburg, SOUTH AFRICA); Lee Roy Martin (Church of God Theological Seminary, USA); Martin Mittelstadt (Evangel University, USA); David Norris (Urshan Graduate School of Theology, USA); Finny Philip (Filadelfia Bible College, Udaipur, INDIA); John Poirier (Kingswell Theological Seminary, USA); Janet Meyer Everts (Hope College, USA); Emerson Powery (Messiah College, USA); James Shelton (Oral Roberts University, USA); Rebecca Skaggs (Patton University, USA); Roger Stronstad (Summit Pacific College, CANADA); Robby Waddell (Southeastern University, USA); Keith Warrington (Regents Theological College, UK); and Willie Wessels (University of South Africa, Pretoria, SOUTH AFRICA).

Revelation's Hymns examines the hymnic pericopes in Revelation in light of the cosmic conflict theme. It considers this theme as integral to the development of Revelation's plot. Recognizing that critical studies give interpretative primacy to the political realities that existed at the time of Revelation's composition, Grabiner responds to the need for an examination of the storyline from the perspective of issues that are of narrative importance. Grabiner argues that the cosmic conflict is at the centre of the book's concerns, and attempts to determine the function of the hymns with respect to this. Previous examinations of the hymns have considered them as a response and/or parody to Roman liturgy, examples of God's unquestioned sovereignty, or expressions of thematic overtones found throughout the book. While these approaches make a contribution to a greater understanding of the hymns, the relation to the ever-present conflict theme has not been explored. This study allows the hymnic sections to engage with the larger narrative issue as to who is truly the rightful sovereign of the universe.

The highly popular Sheffield New Testament Guides are being reissued in a new format, grouped together and prefaced by one of the best known of contemporary Johannine scholars. This new format is designed to ensure that these authoritative introductions remain up to date and accessible to seminary and university students of the New Testament while offering a broader theological and literary context for their study. Alan Culpepper introduces the Johannine Writings as a whole, illuminating their distinctive historical and theological features and their importance within the New Testament canon.

Find academic sophistication, pastoral sensitivity, and accessibility in the award-winning BECNT series 2024 Christian Book Award® Winner (Bible Reference Works) In this addition to the award-winning BECNT series, leading evangelical biblical scholar Thomas Schreiner offers a substantive commentary on Revelation. Schreiner's BECNT volume on Romans has been highly successful, with nearly 40,000 copies sold. In this volume, Schreiner presents well-informed evangelical scholarship on the book of Revelation. He leads readers through the text of Revelation to help them better understand the meaning and relevance of this biblical book. As with all BECNT volumes, this informative, balanced commentary features: ● Detailed interaction with the Greek text ● Extensive research ● Chapter-by-chapter exegesis ● A blend of scholarly depth and readability ● An acclaimed, user-friendly design The BECNT series aims for academic sophistication with pastoral sensitivity and accessibility, making it a useful tool for pastors, church leaders, students, and teachers.

The Oxford Handbook of Mission Studies represents more than a century of scholarship related to the theology, history, and methodology of the propagation of Christian faith and the engagement of Christians with cultures, religions, and societies worldwide. It contains more than 40 articles by experts from different disciplinary and ecclesial perspectives, who are from all continents. It not only offers a broad overview of key approaches and issues in mission studies but it also highlights current trends and suggests future developments. The Handbook builds on renewed interest in mission studies this century generated by recent key statements on mission from ecumenical, evangelical, Catholic, and Orthodox sources, and by a spate of academic works on the topic. Western church leaders now apply insights from foreign missions (such as, inculturation, liberation, interfaith work, and power encounter) to today's multicultural societies. Meanwhile, there are new initiatives in mission from the Majority World, where most Christians live, so that sending is not only 'from the west to the rest' but 'from everywhere to everywhere'. Therefore, this volume aims to reflect the voices of the receivers of mission as well as its protagonists and to raise awareness of new movements. In a time of growing recognition of 'religions' more generally, this work examines and theorizes the missional dimensions of the world's largest religion: its agendas, growth, outreach, role in public life, effect on cultures, relevance for development, and its approaches to other communities.