This is one of the best books on Revelation I have read. It is concise and to the point and makes sense of the most misunderstood book of the Bible from both an historical and a theological viewpoint. Unlike the majority of books written about Revelation, it doesn't go verse by verse but covers the major themes independently which gives the reader a much better overall perpective.
Bauckham demonstrates how it is a mistake to interpret Revelation from a purely historicial perspective (ie Preterist) which makes it relevant only to first century Christians. It is also a mistake to read it from a purely futuristic perspective (ie Dispensationalism) which doesn't make it relevant for the people to whom it was originally addressed. This also leads to false assumptions, some of which turn out to be false, and makes it even more confusing.
Bauckham believes that the symbolic creatures in Revelation can only be identified with specific first century entities which the original readers had to cope with. He is consistent with most scholars in identifying the Dragon with Satan, the Seprpent, which was the primordial source of chaos and evil in the universe. The Beast from the sea is the first century Roman Empire, and the beast from the land is the Roman imperial cult which propped up the deity of the emperor. These three represent an anti-trinity. The harlot is identified as the city of Rome and the 144,000 represent an army of faithful Israelites who act in the role of holy warriors in participating in the sacrificial martyrdom of the Lamb.
Revelation as a prophetic book canonized as scripture has a timeless relevance just as Jesus and the apostles used earlier prophetic books to explain the times they were living in. It's underlying message is just as relevant for Christians living today as it was at the time it was written.
Bauckham demonstrates how Revelation is thoroughly Jewish-Christian. It borrows heavily from the Hebrew scriptures and makes parallel reference to Ezekiel, Daniel, and the Exodus story. The use of Temple symbols also makes it highly unlikely that it was written by a gentile for a gentile audience.
Revelation shows a very high Christology, similar to Paul's letters, and is strongly trinitarian. Jesus is clearly the risen Lord enthroned in Heaven who will return in triumph. This blows apart the theories of modern liberal scholars who want to portray Jesus as a wandering itinerant revolutionary sage who was exalted by gentile churches centuries later. Revelation makes it very clear that the exaltation of Jesus began at a very early date within the Jewish Christian community.
Bauckham points out that Revelation is not for modern feel-good charismatic Christians. John calls the churches to be faithful witnesses to God's Kingdom even to the point of participating in Christ's sacrificial death through martyrdom. In the first century Roman Empire, declaring Jesus as your Lord had dire consequences.
Bauckham makes it clear that people who try to interpret Revelation from a purely futuristic perspective by trying to identify its symbols with present or future entities miss the whole point. Revelation's timeless message is that God's Kingdom, although hidden, remains in opposition to the idolatry of man-made kingdoms which are based upon power and exploitation. It challenges the status quo.
The hope which Revelation offers is that no matter how bad or corrupt the world becomes, God is still on the throne and will prevail in the end.
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A very informative decoding of John's Revelation!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 29, 2022MAC
Postal good contents thorough.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 27, 2013