Revelations

Visions, Prophecy, and Politics in the Book of Revelation

By: Elaine Pagels

Narrated by: Lorna Raver

Elaine Pagels explores the surprising history of the most controversial book of the Bible. In the waning days of the Roman Empire, militant Jews in Jerusalem had waged an all-out war against Rome’s occupation of Judea, and their defeat resulted in the desecration of the Great Temple in Jerusalem. In the aftermath of that war, John of Patmos, a Jewish prophet and follower of Jesus, wrote the Book of Revelation, prophesying God’s judgment on the pagan empire that devastated and dominated his people. Soon after, Christians fearing arrest and execution championed John’s prophecies as offering hope for deliverance from evil. Others seized on the Book of Revelation as a weapon against heretics and infidels of all kinds.

Even after John’s prophecies seemed disproven - instead of being destroyed, Rome became a Christian empire - those who loved John’s visions refused to discard them and instead reinterpreted them - as Christians have done for 2,000 years. Brilliantly weaving scholarship with a deep understanding of the human needs to which religion speaks, Pagels has written what may be the masterwork in her unique career.

©2012 Elaine Pagels (P)2012 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Revelations is a slim book that packs in dense layers of scholarship and meaning . . . One of [Elaine Pagels's] great gifts is much in abundance: her ability to ask, and answer, the plainest questions about her material without speaking down to her audience . . . She must be a fiendishly good lecturer." (The New York Times)

"One of the significant benefits of Pagels's book is its demonstration of the unpredictability of apocalyptic politics . . . The meaning of the Apocalypse is ever malleable and ready to hand for whatever crisis one confronts. That is one lesson of Pagels's book. Another is that we all should be vigilant to keep some of us from using the vision for violence against others." (The New York Times Book Review, Editors' Choice)

"Pagels is an absorbing, intelligent, and eye-opening companion. Calming and broad-minded here, as in her earlier works, she applies a sympathetic and humane eye to texts that are neither subtle nor sympathetically humane but lit instead by fury." (Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker)

great history and very well written

as a devote christ follower I enjoyed this book. it dives deep in biblical history specifically surrounding the final book of the new testimate. it get a little long in the tooth but I enjoy the in depth research and background surrounding the bible and the context in which it was written.

How New Testament was built

Terrific insights regarding church’s early decisions regarding doctrine, ecclesiastical hierarchy and fear. We benefit from Pagel’s research and insight regarding what I should know about early Christianity

Grandma?!?

The narrator sounds like someones 75 year old grandmother who smokes 3 packs of cigarettes a day for the past 50 years, . Never could get used to her narration and the narrator seem to me to have read the book with a sort of disdain or contempt for Christianity, which I don't believe the author intended. It was in a sort of sarcastic tone. Hard to explain.

The book however, is very enlightening on the history of Christianity. I have learned a great deal about early Christians and the initial movement. Loved the descriptions of the early monastic life of many christian sects, very moving.

END TIMES

Elaine Pagels is a Professor of Religion at Princeton University. One can draw different conclusions from Pagels’ history of religion but end times holds a high place in Pagels’ research and opinion about “Revelations”.

“Revelations” is the second Elaine Pagels’ book reviewed in this blog. From her chosen profession and the previous quote, one presumes Ms. Pagels is a spiritual person but a review of her work seems to challenge bed-rock Catholic beliefs. The first review in this blog, “The Gnostic Gospels”, shows Catholic religion and its hierarchical organization as more man-made than divinely inspired. That sentiment is equally drawn from her history of “Revelations”; which is not to diminish Pagels’ spirituality but to infer that her scholarly histories of religion are interpretations of mankind’s divine belief rather than manifestations of a supreme being.

Are Pagels’ books an endorsement of humanism or religion? One draws their own conclusion; however, her scholarly pursuit of religious’ history is, at the very least, fascinating and informative.

Moldable visions to suit troubled times

What did you like best about this story?

Elaine Pages does an excellent job at explaining Revelations as it pertained to the time in which it was written, as well as how how pliant its visions have been to those looking for relevance in their own time. More than just pointing out common misconceptions of authorship, Pagels' goes into detail about the historical and political circumstances leading to the inclusion of Revelation to John in the Christian canon. As in her book, The Gnostic Gospels, we are presented with a picture as to why other texts didn't make it into the canon. Good read for those interested in early Christian history.

Pagels does the scholarly work so I didn't have to

Excellent scholarship and well presented. The narrator's deep voice was a bit irritating, but the CONTENT of the book was fascinating. Of course, if one is a bible-literalist, this will not be the book for you. I can see myself reading (listening?) to this book again, and still getting something out of it, it is so packed with information and dates, etc.

Great book

Loved the content. A very well researched and presented book on a very complex Apocalyptic work. 2 Thumbs up.

Another version of an earlier book...

Any additional comments?

I loved Elaine Pagel's great work... the "Gnostic Gospels."
Unfortunately, this is pretty much the same book.
The book contains some very interesting information about the origin of the Book of Revelations. But the remaining 80 percent of the chapters seemed unnecessary.

not sure if this really captures Revelation.

a little tough to get through. feels a little dragged out at times. Had to re listen to certain parts.

Overview of early Christian writings and figures

What made the experience of listening to Revelations the most enjoyable?

My interest in the Bible, its writers and interpreters and the author's coverage of the enigmatic Book of Revelation. Also the brief coverage of each of the ancient writings discovered at Nag Hammadi and why the early Church fathers decided to reject them.

What other book might you compare Revelations to and why?

Elaine Pagels' other books, e.g. The Gnostic Gospels and Beyond Belief. However, I think Revelations focuses more on John's writing of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, accompanied by the writer's interpretations - a little like a Bible study or a Church sermon. In Revelations, Pagels also spends a good deal of time on early Christian personalities and powerbrokers.

Did Lorna Raver do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

The voice was a little hard to take at first, but I got used to it as the book progressed. Lorna Raver speaks very distinctly and with appropriate intonation and animation. Bit croaky for my liking.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No extreme reactions!

Any additional comments?

The book provides a good, brief coverage of developments in the early Christian Church, and the powerful characters who influenced the composition (canon) of the Bible we read today.