Revelation and the End of All Things

by Koester, Craig R.

• ISBN13: 9780802846600
• ISBN10: 0802846602
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-05-01
• Publisher: Eerdmans Pub Co

Summary

Revelation and the End of All Things is a highly readable guide to Revelation that engages the questions people most often ask about this difficult book in the Bible. After discussing sensationalistic interpretations of Revelation -- showing how these approaches work and why they are problematic -- Craig Koester ably leads readers through the entire book of Revelation, keeping in mind the situations of both first-century and twenty-first-century readers. Koester's exceptional grasp of Revelation's history, test, and purpose allows him to present the book's message in a way that is clear, engaging, and meaningful to modern readers. Book jacket.

Author Biography

CRAIG R. KOESTER is professor of New Testament at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
Bibliography of Works Cited	xiii
Interpreting the Mystery	1	(40)
Future Prediction or Timeless Truth?	2	(6)
History, Politics, and Reform	8	(6)
Apocalyptic Fever, Disappointment, and Tragedy	14	(5)
Rapture, Tribulation, and Armageddon	19	(7)
Historical Study of Revelation	26	(5)
Silence or Song?	31	(7)
Venturing Forward	38	(3)
Christ and the Churches (Revelation 1--3)	41	(30)
A Revelation-A Prophecy-A Letter (1:1--8)	42	(10)
In the Presence of the Living One (1:9--20)	52	(2)
Not All Readers Are Alike (2:1--3:22)	54	(17)
The Scroll Unsealed (Revelation 4--7)	71	(22)
The Sovereign God (4:1--11)	72	(4)
The Lamb Who Was Slain (5:1--14)	76	(5)
The First Six Seals (6:1--17)	81	(7)
The Redeemed: 144,000 and a Great Multitude (7:1--17)	88	(5)
Trumpets of Terror and Hope (Revelation 8--11)	93	(22)
The First Six Trumpets (8:1--9:21)	94	(7)
Judgment Interrupted (10:1--11)	101	(3)
Suffering, Witness, and Conversion (11:1--14)	104	(7)
The Kingdom of the Lord (11:15--19)	111	(4)
The Beast and the Lamb (Revelation 12--15)	115	(30)
The Woman, Michael, and the Dragon (12:1--18)	118	(7)
The Two Beasts (13:1--18)	125	(10)
Judgment, Blessing, and Endurance (14:1--20)	135	(6)
Lord of the Nations (15:1--4)	141	(4)
The Harlot and the Bride (Revelation 15--19)	145	(26)
The Seven Bowls of Wrath (15:5--16:21)	146	(8)
The Great Harlot (17:1--18)	154	(8)
Babylon's Funeral (18:1--24)	162	(6)
Hallelujah, the Lord Reigns (19:1--10)	168	(3)
The End (Revelation 19--22)	171	(36)
The Great Battle (19:11--21)	173	(7)
The Millennial Kingdom (20:1--6)	180	(7)
Final Conflict and Final Judgment (20:7--15)	187	(4)
The New Jerusalem (21:1--22:5)	191	(10)
The End Is Near (22:6--21)	201	(6)
Index	207