{"product_id":"revelations-elaine-pagels","title":"Revelations by Elaine Pagels","description":"\u003ch1\u003eRevelations: Visions, Prophecy, and Politics in the Book of Revelation by Elaine Pagels\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA startling exploration of the history of the most controversial book of the Bible, by the bestselling author of \u003cem\u003eBeyond Belief\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThrough the \u003cstrong\u003ebestselling books of Elaine Pagels, \u003c\/strong\u003ethousands of readers have come to know and treasure the suppressed biblical texts known as the \u003cstrong\u003eGnostic Gospels.\u003c\/strong\u003e As one of the world's foremost religion scholars, she has been a pioneer in interpreting these books and illuminating their place in the early history of Christianity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHer new book, however, tackles a text that is firmly, dramatically within the New Testament canon: \u003cstrong\u003eThe Book of Revelation, \u003c\/strong\u003ethe surreal apocalyptic vision of the end of the world . . . or is it?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn this startling and timely book, Pagels returns \u003cstrong\u003eThe Book of Revelation\u003c\/strong\u003e to its historical origin, written as its author John of Patmos took aim at the Roman Empire after what is now known as \"the Jewish War,\" in 66 CE. Militant Jews in Jerusalem, fired with religious fervor, waged an all-out war against Rome's occupation of Judea and their defeat resulted in the desecration of Jerusalem and its Great Temple.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePagels persuasively interprets Revelation as a scathing attack on the decadence of Rome.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSoon after, however, a new sect known as \"Christians\" seized on John's text as a weapon against heresy and infidels of all kinds-Jews, even \u003cstrong\u003eChristians who dissented from their increasingly rigid doctrines and hierarchies.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn a time when global religious violence surges, \u003cem\u003eRevelations \u003c\/em\u003eexplores how often those in power throughout history have sought to force \"God's enemies\" to submit or be killed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is \u003cstrong\u003esure to appeal to Pagels's committed readers and bring her a whole new audience\u003c\/strong\u003e who want to understand the roots of dissent, violence, and division in the world's religions, and to appreciate the lasting appeal of this extraordinary text.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Bust-Down Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50283013538107,"sku":"0670023345","price":14.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0855\/2077\/7531\/files\/9780670023349.jpg?v=1747633866","url":"https:\/\/bustdownbooks.com\/products\/revelations-elaine-pagels","provider":"Bust-Down Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}