Revelation: The Apocalypse of Jesus Christ

336 Pages·2004·1.71 MB·English

by  Judith Kovacs

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Judith Kovacs and
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Christopher Rowland
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in collaboration with
Rebekah Callow
n
The Apocalypse
of Jesus Christ

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Blackwell Bible Commentaries
Series Editors:John Sawyer,Christopher Rowland,Judith Kovacs
John Revelation
Mark Edwards Judith Kovacs & Christopher
Rowland
Forthcoming:
Genesis Jeremiah
Gary Philips & Danna Nolan Fewell Mary Chilton Callaway
Exodus Lamentations
Scott Langston Paul Joyce
Judges Jonah
David Gunn Yvonne Sherwood
1 & 2 Samuel Haggai,Zachariah and Malachi
David Gunn Richard Coggins
1 & 2 Kings Mark
Martin O’Kane Christine Joynes
Job Luke
Anthony York Larry Kreitzer
Psalms Romans
Susan Gillingham Paul Fiddes
Ecclesiastes Galatians
Eric Christianson John Riches
Isaiah 2 Corinthians
John F.A.Sawyer Paula Gooder
R
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Judith Kovacs and
i
Christopher Rowland
o
in collaboration with
Rebekah Callow
n
The Apocalypse
of Jesus Christ
© 2004 by Judith Kovacs and Christopher Rowland
350 Main Street,Malden,MA 02148-5020,USA
108 Cowley Road,Oxford OX4 1JF,UK
550 Swanston Street,Carlton,Victoria 3053,Australia
The right ofJudith Kovacs and Christopher Rowland to be identified as the
Authors ofthis Work has been asserted in accordance with the UK Copyright,
Designs,and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved.No part ofthis publication may be reproduced,stored in a
retrieval system,or transmitted,in any form or by any means,electronic,
mechanical,photocopying,recording or otherwise,except as permitted by the
UK Copyright,Designs,and Patents Act 1988,without the prior permission of
the publisher.
First published 2004 by Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Library ofCongress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Kovacs,Judith L.,1945–
Revelation:the apocalypse ofJesus Christ / Judith Kovacs and Christopher
Rowland;in collaboration with Rebekah Callow.
p.cm.– (Blackwell Bible commentaries)
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 0-631-23214-1 (hardcover :alk.paper) – ISBN 0-631-23215-X
(pbk.:alk.paper)
1. Bible.N.T.Revelation–Criticism,interpretation,etc. I. Rowland,
Christopher,1947– II. Callow,Rebekah. III. Title. IV. Series.
BS2825.52.K69 2004
228¢.07–dc22
2003018705
A catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.
Set in 10 on 121/ pt Minion
2
by SNP Best-set Typesetter Ltd.,Hong Kong
Printed and bound in the United Kingdom
by TJ International,Padstow,Cornwall
For further information on
Blackwell Publishing,visit our website:
http://www.blackwellpublishing.com
The editor and publisher wish to thank the following for permission to use
copyright material.McGinn,B.,Visions ofthe End,Apocalyptic Traditions in the
Middle Ages.© 1998 Columbia University Press.Reprinted with permission of
the publisher.
In memory of our parents
Keith H. Tustison (1915–2002) and
Mary Carey Tustison (1915–1991)
Eric Rowland (1919–1994) and
Frances Mary Rowland (1914–1999)

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List of Illustrations ix
Series Editors’Preface xi
Preface xiii
List ofAbbreviations xvii
Introduction:The Apocalypse in History:The Place of the Book of
Revelation in Christian Theology and Life 1
1 The Apocalypse in the Context of Jewish and Early Christian
Literature 2
2 Differing Patterns in the Reception of the Apocalypse:
A Summary 7
3 Point ofView:Distinctive Emphases of this Commentary 11
4 The Reception of the Apocalypse:Survey of Important
Interpretations and ofArtistic Representations 14
viii Contents
Revelation 1 39
Revelation 2 and 3 52
Revelation 4 59
Revelation 5 69
Revelation 6 77
Revelation 7 98
Revelation 8 106
Revelation 9 113
Revelation 10 117
Revelation 11 122
Revelation 12 134
Revelation 13 147
Revelation 14 160
Revelation 15 168
Revelation 16 171
Revelation 17 177
Revelation 18 190
Revelation 19 194
Revelation 20 200
Revelation 21 220
Revelation 22 238
A Hermeneutical Postscript:Evaluating the Readings 247
Biographies and Glossary 251
Bibliography 263
Old Testament References Listed in the Margin of
Nestle-Aland 26th Edition of the Greek New Testament
Text of Revelation 284
Index of Biblical References 296
General Index 303