Breaking the code : understanding the Book of Revelation

by Bruce M. Metzger

Paper Book, 1993

Call number

228/.06

Genres

Religion & Spirituality

All Topics

Nonfiction

Collection

Theology

Publication

Nashville : Abingdon Press, c1993.

Description

The Book of Revelation contains passages of great beauty and comfort, as well as passages that strike the casual reader as bizarre, bewildering, and sometimes frightening. How are readers today to discern God's message in this peculiar part of the Bible?Breaking the Code provides a trustworthy guide to the rich symbolism of this important biblical book. Noted biblical scholar Bruce M. Metzger presents the fruits of solid scholarship in a non-academic style. Breaking the Code serves as a key for understanding this powerful and puzzling book from the first century of the Christian Era. Topics include: Introducing the Book of Revelation/John's Vision of the Heavenly Christ (Revelation 1:1-20) Letters to Churches/More Letters to Churches (Revelation 2:1- 3:22) John's Vision of God and the Lamb (Revelation 4:1-5:14) Opening the Seven Seals of God's Scroll (Revelation 6:1-8:2) Sounding the Seven Trumpets (Revelation 8:3-11:19) The Satanic Trinity: The Dragon and the Two Beasts (Revelation 12:1-14:20) The Seven Bowls of God's Wrath (Revelation 15:1-18:24) The Final Victory and the Last Judgment/John's Vision of the Heavenly Jerusalem (Revelation 19:1-22:21)… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member deusvitae

Metzger's book is a short commentary attempting to establish the basic flow of what Revelation is about. He accepts and defends the position that the book is written between 69-96, likely between 91-96, and involves a series of visions, many of which tell the same story, telling in apocalyptic

imagery the "things that are" (Jesus' birth, establishment of His Kingdom, cruelty of Rome) and "the things that are to come" (Jesus' victory over Rome, the Judgment).

I would have liked some more detail in parts, and better explanations in many areas. Whenever he arrived at difficulties in synthesizing a various part of the picture with his story, he would either neglect it, do just a ground-level explanation and move on, or just provide various possibilities. I do not think that this negates any of Metzger's conclusions, but it certainly doesn't help in understanding Revelation. Overall, however, the book is quite good.

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