What do you think?
Rate this book
Revelation for Normal People: A Guide to the Strangest and Most Dangerous Book in the Bible
It has never been more important to read Revelation well.
Whether you love it, hate it, or avoid it like the plague, the last book of the Bible’s influence permeates our cultural, political, and religious landscapes. From the so-bad-they’re…still bad actually…Left Behind series, to conspiracy theories about microchips and barcodes, to all-too-real political discourse and actions, John’s visions in Revelation reach far beyond anything their ancient author could have imagined.
But what did John imagine? Who was he writing for and why? And what’s the deal with all the hideous horned beasts?
Join New Testament scholar Robyn Whitaker as she uncovers the real-world contexts behind this ancient apocalyptic text. A world occupied by an oppressive empire, a marginalized people, and a God committed to justice. Where a beast overthrown was a declaration of authority and a falling star was a statement of evil’s demise. Where symbols gave voice to resistance and visions provided a glimpse of hope. A world utterly and entirely ancient.
Only when we understand Revelation’s ancient contexts can we begin to find meaning for our own.
Learn to read Revelation well with The Bible for Normal People—bringing the best in biblical scholarship to everyone.
Whether you love it, hate it, or avoid it like the plague, the last book of the Bible’s influence permeates our cultural, political, and religious landscapes. From the so-bad-they’re…still bad actually…Left Behind series, to conspiracy theories about microchips and barcodes, to all-too-real political discourse and actions, John’s visions in Revelation reach far beyond anything their ancient author could have imagined.
But what did John imagine? Who was he writing for and why? And what’s the deal with all the hideous horned beasts?
Join New Testament scholar Robyn Whitaker as she uncovers the real-world contexts behind this ancient apocalyptic text. A world occupied by an oppressive empire, a marginalized people, and a God committed to justice. Where a beast overthrown was a declaration of authority and a falling star was a statement of evil’s demise. Where symbols gave voice to resistance and visions provided a glimpse of hope. A world utterly and entirely ancient.
Only when we understand Revelation’s ancient contexts can we begin to find meaning for our own.
Learn to read Revelation well with The Bible for Normal People—bringing the best in biblical scholarship to everyone.
144 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 24, 2023
52 people are currently reading
89 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 27, 2024
I was rereading Revelation as a part of finishing up a full read through the Bible and decided that this would be a good time to read Robyn Whitaker's along side. I am making my way slowly through all of The Bible for Normal People texts; maybe Psalms would be a good next choice.
I was probably interested in Revelation as a child because there's lots of blood and beasts and smiting, but then I learned about the wide variety of how humans have interpreted Revelation since it's acceptance into the canon of the New Testament and I ran far away. I appreciate Robyn Whitaker's approach in that she sticks with the allegorical, posits what the author was probably talking about in reference to the likely date of composition of the late first century CE, briefly mentions other wild theories, and moves on. Putting on her professor hat, she lectures anyone who is trying to figure out exactly when Jesus will return, where Armageddon is located, and whose version of Christianity will get their name in the book of life (it's actually all of them). It's even possible that Julian of Norwich was right about every human eventually being reconciled to God. Possible. Robyn Whitaker doesn't know for sure, so neither do you or I.
In the end, God recreates the earth and lives with the people he loves. And Death, it dies.
I was probably interested in Revelation as a child because there's lots of blood and beasts and smiting, but then I learned about the wide variety of how humans have interpreted Revelation since it's acceptance into the canon of the New Testament and I ran far away. I appreciate Robyn Whitaker's approach in that she sticks with the allegorical, posits what the author was probably talking about in reference to the likely date of composition of the late first century CE, briefly mentions other wild theories, and moves on. Putting on her professor hat, she lectures anyone who is trying to figure out exactly when Jesus will return, where Armageddon is located, and whose version of Christianity will get their name in the book of life (it's actually all of them). It's even possible that Julian of Norwich was right about every human eventually being reconciled to God. Possible. Robyn Whitaker doesn't know for sure, so neither do you or I.
In the end, God recreates the earth and lives with the people he loves. And Death, it dies.
February 2, 2024
church Bible study. I'm still not sure I understand Revelation!
March 11, 2024
Reality vs myth,legends and metaphors
The key lesson here by John is to worship God only and not your culture,doctrines, beliefs or country as is common today.
We have all kinds of monsters and plagues,like in Egypt.
We have the famous venerated 144,000 whose criteria is to be virgins-oops we ignore that.
We have the famous 666 later called 616-oops.
Not Mohammed, Hussein, Clinton, Obama or the Monster energy drink as preached now.
Mostly likely Nero who started the Roman war that ended up destroying both Jerusalem and the temple in 70 AD.
In Hebrew the letters also relate to various number collections hence 666 etc
When the " Book of Life is open to see who makes it, it is based NOT on your doctrine belief practice ,proper church or country but what you did.
You are not escaping anywhere. Thessalonians says you are going out/up to meet Jesus coming down to the earth not going back up.
Hope exist because evil and death and our cosmos will be renewed
In short:
Read the actual text in context and in 2000 year plus culture.
Don't ignore the Greek and Roman influence
Be open and learn biblical realty
The key lesson here by John is to worship God only and not your culture,doctrines, beliefs or country as is common today.
We have all kinds of monsters and plagues,like in Egypt.
We have the famous venerated 144,000 whose criteria is to be virgins-oops we ignore that.
We have the famous 666 later called 616-oops.
Not Mohammed, Hussein, Clinton, Obama or the Monster energy drink as preached now.
Mostly likely Nero who started the Roman war that ended up destroying both Jerusalem and the temple in 70 AD.
In Hebrew the letters also relate to various number collections hence 666 etc
When the " Book of Life is open to see who makes it, it is based NOT on your doctrine belief practice ,proper church or country but what you did.
You are not escaping anywhere. Thessalonians says you are going out/up to meet Jesus coming down to the earth not going back up.
Hope exist because evil and death and our cosmos will be renewed
In short:
Read the actual text in context and in 2000 year plus culture.
Don't ignore the Greek and Roman influence
Be open and learn biblical realty
January 18, 2025
Very accessible to both scholars and Lay people.
Writing is precise and clear. Very easy for the none academic to appreciate while maintaining a good academic foundation'
Does very well to demystify the book.
“Among the reasons Revelation is so confusing and prone to being misinterpreted is that it is highly symbolic and non-linear, and it contains coded references to a bunch of things that probably made some sense in the first century CE, but are not part of our everyday language and worldview today.”
“Therefore, we need to situate Revelation in its original context—the first century CE—to unpack the way it works. We need to consider the type of literature it is, and then we need to think about how on earth we interpret it ...”
These two quotes from the book summarises what I think is missing in our approach to the text, for a lot of us who come from the “Pentecostal/charismatic/evangelical” backgrounds.
Writing is precise and clear. Very easy for the none academic to appreciate while maintaining a good academic foundation'
Does very well to demystify the book.
“Among the reasons Revelation is so confusing and prone to being misinterpreted is that it is highly symbolic and non-linear, and it contains coded references to a bunch of things that probably made some sense in the first century CE, but are not part of our everyday language and worldview today.”
“Therefore, we need to situate Revelation in its original context—the first century CE—to unpack the way it works. We need to consider the type of literature it is, and then we need to think about how on earth we interpret it ...”
These two quotes from the book summarises what I think is missing in our approach to the text, for a lot of us who come from the “Pentecostal/charismatic/evangelical” backgrounds.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 17, 2023
Revelation for Normal people gives an academic but accessible overview of Revelation. I appreciated the identification and explanation of references to the Hebrew Bible and Roman culture John uses in his imagery. Knowing the inspiration of John’s fantastical visions makes them much more approachable. I really enjoyed the last chapter with Whitaker’s theological takeaways from Revelation and real-world application. My one critique is that I wish there were more of this throughout the book. However, she does provided resources for continued reading. Growing up in evangelical church culture that had an unhealthy fascination with end times, this was a refreshing and healthy take on Revelation.
December 13, 2023
An important book for evangelicals and those who left the faith thinking it was all too insane
While I am not immediately swayed to the same conclusions as Dr Whitaker, this was an excellent book at dispelling some of the nonsense surrounding how folk interpret Revelation and provided me a lot to think about
While I am not immediately swayed to the same conclusions as Dr Whitaker, this was an excellent book at dispelling some of the nonsense surrounding how folk interpret Revelation and provided me a lot to think about
July 24, 2024
This really is a solid attempt to demystify one of the Bible's more mysterious books and make it understandable for normal people.
Dr. Robyn Whitaker walks through the Book of Revelation, doing her best to explain what the original author might have intended through his allegories, show how the original audience might have interpreted and understood the visions, briefly detail other theories that have been popularized over the years, and then move on to the next dragon, candle, or lake of fire.
There are a number of theological beliefs that Whitaker holds that vary from what I would consider mainstream Christian doctrine, and she's not afraid to make her stance clear. For example, it seems as though Whitaker doesn't believe in either prophecy or hell. Nonetheless, the book was incredibly readable and incredibly insightful, challenging my understanding of the strangest and, according to Whitaker, "most dangerous book in the Bible."
Dr. Robyn Whitaker walks through the Book of Revelation, doing her best to explain what the original author might have intended through his allegories, show how the original audience might have interpreted and understood the visions, briefly detail other theories that have been popularized over the years, and then move on to the next dragon, candle, or lake of fire.
There are a number of theological beliefs that Whitaker holds that vary from what I would consider mainstream Christian doctrine, and she's not afraid to make her stance clear. For example, it seems as though Whitaker doesn't believe in either prophecy or hell. Nonetheless, the book was incredibly readable and incredibly insightful, challenging my understanding of the strangest and, according to Whitaker, "most dangerous book in the Bible."
April 8, 2024
This is definitely the most accessible commentary of Revelation I’ve ever read. It is an excellent read for anyone wanting a deep dive into one of the most complicated (and misunderstood/misused) books of the Bible. I appreciate that Robyn Whitaker doesn’t shy away from the difficult passages that depict the violence of God, while also debunking several of the popularized “theologies” (aka conspiracies) surrounding the return of Christ.
From her final chapter, titled “So What?” Robyn makes a statement that I think summarizes much of what this book wrestles with: “In Revelation, humans are not evil, but they can participate in evil and become complicit in its injustices, sometimes unwittingly.”
I’ll be recommending this book often.
From her final chapter, titled “So What?” Robyn makes a statement that I think summarizes much of what this book wrestles with: “In Revelation, humans are not evil, but they can participate in evil and become complicit in its injustices, sometimes unwittingly.”
I’ll be recommending this book often.
December 14, 2023
Not bad
This commentary is ok, but not great. The theology is solid, but the explanations are thin. There are better books available for those who really want to dig in.
This commentary is ok, but not great. The theology is solid, but the explanations are thin. There are better books available for those who really want to dig in.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews