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Rereading Revelation: Theology, Ethics, and Resistance
A fresh theological encounter with the book of Revelation, informed by contemporary concerns and reading strategies
Greg Carey, a respected scholar of the New Testament and apocalyptic literature, shows how Revelation can speak meaningfully to today’s readers. He highlights themes in Revelation that resonate powerfully in our current the person of Jesus, hope in the face of death and adversity, resistance, authority, violence, gender, wealth, and more. In so doing, Carey invites readers to reconsider old assumptions about the book of Revelation and reread the text with openness to new and surprisingly contemporary insights.
Students, teachers, and pastors will find much to ponder and discuss here. Readers will come away with a deeper understanding of Revelation’s unique voice within the New Testament; an improved ability to articulate concerns and problems they may have with Revelation; and the resources they need to engage this complex book of the Bible in constructive and life-giving ways. Simply put, Carey’s Rereading Revelation is a paradigm-changing book.
Greg Carey, a respected scholar of the New Testament and apocalyptic literature, shows how Revelation can speak meaningfully to today’s readers. He highlights themes in Revelation that resonate powerfully in our current the person of Jesus, hope in the face of death and adversity, resistance, authority, violence, gender, wealth, and more. In so doing, Carey invites readers to reconsider old assumptions about the book of Revelation and reread the text with openness to new and surprisingly contemporary insights.
Students, teachers, and pastors will find much to ponder and discuss here. Readers will come away with a deeper understanding of Revelation’s unique voice within the New Testament; an improved ability to articulate concerns and problems they may have with Revelation; and the resources they need to engage this complex book of the Bible in constructive and life-giving ways. Simply put, Carey’s Rereading Revelation is a paradigm-changing book.
228 pages, Paperback
Published September 9, 2025
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September 11, 2025
Like many Mainline Protestant clergy, I spent most of my ministry avoiding the Book of Revelation. It is complex and easily misinterpreted. Nevertheless, I learned over time that it is better to deal with the book than avoid it. The question is, how do we interpret this book faithfully, recognizing both the problematic elements and the positive ones? Fortunately, there are plenty of resources, including excellent commentaries by scholars such as Brian Blount and Eugene Boring, as well as guides to preaching this text by homileticians such as Ronald J. Allen (my co-author on two books). Each of the available resources offers different vantage points that can help us navigate the metaphors and historical backgrounds. Among the most recent contributions to this literature comes from Greg Carey, in his book "Rereading Revelation: Theology, Ethics, and Resistance."
Greg Carey is Professor of New Testament at Lancaster Theological Seminary, now part of Moravian University. He is the author of several books that deal with eschatology and Revelation, including his excellent book Death, the End of History, and Beyond: Eschatology in the Bible
"Rereading Revelation" is not a commentary on Revelation. Rather, it is a thematic exploration of elements present in this biblical book. As the subtitle suggests, Carey seeks to explore the theological dimensions of the book, and within that, he wants to take stock of the ethical dimensions found there. The third element is that of resistance. He raises the question of whether Revelation should be considered resistance literature, and if so, how does it present itself as such? Carey acknowledges the problem of violence present in the book. Even though John of Patmos never calls for believers to engage in violent resistance to the empire, the violent language present in the book can and has permitted Christians to engage in such violence. So, to sum up the purpose of this book, which is topical in nature, Carey intends "to find contemporary Christian meaning in Revelation, meaning that involves bringing traditional and contemporary questions to the book and exploring how modern readers may engage it in life-giving ways" (p. xi).
In his Opening Words (Introduction), Care notes that Revelation is both dangerous and a necessary part of the New Testament. That is an important point due to the way the book has been interpreted and utilized to dangerous ends. At the same time, it provides an important message, especially when it comes to matters of resisting oppression. He notes in the book that Revelation has an authoritarian bent to it that needs to be acknowledged. It calls for complete loyalty to Jesus that can create dilemmas as we navigate society. One of the reasons why this is important, however, is that it speaks to the challenge of imperialism and attendant religion. One of the major changes in interpretation in recent years that Carey notes throughout is the acknowledgement that, outside the New Testament and other Christian literature, we have little evidence of widespread persecution. There might be periodic local persecution, but it was not empire-wide, necessitating some changes in interpretation.
Each of the nine chapters explores different elements present in Revelation. He begins in Chapter 1 by addressing "Reading Revelation as Apocalypse, Prophecy, and Letter." While the first word in the book is apocalypsis, there is more to this book than apocalyptic elements. It is an unveiling, but it also has other properties, including prophetic ones. It also functions as a letter to churches. So, as Carey notes, here we find all three modes of communication in Revelation. Thus, he writes that "Most likely, John's reader/hearers received Revelation as a prophecy delivered in an apocalyptic mode and addressed specifically to them and to their circumstances" (p. 3). That last point is very important. Revelation was addressed to specific groups of people (not to us).
After defining the complex genres of Revelation, Carey moves in Chapter 2 to a discussion of "Authority and Authoritarianism in Revelation." Living at a time when there is a rising tide of authoritarianism across the globe, including the United States, this is an important chapter. The challenge here, as Carey notes, is that "Revelation insists that its message carries absolute authority and will brook no dissent" (p. 25). While it offers an authoritarian message, it combines that with an egalitarian mode. Thus, this discussion of authority should prove useful at this time.
Another question that emerges when we spend time in Revelation is a very theological one: "Jesus in Relation to God and the Spirit" (Chapter 3). It is a question that Trinitarians would want to explore, and as Carey notes, "Revelation has a way of blurring the relationships between God, Jesus, and the Spirit" (p. 47). The focus here, however, is on Jesus and the way he is portrayed (often as a Lamb), who receives worship. While Carey doesn't develop a full Christology, he does help us better understand how Jesus functions in the book. This is especially true with its portrayal of Jesus as the Lamb. So, while the Lamb offers us a sense of God's identity, the way this Lamb functions is sometimes like a lion.
The fourth chapter has a title that may seem strange: "Does Revelation Have an Eschatology?" It seems strange since Revelation has apocalyptic dimensions, speaks of heavenly things, including divine judgment. So why ask this question? While it does have an eschatology, Carey wants us to pause and discern the nature of that eschatology. In part, this has to do with the end of history, such that the Lamb defeats the Beast. So, while it doesn't have a systematically developed eschatology, it may be one we will struggle with. However, it is an eschatology intended to give us hope rooted in God's work.
Chapter 5 is titled "Pathos, Emotion, and Affect in Revelation. Here, the focus is on the rhetorical dimensions of the book, which are designed to create an emotional effect. From there, we move in Chapter 6 to a conversation about "Wealth and Poverty in Revelation." John of Patmos critiques earthly wealth, essentially calling for his readers to step out of the economy of the day, which often required affirming patron gods, while promising material blessings (streets of gold) in the New Jerusalem. Here again, the authoritarian vision pops up, as well as an ascetic/perfectionist vision. We must ask how this can function for us. Chapter 7 is titled "A Queer Book." In part, this has sexual connotations, as one might expect. In fact, there is a significant discussion of the role of gender and how women, especially, are portrayed. What he does here is introduce us to some of the gender related issues as well as queer (LGBTQ) interpretations.
Chapter 8 gets to the heart of one of the big challenges of reading Revelation, and that is the problem of violence. Living as we do in an increasingly violent world, this is a major concern. It is also a reason why many preachers avoid this book. The concern is with the way it depicts God destroying God's enemies. While it doesn't call for the readers to rise up in violent resistance, God acts violently in defeating God's enemies. So, while not calling for violent resistance, it does give voice to the desire for violent responses to enemies. Here again, there is the question of how Revelation is interpreted and applied. What Carey warns against is trying to explain away the violence in the book.
Even if persecution wasn't rampant, it is clear that Revelation, as well as other apocalyptic texts, function as resistance literature. Thus, in the ninth and final chapter, Carey speaks of "Mapping 'Resistance' in Revelation." It is well understood that John is calling for resistance to the Roman imperial system, including its underlying religious system, but what does this look like? Among the questions posed here concerns the role of the Empire in being the target of resistance as well as the model of resistance.
I do believe that we must engage Revelation. It is a difficult book to interpret, but it has played an important role in Christian history. Fortunately, we have some excellent guides, one of whom is Greg Carey, who lifts up these nine areas of concern in Rereading Revelation.
Greg Carey is Professor of New Testament at Lancaster Theological Seminary, now part of Moravian University. He is the author of several books that deal with eschatology and Revelation, including his excellent book Death, the End of History, and Beyond: Eschatology in the Bible
"Rereading Revelation" is not a commentary on Revelation. Rather, it is a thematic exploration of elements present in this biblical book. As the subtitle suggests, Carey seeks to explore the theological dimensions of the book, and within that, he wants to take stock of the ethical dimensions found there. The third element is that of resistance. He raises the question of whether Revelation should be considered resistance literature, and if so, how does it present itself as such? Carey acknowledges the problem of violence present in the book. Even though John of Patmos never calls for believers to engage in violent resistance to the empire, the violent language present in the book can and has permitted Christians to engage in such violence. So, to sum up the purpose of this book, which is topical in nature, Carey intends "to find contemporary Christian meaning in Revelation, meaning that involves bringing traditional and contemporary questions to the book and exploring how modern readers may engage it in life-giving ways" (p. xi).
In his Opening Words (Introduction), Care notes that Revelation is both dangerous and a necessary part of the New Testament. That is an important point due to the way the book has been interpreted and utilized to dangerous ends. At the same time, it provides an important message, especially when it comes to matters of resisting oppression. He notes in the book that Revelation has an authoritarian bent to it that needs to be acknowledged. It calls for complete loyalty to Jesus that can create dilemmas as we navigate society. One of the reasons why this is important, however, is that it speaks to the challenge of imperialism and attendant religion. One of the major changes in interpretation in recent years that Carey notes throughout is the acknowledgement that, outside the New Testament and other Christian literature, we have little evidence of widespread persecution. There might be periodic local persecution, but it was not empire-wide, necessitating some changes in interpretation.
Each of the nine chapters explores different elements present in Revelation. He begins in Chapter 1 by addressing "Reading Revelation as Apocalypse, Prophecy, and Letter." While the first word in the book is apocalypsis, there is more to this book than apocalyptic elements. It is an unveiling, but it also has other properties, including prophetic ones. It also functions as a letter to churches. So, as Carey notes, here we find all three modes of communication in Revelation. Thus, he writes that "Most likely, John's reader/hearers received Revelation as a prophecy delivered in an apocalyptic mode and addressed specifically to them and to their circumstances" (p. 3). That last point is very important. Revelation was addressed to specific groups of people (not to us).
After defining the complex genres of Revelation, Carey moves in Chapter 2 to a discussion of "Authority and Authoritarianism in Revelation." Living at a time when there is a rising tide of authoritarianism across the globe, including the United States, this is an important chapter. The challenge here, as Carey notes, is that "Revelation insists that its message carries absolute authority and will brook no dissent" (p. 25). While it offers an authoritarian message, it combines that with an egalitarian mode. Thus, this discussion of authority should prove useful at this time.
Another question that emerges when we spend time in Revelation is a very theological one: "Jesus in Relation to God and the Spirit" (Chapter 3). It is a question that Trinitarians would want to explore, and as Carey notes, "Revelation has a way of blurring the relationships between God, Jesus, and the Spirit" (p. 47). The focus here, however, is on Jesus and the way he is portrayed (often as a Lamb), who receives worship. While Carey doesn't develop a full Christology, he does help us better understand how Jesus functions in the book. This is especially true with its portrayal of Jesus as the Lamb. So, while the Lamb offers us a sense of God's identity, the way this Lamb functions is sometimes like a lion.
The fourth chapter has a title that may seem strange: "Does Revelation Have an Eschatology?" It seems strange since Revelation has apocalyptic dimensions, speaks of heavenly things, including divine judgment. So why ask this question? While it does have an eschatology, Carey wants us to pause and discern the nature of that eschatology. In part, this has to do with the end of history, such that the Lamb defeats the Beast. So, while it doesn't have a systematically developed eschatology, it may be one we will struggle with. However, it is an eschatology intended to give us hope rooted in God's work.
Chapter 5 is titled "Pathos, Emotion, and Affect in Revelation. Here, the focus is on the rhetorical dimensions of the book, which are designed to create an emotional effect. From there, we move in Chapter 6 to a conversation about "Wealth and Poverty in Revelation." John of Patmos critiques earthly wealth, essentially calling for his readers to step out of the economy of the day, which often required affirming patron gods, while promising material blessings (streets of gold) in the New Jerusalem. Here again, the authoritarian vision pops up, as well as an ascetic/perfectionist vision. We must ask how this can function for us. Chapter 7 is titled "A Queer Book." In part, this has sexual connotations, as one might expect. In fact, there is a significant discussion of the role of gender and how women, especially, are portrayed. What he does here is introduce us to some of the gender related issues as well as queer (LGBTQ) interpretations.
Chapter 8 gets to the heart of one of the big challenges of reading Revelation, and that is the problem of violence. Living as we do in an increasingly violent world, this is a major concern. It is also a reason why many preachers avoid this book. The concern is with the way it depicts God destroying God's enemies. While it doesn't call for the readers to rise up in violent resistance, God acts violently in defeating God's enemies. So, while not calling for violent resistance, it does give voice to the desire for violent responses to enemies. Here again, there is the question of how Revelation is interpreted and applied. What Carey warns against is trying to explain away the violence in the book.
Even if persecution wasn't rampant, it is clear that Revelation, as well as other apocalyptic texts, function as resistance literature. Thus, in the ninth and final chapter, Carey speaks of "Mapping 'Resistance' in Revelation." It is well understood that John is calling for resistance to the Roman imperial system, including its underlying religious system, but what does this look like? Among the questions posed here concerns the role of the Empire in being the target of resistance as well as the model of resistance.
I do believe that we must engage Revelation. It is a difficult book to interpret, but it has played an important role in Christian history. Fortunately, we have some excellent guides, one of whom is Greg Carey, who lifts up these nine areas of concern in Rereading Revelation.
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