Unveiling Empire: Reading Revelation Then and Now (Bible & Liberation)

Bible & Liberation

by Wes Howard-Brook, Anthony Gwyther

Confused by "end of the world" readings or put off by the dense and mysterious imagery, many readers hesitate to explore the Book of Revelation. Unveiling Empire offers a new entrée into this troubling and controversial book of the Bible by examining the roots and social purposes of apocalyptic literature and Revelations own use of traditional imagery. In this way the authors provide readers with the tools for deciphering the texts message--and its urgent applications for Christians today living amidst a new kind of "empire."

Genres: Religion, Theology, Nonfiction, Biblical Studies, Cultural, Politics

2872 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1999

About the author

Education
AB, Crim. University of California at Berkeley (1976)
JD, Hastings College of the Law (1979)
Member, law review, Thurston Society (top 5% of class), Moot Court Board
M.Div., Institute for Theological Studies, Seattle University (1988)
Pastoral Leadership Program, Seattle University

Books and booklets
“Come Out My People”: God’s Call Out of Empire In the Bible and Beyond (Maryknoll: Orbis,
2010)
Pentecost 1 and 2 “Seasons of the Spirit” Adult Lectionary Study and Reflection Resources
(Kelona, BC: Wood Lake Publishing, 2005)
With Sue Ferguson Johnson. "Transforming Encounter, Radical Discipleship": A Lenten Journey
(Erie: Pax Christi USA, 2003)
With Sharon Ringe, co-editor. The New Testament—Introducing the Way of Discipleship
(Maryknoll: Orbis, 2002)
The Church Before Christianity (Maryknoll: Orbis, 2001):
Best Scripture Book, Honorable Mention (Catholic Press Association)
With Anthony Gwyther. Unveiling Empire: Reading Revelation Then and Now (Maryknoll:
Orbis, 1999)
John’s Gospel and the Renewal of the Church (Maryknoll: Orbis, 1997)
Becoming Children of God: John’s Gospel and Radical Discipleship (Maryknoll: Orbis, 1994;
reprinted, Eugene: Wipf and Stock, 2004)
https://www.seattleu.edu/artsci/facul...

Reviews

[Nickolus · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most impressive books I have read in quite some time. The authors do a fantastic job of providing a contextual backdrop for the book of Revelation, and placing the words firmly within the framework of its author's world. They offer an fantastic alternative to the contemporary "End Time" interpretations of Revelation that dominate Christian bookstores and commentaries. Most importantly, the book challenges us to understand our own world in the context of the charges made by the author of Revelation concerning his own world. How do we participate in Empire? How does Empire contrast to God's Kingdom? And how do we move from Babylon to the New Jerusalem?

[Steve Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extraordinary commentary on Revelation, interpreting it largely as an exposure of the seductive evil of empire, be it Rome or contemporary consumer capitalism, as a counterfeit of the Kingdom of God. Helpful historical scholarship and literary analysis, even if the authors are a little too confident in their application of Revelation's contemporary pastoral and theological impact.

[E. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good and helpful study of the Book of Revelation. I've made great use of it in teaching the book this semester at church. One of the best features of it is that it also helps liberal mainline folk understand evangelical readings of the text by showing what authentic needs such readings are attempting to meet.

[Raleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Book of Revelation is something that has always fascinated me. This book does an excellent job of putting the story of revelation into the correct context of 1st century Roman Empire.

It shows how John of Patmos called for followers of Jesus to enter into a new way of life that set them apart from Babylon. The book gives insight to unlocking some of the metaphorical language in the book.

The book then discusses how we are to live within empire today. The authors claim that the government is not in full control of our lives through propaganda as it was during the time of the Roman Empire, but that global capitalism and trade are the Beast that we are to fight against. In reality corporations are what are in control of governmental figures.

[Paul Spencer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having never delved too deeply into a study on Revelation or apocalyptic writing but having a deep familiarity with the rest of the Bible, I can say that the reading of Revelation presented in this book is commonsensical, personally compelling, and sufficiently orthodox (in the main, though troublingly unorthodox at times). Though the authors push the interpretation and application of some truths to their limits (testing even the authority of some portions of scripture), the truths are still incredibly important in understanding the narrative arch of the scriptures and the heart of God. There is much to take away and wrestle with as the reader attempts to apply deep spiritual realities to a difficult and mundane daily existence.

In a word: challenging.

[Drick · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a discussion of the book of Revelation in the vein of Ched Myers studies of the gospel of Mark. They do a good job of uncovering the sociopolitical context that lead to the writing of Revelation and how the book speaks to Christians being seduced to live according to the culture and policies of the Roman Empire. While there is some discussion of how the reality of empire is reflected in global capitalism today, the book was weak on how we live in defiance of empire today. So in that sense the book promised more than it delivered.

[Derek Kubilus · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really great topical look into the themes surrounding Revelation. At the end, it gets a bit narrow with its focus on Global Capital as the Babylon of this age. For the time it was written, this makes sense, but thankfully over the last 20 years our eyes have been opened to all the structures of oppression in our world. I would love for them to revisit this project with that in mind.