I Saw a New Earth: An Introduction to the Visions of the Apocalypse

by Paul Sevier Minear

From the There are indeed few books in the Bible where the modern student does not need deft guidance if reading is to prove profitable. In the case of the Book of Revelation that need becomes absolutely essential. When the average student takes up this book, almost without exception the going is tough, the language baffling, the sense of profit minimal. This situation represents a curious reversal, for in earlier centuries no other part of Scripture so greatly intrigued the imagination of Christendom or so greatly fascinated its painters and musicians . . . . The book at hand is designed to restore the Apocalypse to its rightful place in Christian thinking. The title asserts a continuing John as a prophet actually saw a new earth. The ordinary ways of perceiving reality had been radically altered by his faith in Christ.... Even moderns., in their traffic with "the earth," have accessible a greater diversity of visions than they suppose. The ancient prophet may still have power to enable us to see a new earth. Such at least is the premise that prompted the publication of this book.

Genres: Religion

404 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1968

Reviews

[Erik Graff · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book while taking Ray Brown's Survey of Apocalyptic Literature course at Union Theological Seminary in New York. Since I also read other books on Revelation during the same period I cannot now recall what was particularly distinctive about this one. However, summarizing what I learned in general about the Apocalypse of John--and other, earlier intertestamental apocalypses--can be done. Previously I'd thought the authors and their original readers to be either crazy or incomprehensible. After this course I came to appreciate more of the mindset of such persons, especially the fact that much of their writing had a political purpose, sometimes intentionally veiled. Additionally, I came to appreciate how many conventions of writing which would be considered odd, if not unethical, today were conventional then. An example of this would be the ascription of authorship. There were, for instance, books attributed to Adam, books that no one actually believed were penned by the first man, but which were seen as in some way written in the spirit of such a person.