Revelations Books

It has always seemed that every question I had about the book of Revelation was answered with, "I don't know." In his book, The Lamb and His Enemies, Rubel Shelly finally answers many of those nagging questions about what the symbols stand for and how Revelation applied for the Church in the first century and how it applies for the Church of the twenty-first century and beyond.

Powerful in its clarity, easy to read, yet brimming with insight and information about this most often mis-understood book of the New Testament, this book is a must-read for anyone who truly wishes to understand God's plan for the faithful.

Authors R. Berning & D. McMurdo take their inspiration directly from the Bible and the Holy Spirit in The Last Book of the Bible Revealed at Last, their straightforward interpretation of the Book of Revelation. Chapters quote all the verses scriptures side-by-side with their interpretations so the reader may judge and compare for himself or herself. Avoiding excessively complex metaphysical imaginings, The Last Book of the Bible Revealed at Last answers such questions as "How long is the Great Tribulation really going to last?" "Who are the four horsemen of the apocalypse?" and "Who is the seven headed, ten horned dragon?" Refreshingly direct in its approach, The Last Book of the Bible Revealed at Last is thoroughly accessible to lay readers and biblical students of all backgrounds.

This is a masterful work! The author not only enables us to understand the depths of the many works of Strauss and Levinas covering many decades, she also places us in touch with others who for more than two millennia have concerned themselves with the volatile relationships between the "truths" of philosophy and revelation, also doing the same with subsequent scholarship on the contributions and limitations of the thought of Strauss and Levinas.

Although the subtitle implies that philosophy plays a crucial role in our understanding of the dynamics of the relationship between religion and politics, from this text the reader will readily realize that history plays an even more dynamic role in this relationship. Having in mind the centrality of reason in philosophical discourse, this reader has an appreciation of a similarity between this reason and history, that while both are vitally necessary to our thought, neither is sufficient. Thus a role for a revelation that is at once historic and transcendent, a revelation that is reasonable, not susceptible to a reductive rationality.

While the author writes very clearly about the limits of historicism and for truth that is transhistorical, it seems to this reader that the notion of reason being discussed is that of an outdated faculty psychology. If we note that in the human species, evolution has become conscious of itself, and that we cultivate this consciousness, it seems reason is limited by the scant number of the varibles that impinge upon our daily lives for which we have the capacity to bring into conscious awareness, reason also limited by its temptation to rationalize our thoughts. These limitations provides space and time for revelation to play a role in our lives, leaving us with a faith that is reasonable.

The revelation that is at the center of this study is a Judaic notion of "law." Given my interest, as well as that of the author, in the larger context in which law is a text, I will utilize an often repeated phrase of her, to simply note that more is beyond the scope of this review.

I began to read this study because of my interest in Levinas and his appreciation of the otherness of others, sharing with the author an acute awareness that, while our receptivity to this otherness is a much needed corrective to a corrosive notion of rational autonomy, this receptivity is insufficiently political. Of Polish ancestry who twenty years ago led a study abroad semester contingent to Krakow, I became more acutely aware of how in 1945 the moment of liberation from Nazism became the moment of enslavement to Communism. In dealing with the aftermath of the Holocaust and the emergence of Israel as a nation state, I share with the author some apprehension at the difficulty of our seeing in the Palestinian, the otherness of the other.

It is at this point that I also share with the author her appreciation of the awesome contribution of Leo Strauss to philosophy and the politics of revelation (pages 209-10): "On the one hand, Strauss did view the human predicament as tragic in that there will never be, according to him, the 'full reconciliation among fellow citizens.' Yet Strauss was not an advocate of tragic resignation but rather of dispelling what he took to be human fantasy ... that we fool ourselves, to our own detriment, by blindly believing our own pieties..."

Barclay's work on this subject is helpful and full of practical insights. Worth having. Yet, there are two others I would rank above this one. John Stott's "What Christ Thinks of His Church," and Robert L. Thomas' "Revelation 1-7" in the Exegetical Commentary series by Moody Press, 1992.

Colin J. Hemer, who unfortunately passed away, has written a masterful work which will be a classic in years to come, on the seven churches of Revelation 2-3. Originially published in 1986 by Sheffield press, this book is a welcomed addition to the study of Revelation. Hemer brings his vast knowledge of Greco-Roman culture and geography and accompanied by an excellent grammtical-historical interpretation, brings us the best work on Revelation 2-3 ever. This book is particulary helpful in analyzing the various approaches to Revelation. Whether you are preterist, futurist, idealist or historicist you will find a goldmine of information in this book. This is a book which Revelation scholars have been waiting for and which will not too soon be surpassed. If you are ready for an in-depth understanding of Revelation 2-3 do not hesitate to buy this book!

A great book for those that really want to know in detail what happens when they pass from this existence to the next. When you finish reading you WILL know that life continues without interruption. There is detail not only about the soul's activities in the heavenly realms but also the process that we go though as we work to grow spiritually. I was very excited to finally understand what I will face sometime in the future. This book IS a true revelation!

This is a tremendous book if one believes in the authenticity and sanctity of Catherine Emmerick as I do. Each of the saints and holy people to whom God, who is present with His People until the end of time, gives messages to for all mankind, to each one is given a different glimpse or facet into the greatness and the love of God. This set of two volumes is the most complete that I have found available to the average person concerning Catherine Emmerick. She has been given glimpses of the supernatural unlike that given to any other person, details into the lives of Our Lord and other holy persons. Catherine recognizes relics of holy persons without being informed of whom is the saint and confirms the great glory of those who have served the Lord. She practices charitable works in her visions and God rewards her because her charity is her desire not the deeds actually accomplished. What makes me believe in her most is her holy life in which she always sought truth, which has been investigated into by the Church and found worthy of belief. She was given visions into the struggle within Christ's Church today: A holy Church wherein God is present and also side-by-side, a false church built purely on human foundations, no saints are taking part in it. She gives details unimaginable in the 1800s of what all God's people are going through now, of Satan trying to destroy His Church; of the victory of God's people and how it is accomplished. Not all these things will be fully understood now, but seeing all is foretold is God's Plan to encourage and give hope to His people. I do not read this book from beginning to end, that would be difficult, but I take it up and read parts at random where there is tremendous richness in her words. I recommend this book if one desires to know more about Catherine Emmerick, especially if one has read the Dolores Passions of Our Lord or the Life of Our Blessed Mother as seen by Catherine and wants to know more of this tremendous persons favored by God with words for you.

The book came before the date promised and was brand new in its plastic wrap. I already have a copy of this book and this one was ordered to share with others since I loved it so much!

This is one of The great books about the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It is the story of the life of St. Gertrude the Great - her title alone tells much - and how Jesus revealed Himself to her -- His great love for her and for each and every soul, His burning desire for the salvation of souls, His sorrow, and even agony, at the loss of souls, and finally, His great need for our cooperation with Him by our practicing reparation for their salvation, and also by our practicing reparation to Him for the sorrow and pain that sin causes Him. Reparation is explained in the book. It is something that anyone can do, and does not require much time.

Examples are daily consecration of oneself to Jesus in His most Sacred Heart (a morning prayer), other special prayers and devotions, and most importantly, the offering of our daily life, our words, actions and especially our sacrifices - even if very, very small, such as denying oneself something special or putting it off until we have finished our work for the day, saying an extra prayer during the day, etc.; practicing God's divine economy of time - what we are here to do, and what we are not - and much more.

The children at Fatima also received in particular the message from Mary about making sacrifices in our daily lives for the salvation of souls. I remember reading that at least one of the children was surprised at how a very small sacrifice could result in the salvation of a soul, or souls.

When I first discovered Amazon, I sold my copy of this book. I have come to realize that my life's devotion is to Jesus, especially in His Sacred Heart, and also to Mary in her Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart. I feel that I literally can't live without the book and the advice and help it contains. If you have this devotion, you understand. Jesus also shows His great gentleness, compassion and love for St. Gertrude, and for every soul. A spiritual treasure.

I used to teach at a Catholic school so I could have shared this book, but in public school, I probably wouldn't be allowed to. Too bad, religion has always been a major theme in art and if art is to be truly studied and revered, Renissance art shouldn't be ignored. The paintings of this book include works by Raphael, da Vinci and others. Of course, the naked pictures would shock too, when will we come to some sort of appreciation so that art can be revered and not be hidden away?