Revelations - Elaine Pagels

Revelations: Visions, Prophecy, and Politics in the Book of Revelation by Elaine Pagels is a startling exploration of the history of the most controversial book of the Bible. In this timely book, Pagels returns The Book of Revelation to its historical origin, written as its author John of Patmos took aim at the Roman Empire after what is now known as "the Jewish War," in 66 CE. Militant Jews in Jerusalem, fired with religious fervor, waged an all-out war against Rome's occupation of Judea and their defeat resulted in the desecration of Jerusalem and its Great Temple. Pagels persuasively interprets Revelation as a scathing attack on the decadence of Rome.