Review by Choice Review
Thompson (Lawrence University) has written a ground-breaking monograph. He critically examines the language, literature, history and social setting of Revelation. In four major divisions of the book, the author deals with an orientation to apocalyptic, the language of Revelation, social order of the apocalyptic community, the apocalypse and the Roman Empire. Although expressing appreciation for millenarians, his own scholarly interest is restricted to the situation in which Revelation was first written and read. The thesis is that the seer offers a particular understanding--disclosed through revelation--of what the whole world is like, including how Christians relate to other Christians and groups outside Christianity. The broad hypothesis on the literary, religious, and social dimensions of the apocalypse has three major components: the linguistic vision of the seer, the social order, and the linguistic vision and social order. If Thompson's thesis is accepted among scholars, it will revolutionize the academic study of apocalyptic literature. Some of his conclusions are quite radical--e.g., apocalyptic literature is not necessarily associated with imminent crisis; the apocalyptic community need not be the oppressed, powerless, poor minority; Domitian was not a mad man; John writes to Christians living quiet, peaceful lives. A major piece of scholarly work, this book is not easy reading. Thompson writes well, but the complexities of the issues discussed in an academic manner makes it more difficult reading. If Thompson is right however, a totally new reading of the Revelation of John will be required. -J. W. McCant, Point Loma Nazarene College
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
