{"product_id":"9781101577073","title":"Revelations: Visions, Prophecy, and Politics in the Book of Revelation","description":"\u003cb\u003e A startling exploration of the history of the most controversial  book of the Bible, by the bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eBeyond Belief\u003c\/i\u003e.  \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003eThrough the bestselling books of Elaine Pagels, thousands of  readers have come to know and treasure the suppressed biblical texts  known as the Gnostic Gospels. As one of the world's foremost religion  scholars, she has been a pioneer in interpreting these books and  illuminating their place in the early history of Christianity. Her new  book, however, tackles a text that is firmly, dramatically within the  New Testament canon: The Book of Revelation, the surreal apocalyptic  vision of the end of the world . . . or is it?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn this startling and 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. Soon after, however, a new sect known as  \"Christians\" seized on John's text as a weapon against heresy and  infidels of all kinds-Jews, even Christians who dissented from their  increasingly rigid doctrines and hierarchies.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn a time when global religious violence surges, Revelations  explores how often those in power throughout history have sought to  force \"God's enemies\" to submit or be killed. It is sure to appeal to  Pagels's committed readers and bring her a whole new audience who want  to understand the roots of dissent, violence, and division in the  world's religions, and to appreciate the lasting appeal of this  extraordinary text.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Penguin Publishing Group","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47072788447472,"sku":"9781101577073","price":13.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9781101577073_p0.jpg?v=1763688150","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9781101577073","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}