Book review: Navigating Revelation
by Eugene E. Lemcio
★★★★
Filled not with answers but with questions, Lemcio’s “charts for the voyage” do little to illuminate. I therefore found its promise of a “pedagogical aid” to fall a little short.
What the book does provide, however, is page after page of interesting study foundations, that can lead to some interesting research topics. If you are a serious student of Revelation and wish to work from a concise, visual picture of a few of the Apocalypse’s interrelations and derivations from other scripture, this is a great starting point. For that purpose, I definitely recommend it. Some interesting chart titles (with little commentary) to give you an idea of the book’s content:
Revelation 6 & Isaiah 13: The Shaking of the Foundations
Revelation 8:1-5 & 1 Kings 18:16-40 (comparing Elijah’s contest with Baal to the 7th seal of Revelation)
Revelation 12: Satan’s Fall in Jewish Apocalyptic (comparing to Isaiah, Ezekiel, 1 and 2 Enoch, and Life of Adam & Eve)
Revelation 12 & Matthew 1-2 (Herod’s slaughter of the innocents and the dragon myth)
2 Comments
Leave a Reply to Eugene E. Lemcio Cancel reply
Fantasy Football, Anyone?
Put on the whole uniform of the Team, that ye may be able to stand against the blitz of oncoming linebackers. Don the hip pads of truth, the shoulder pads of righteousness, the cleats of preparation. Don’t forget the facemask of faith and the helmet of salvation. Then clutch the pigskin with much Spirit, for that is what the Play Book of your Coach in Heaven demands.The River of Life
Twice before Lee Harmon has written about Christian topics, once on the gospel of John and once on the book of Revelation. But the question people keep asking him is this: As a liberal Christian, why do you care so much about the Bible? Others wonder whether he is truly a Christian at all.
The Way It Happened
|
|
| Revelation: A love story gone awry. | The Gospel: A love story set aright. |
What really happened 2,000 years ago? How did a persecuted minority of end-time believers known as Christians, with their dreams of Armageddon and a conquering Messiah named Jesus, evolve into the largest religion in the world? Author Lee Harmon explores the period in which the New Testament was written in his books about John's Gospel and Revelation.
(Bloggers: you may be eligible for a free review copy! Just contact us.)
Connect With Me!
A Top-100 Christian Blog
Named an Exceptional Website for Christian Theologians
Our Top Book Picks
Selected by The Dubious Disciple as Best Religion Books. Don't miss these!
Subscribers:
Twitter Followers
Facebook Fans
16806 Blog Members
354 Circles
603 Goodreads Friends & Fans
The God Show
Lee Harmon interviewed on The God Show about the History Channel's miniseries The Bible and Lee's latest book, John's Gospel: The Way It Happened.
About Lee
Hello! I'm an author, historical Jesus scholar, book reviewer, and liberal Christian, which means I appreciate and attempt to exercise the humanitarian teachings of Jesus without getting hung up on any particular supernatural or religious beliefs.
The Bible is a magnificent book that has inspired and spiritually fed generations for thousands of years, and each new century seems to bring a deeper understanding of life’s purpose. This is true of not only Christianity; through the years, our age-old religions are slowly transforming from superstitious rituals into humanitarian philosophies. In short, we are growing up, and I am thrilled to be riding the wave.
I avidly read all thought-provoking religion titles. New authors: I'd love to read and review your book!
Contact me here.
About Leslie
Hi! While Lee writes the articles and reviews the books, I edit, organize, and maintain the blog. The views expressed here are Lee's but I'm his biggest supporter! :-)
First, there seems to be an inherent contradiction between paragraphs one and two in your review. Second, in the first paragraph, you seem to suggest that questions are not appropriate to pedagogy. Did not Socrates seek to illuminate by asking them? Besides, I provided almost as many statements as questions in order to guide rather than to pontificate.
Providing “study foundations [pedagogy?] that can lead to some interesting research topics” seems to be appropriate for “serious student[s] of Revelation”–which is what my preface describes as the audience: university and seminary level people.
For another evaluation of the pedagogical potential of my endeavor, I refer to the review on the Amazon site by a recently-retired professor of English literature: http://www.amazon.com/review/R29E1JANT1LZFU/ref=cm_cr_pr_viewpnt#R29E1JANT1LZFU.
Finally, may I call attention to my similar publications for St. Mark (2012) and St. John (2013), also by Wipf and Stock. Another on Luke is in preparation—perhaps for 2014?
Best regards,
Eugene E. Lemcio (the Author)
Hi Eugene, good to hear from you! I found your charting approach interesting, but not very enlightening. It was more like, “here are some fascinating parallels if you’d like to investigate them on your own.” So, for the driven scholar, it’s recommended as a starting point. I realize that’s your focus, and rated it as such!