Upside-Down Apocalypse

Revelation, the final book of the Bible, works on a vast scale, taking up good and evil, political power and empire, the life of communities, and eternity. Readers have found it both captivating and baffling for centuries. This guide asks how the cosmic conflict John describes fits with the nonviolence Jesus practices in the Gospels, and what the text tells us about Jesus, the present world, and where all things are heading. As end-times conspiracy theories gain traction, the author argues that it matters more than ever to read this last book of Scripture without bending the message of Jesus out of shape.

Jeremy Duncan draws on biblical scholarship and nonviolent theology to lead readers through Revelation. He reads John's visions in light of the Jesus portrayed in the Gospels, whom he presents as the fullest revelation of God. The book looks closely at the imagery and purpose of John's writing, showing how the author builds a picture of victory won through nonviolence.

Readers will see how, in this reading, the Prince of Peace turns the logic of violence upside down. The book is written for those who want to understand Revelation as a text that supports peacemaking and fits with the way Jesus lived and taught.