The Apocalypse of John

The following pages are offered as a help towards a deeper reading of this unique biblical book for our time. They are written in the belief that at the heart of culture lies religion - the way in which people attempt to give meaning to the ultimate realities and to the values by which they live. The apocalyptic spirituality has been at all times a key strand in the attempts of both Christians and non-Christians to relate not only to the time process in which they are ultimately involved but especially to relate to the crisis of the world which seems ever new and to be particularly weighing upon the Western world today. The first chapter suggest some approaches to reading the book. The next chapter is intended to provide a deeper appreciation of hte unusual kind of literature involved, the modern attitude towards the Apocalypse presupposed, and the terminology and principles involved in the commentary. The main part, the commentary, consists of reflections based on reading a wide variety of selections of contemporary material on the Apocalypse. A concluding chapter discusses in more detail how the Apocalypse has been seen through the ages.