Description
John’s Revelation integrates language and imagery from the Hebrew Bible, especially from Exodus, Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel. While attention to John’s use of the Hebrew Bible has contributed toward a helpful framework for interpreting Revelation’s difficult themes and images, less attention has been given to John’s integration of certain New Testament texts. At the End of All Things examines these potential verbal connections that Revelation shares with other New Testament texts. Furthermore, it provides a needed discussion of the canonical approach within New Testament scholarship. Reading through a canonical framework and focusing upon Revelation’s placement within the New Testament canon, Kees argues that the ideal-reader of Revelation is one who is familiar with both the Old and New Testaments of the Christian canon.
Table of Contents
Abbreviations
1. The Canonical Approach in Retrospect
2. The Problem of Interpreting Revelation
3. Revelation in the Context of the New Testament Canon
4. Revelation’s Usage of the Synoptic Gospels and Acts
5. Revelation’s Usage of the Pauline and Catholic Epistles
6. At the End of All Things: The Ideal-Reader of Revelation
Bibliography
Index
Endorsements
“The canonical approach has been the subject of ample amounts of throat-clearing work and debate in the last half century or so, but there has been much less done in terms of putting it into practice, at least in a sustained, coherent manner. Further, in conversations about the canonical approach thus far, the Old Testament / Hebrew Bible has received much more attention than the New Testament. Jason Kees enters into both of these disciplinary lacuna, reading Revelation canonically and thus provided the field with a well-researched, persuasively argued, concrete example of the canonical approach as applied to the New Testament. This book will benefit all those interested in Revelation, the two-testament Christian Bible, and the canonical approach.”
Matthew Y. Emerson, Dean of Theology, Arts and Humanities, Floyd K. Clark Chair of Christian Leadership, Professor of Religion, Oklahoma Baptist University
“One of the reasons the book of Revelation is difficult to understand is because it requires an interpretive framework. While not denying the value of overtly theological or primarily historical backdrops, Kees demonstrates the fittingness of a canonical approach to reading Revelation. Outlining Revelation’s organic connection to both the Jewish Scriptures and the shape of the New Testament collection, Kees showcases many verbal and thematic links to biblical texts that contribute to the vibrancy of John’s prophetic book. Revelation aims to shape its readers into people who believe and heed its vision of reality drawn from the full scope of the biblical canon. This volume will help students of Revelation in their pursuit of both identifying and becoming this kind of reader.”
Ched Spellman, Associate Professor of Biblical and Theological Studies at Cedarville University and author of Toward a Canon-Conscious Reading of the Bible
About the Author
Jason P. Kees (PhD, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary) serves as Editor of Bibles and References for Lifeway Christian Resources.
