The Book of Revelation - Professor Pagels

Through 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?
In 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.
In 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.

[@pathologyiscool]

OMG, it's absolutely AMAZING how many DIFFERENT circumstances can be "attributed" to the "prophetic" book of Revelations! I am a FORMER SDA and was taught and propagated the idea that the Beast was the Pope. So glad that I am not living in the fantasy world of religion anymore. THANK YOU for this discussion...keep it up PLEASE.

[@iadaiakarijaidbynriew1418]

Same here ex SDA here..

[@byronskoretz7650]

Thank you Elaine!

[@pathologyiscool]

LOL...I'm glad Stewie approves.

[@gospelofthomas77thpearl22]

Elaine Patel’s has done much to bring the Light of Truth into the forefront of religious dialogue. She started my journey towards 77th Pearl: The Perpetual Tree. Thank you.

[@TheCissero]

Elaine’s so sharp and insightful. She’s did her research. Elaine’s a powerful force to be reckoned with.

[@TomLangley13]

Very interesting and, indeed, informative conversation! Many thanks for sharing! Peace to All...Namaste'

[@tahwsisiht]

“History Doesn't Repeat Itself, but It Often Rhymes” - Mark Twain. Doing the right thing doesn't require prophecy.

[@jamesbarton8028]

Just as this guy was speaking to bringing into the FOLD..I thought why do they never mention Jesus brother James...and SHE DID...He was a bridge between the two people who ( one opposed ) the other encouraged gentiles..

[@craxd1]

One has to remember, that The Revelation was or still is not recognized by the Eastern Orthodox, and it was debated about making it canon at all. That says something about it, there.

[@smb123211]

+craxd1 Martin Luther viewed Revelation as one of the disputed books of the New Testament. He disliked the visions, the lack of clarity and the obvious problem of subjective interpretations.

[@craxd1]

smb123211 That is true, and some scholars say that John of Patmos was writing about what he thought would occur within a few years, or was happening while he wrote it, thus it was written as a metaphor. The beast was said to be Nero. It was written during the emperor Domitian's period, (reigned AD 81-96), when John, the apostle would most likely have been dead; (at 96 AD, John would have been about 90, which is a doubtful age at that time). They say that St. John was created by the merging of several Johns into one. The Apocalypse, (the true name of the book), was fought over by the bishops, for being included in scripture. However, there were some wanting it included, as proof of a mythical devil.

[@maureenoconnor4430]

Luther used it himself to describe the catholic church as the hoare of Babalon

[@coweatsman]

What is in the bible is politically informed. 40+ gospels were excluded. Much of what is in it (like 6 of the13 "Pauline" epistles and 2 Peter) has been forged. Mark was reworked and extended. It's all a mess.

[@hildazeigler4664]

What if The Book of Revelation was about the inner human spiritual journey ???

[@Stupidityindex]

Wow, someone talking as if prophesy were a real-life superpower, we all have experience of, a proven fact.

[@madliberal7710]

The Book of Revelation almost didn't make the cut during the Council of Nicia.

[@bcalvert321]

But it did and should be there. This New Age teacher hasn't a clue about the Biblr.

[@hardlife8122]

A card in your hard, and a code in your forehead, are you ready . gb* ~ hard life (MULDEW)

[@somniumisdreaming]

Thank you for upload, very interesting.

[@TheCissero]

They were men seeing visions so it can be distorted. But, the politics and power are violent amongst the Roman institutions. God will get veangence.

[@bcalvert321]

God will not seek vengeance until we are in the last years of the Tribulation. It will be against everyone that is against Christ. That includes the New Agers like Pagel.

[@francinewilliams1676]

Just as the gospel accredited to Matthew was probably first penned in Hebrew (as many Jewish idioms are quite clear, which are mere word salad in Greek, which are only understandable through reading the Shem Tov Hebrew versions of Matthew, even Howard's Hebrew Matthew, which have been common knowledge, yet pointedly ignored, amongst theologians since the mid 1950's. There have since been discovered Hebrew sources of Revelation. The Roman Catholic based Christendom would rather have people disassociate the original scriptures from the Hebrew language & relabel the Jews who had discovered the Messiah as Christians & cohesive groups as Christians when the reality was very similar to what both HRCC or Protestant denominations would lead us to believe. The early believers went to Temple, attended synagogue on the Sabbath, & only ceased doing so when they were commanded to disavow Yeshua in order to continue doing so. Yeshua was a Jew, an Israelite, came first to save his people from their sins, & powerful enough to save the Gentiles with the crumbs falling from the Israelite's table. This woman is amazingly well-studied & open-minded, yet even as we all have more to discover or learn, so does she. Great interview!

[@michaelcoleman6681]

Praise god

[@johnsmith-be3on]

I would agree that revelation was a reflection of John's bitterness of his situation and his suffering; however, the guest seems to be doing the same from a jew point of view.

[@williemojave1105]

"jew"? JOHN IS A JEW!

[@Stupidityindex]

Revelations is a product of medieval star-map language pointing to a date 1100 AD or something by Fomenko.

[@jeffcriswellforu.s.senateg6687]

John did not write this book - he transcribed it. There was no literary strategy involved. This was a vision that he tried to record, not an original work at all. And Jesus did not die - at least not permanently. He rose again the 3rd day. It is impossible for unbelievers to appreciate what they do not believe. Now, mind you, I still can't tell you what Revelation means, but I do know that John did not write it.

[@TheRevelationDeception]

Good video!

[@TheCissero]

Babylonian Talmud is a different religion that tainted human race

[@joshjeggs]

where do people get the idea that constantine was a christian?

[@danielt.9101]

According to historical definitions, he was, whether he truly believed it is a matter of his personal conscience, which no one can know.

[@joshjeggs]

Daniel Tibirisa What historical Definitions are you referring to?

[@danielt.9101]

Josh Jeggs Historically, if one self-identified as a Christian and verifiably belonged to a Christian movement, then that person was a Christian. By _that_ definition Constantine was a Christian. Theologically that is a different question, of course...

[@joshjeggs]

Daniel Tibirisa Sorry maybe i didn't communicate what i meat clearly.. If i said where do people get the idea jesus was a jew...you would say the bible...and may even show me where it says or suggests that. So in light of that what would be your answer be?

[@danielt.9101]

Josh Jeggs I'm not sure exactly which historical document or documents mention it, but it is common knowledge among theologians and church historians that Constantine was baptized on his death-bed. The best I can provide is this website: www.roman-empire.net/decline/constantine.html

[@davidbalicki3567]

Trying to find out who wrote it? Answer: The Apostle John. Who spoke to John and told him what to write down? Answer: Jesus Christ. Next question

[@spacemanonearth]

Enjoyed Pagels books, and Gnostic views are close to mine from the NHL and a few other sources. But regarding Revelation, I could not be further from her on. The end is for our time. Seven heads, the ten horns, or all the rest are here now, influenced in a great city, have worldly power, and will lead into the final vials, this is very clear, understand them all. The mark of the beast or the number is wrong clearly, not only from the canon but the NHL as well. What has already happened within Revelation, Babylon the great city has already been devastated in one hour & this event happened quite recently, another is coming soon.

[@coweatsman]

Which visions are valid? None.

[@Itsatz0]

Amazing how much scholarly activity is wasted on this nonsense.

[@williemojave1105]

There's a new book "Priest of Nature" about Isaac Newton and all the time he "wasted" trying to make scripture be history, past present future. His brain was like a fucking squirrel-on-crank and he studied Revelation til he was cross-eyed.

[@drdem00]

Good LORD !! Patmos is CLOSER to turkey THAN it is to Greece ... sheesh people ... smh

[@fingersmcoy]

two people who just don't get it

[@Mrmorlam1]

Elaine is a lovely lady but I must say her interpretations do not recognize symbolism and metaphor inherent in this book. Jerusalem means "abode of peace." That's the human psyche which finds rest in God. The place "Jerusalem" is simply a place of commemoration. I'm not religious and I know this for sure. The "seals" are the 7 Chakras. This is not rocket science. But scholars have their clique issues and do not venture out of their comfort zones. This is the nature of most scholars. So, their interpretations will always be tainted with personal bias and ignorance. It's a shame because lots of people are listening and hoping for the truth itself.

[@danelobe2524]

7 chakras.... your very funny. your also ignorant.

[@omarwalker3056]

Have you read Adyanshanti’s book Resurrecting Jesus?

[@Mrmorlam1]

@@omarwalker3056 No. Is it any good?

[@omarwalker3056]

@@Mrmorlam1 I think you would appreciate it. He reads the life of Jesus or story of Jesus metaphorically as a path for awakening and the different stages in awakening. It’s been a really interesting read so far and really enjoyed how he unpacks the symbolism for each stage in his ministry the birth, baptism, the wilderness, and so on.

[@Mrmorlam1]

@@omarwalker3056 Sounds good. The only issue I see with such a do this and do that is that you dont get to figure it out. When we figure things out by ourselves, the result is much more experienced than if we never went down a wrong path. Everyone gets there anyway, in the end. I like the idea of.guidance of course but leave things open to some extent to allow the student to find out by themselves. Its also less restrictive and avoids ultimatums. You know when someone follows a plan for dieting and then throws it all away. Like someone looking for God but meets demons in others mostly and then just gives up. There's a psychology to all that. I certainly appreciate you pointing it out because now I will look it up and read it. Nice one for that.

[@rosannag.burroughs4563]

Jesus is the highest Divine Consciousness, why does Pagels and many others keep saying Jesus was a real physical person... No physical Jesus at ALL!

[@omarwalker3056]

Interesting, how did you arrive to the conclusion Jesus was a physical person at all?

[@rosannag.burroughs4563]

@@omarwalker3056 I never said that Jesus is a physical being!!!

[@omarwalker3056]

@@rosannag.burroughs4563 what do you mean by “no physical Jesus at all” your words?

[@omarwalker3056]

@@rosannag.burroughs4563 my apologies on my part.

[@rosannag.burroughs4563]

@@omarwalker3056 That's alright, have a great day!

[@gerardmiller7364]

Actually, the revelation is a book of history. As the rest of the bible is. It's about the wars from Jesus days until the end of days. And in the next war one third of humanity will die in just one hour by fire and brimstone. Revelation chapter 9v 14 to 19. The fourth king and the fourth angel are the same events. And its actually WW2. And the fifth angel is described in chapter 6, chapter 9, and again in chapter 16,v. It's all the same story. The fifth angel events are the war in Iraq. As he wrote that they made war for five months. V5. And they made war for five months. The sixth angel events are the next war. In the next war one third of humanity will die in just one hour by fire and brimstone. That's nuclear or automic war.

[@stutzbearcat5624]

This lady doesn't know Jesus is a MYTHOLOGICAL FIGURE?

[@joshjeggs]

THIS WOMAN DOESN'T KNOW WHAT SHE IS TALKING ABOUT. SHE SAYS JOHN FALSLY PROPHESIES THE DESTRUCTION OF ROME BY PRESUPPOSING HE WAS TALKING ABOUT ROME????

[@beuteefl1]

Are you referring to what she is saying at 13:35?? If so, you may have misunderstood because she didn't say that.

[@3506987]

book of revelation. is the revealing of what is to come in end Times. the church will be gone and those who don't believe that. Jesus is the true messiah. will be left behind. so accept. Christ . now. whole you can. if you don't you. regret it. believe it or not. your choice.

[@danmiller6462]

Janice Witzke not true. Revelation was written to give encouragement to persecuted christians during the time of Roman emperors who demanded to be worshipped as gods. It doesn't apply to the current times. The beast is Rome and 666 identifies Nero.