Coming Soon: Unlocking the Book of Revelation and Applying Its Lessons Today

This is an engaging book, and one aimed at the general reader. Even if you do not have an extensive background in biblical studies, you will find this book easy to understand. In order to grasp what is going on in Revelation, it is necessary to know a little historical background. In the gospels, Jesus says very clearly that an apocalypse would occur and that those listening to him, "this generation will not pass away till all these things take place" (Mt 24). Yet the end time of the world did not occur within, say, the lifetime of John. So was Jesus mistaken? Other biblical scholars, such as Renan and Schweitzer, have indeed argued this. However, Barber offers an alternative view--a modified preterist view, in fact, and one which points to an end of one covenant and the beginning of a new one. He explains that Jesus was correct. The generation who was warned that the temple would fall within their lifetimes, did, indeed, see the temple fall. First in the body of Jesus Christ, who was crucified, and then, in the temple, when it was burned to the ground by the Romans in 70 AD. The destruction of the temple ended so much of what had been the old covenant forever with Israel. Gone forever was the Levitical priesthood, for in the temple were the documents proving the lineage of every priest. Gone forever were the sacrificial rites that the priests performed. Gone was the very center, the heart of Jewish worship. These would be replaced by a new chief priest, the pope, a new priesthood, now open to the gentiles, and a new system for the forgiveness of sin. As Barber explains, "This brings us to the image of the Church as the Bride of Christ. Christ truly reproduces His life in the Church, so that the Church is the Mystical Body of Christ...as...in Ephesians 5 the Apostle Paul...writes, "Even so husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no man ever hates his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, as Christ does the church, because we are members of hiss body'" (p 229).

Finally a concise explanation of an often feared book of the Bible. It is great to have an interpretation of this book that reflects the teachings of the Catholic Church. After all of the misinterpretations from Proteatants, here is the explanation from the Church who wrote, canonized,and preserved this last book of the Bible.

My small group is currently about half-way through this book, and we are all enjoying it very much! Michael Barber does a great job going through what can be a confusing,frightening and often misunderstood book. A great study for either small groups or individuals wanting to learn more about St. John's Revelation.

As a Catholic Christian you only hear the Christian prospective on the "end times, rapture, mark of the beast, the whore of Babylon, the four horsemen (not the wrestlers)...etc". Catholic theologian Michael Barber has done an excellent job explaining what each on of these (and more) mean along with there implications in our life time. I highly recommend this book along with Dr. Scott Hahn's Lamb Supper. CATHOLICS: "ALWAYS BE READY TO GIVE AN EXPLANATION TO ANYONE WHO ASKS YOU FOR A REASON FOR YOUR HOPE ... 1 Peter 3:15-17

The author gives a consistent commentary on the literal meaning of Revelation and a good explanation of the spirtual senses (i.e the loving moral view, a faithful analogical/typological view and a hopeful anagogical view.) Particular care for the liturgical elements in the book and their relation with the Divine Liturgy (the Roman Rite Mass) is developed and applied, showing the biblical basis for the New Testament Church's Liturgy. My only criticism of this book is that Mr. Barber sometimes doesn't develope the relationship between some things as strongly as I think the text indicates. For exmaple the releationship between Jerusalem and Rome in Revelation 17 is connected much stronger in my view than in Michael's.