Reading Revelation Responsibly: Uncivil Worship and Witness: Following the Lamb into the New Creation Paperback – Illustrated, October 28, 2010

When a top-notch Bible scholar writes a book that is only 190 pages long, the reader is right to expect that the book will be learned while at the same time offering a measure of accessibility. This simultaneous presentation of astuteness and approachability is one of the truly great strengths of RRR. Somewhat rare is the work that may be read profitably by both academics and non-specialists, and as just such a work RRR is a welcome addition not only to Revelation scholarship, but also to a public readership whose primary interaction with Revelation outside of the text itself might be the Left Behind series and its literary cousins. For readers who fit the latter category, Gorman presents a number of helpful hermeneutical, theological, and even political correctives throughout the work (see esp. 70-73).What Gorman offers as an alternative to irresponsible readings of John’s Apocalypse is a strong theological exposition of Revelation. In RRR Gorman pays careful attention to Revelation’s original historical and literary contexts in an attempt to discern the theological message for the original audiences and tease out the theological correlation to Revelation’s contemporary audiences. The result is compelling: a responsible reading of Revelation that results in hearing a clear call to follow the Lamb into the New Creation by joining the Lamb in resisting the violent, self-serving and ultimately defeated way of imperial power and embracing the cruciform, self-giving and ultimately victorious way of the slaughtered Lamb, even to death.A common critique of shorter works like this in the field of biblical studies concerns what is left out. Gorman is transparent with his readers from the first page of the prelude about how “this book is not a detailed commentary” (xi), therefore he cannot be critiqued too heavily for any omissions. However, his devotion of a mere 21 pages to Revelation 6-20 was mildly disappointing. These are arguably the ripest chapters for irresponsible readings of the Apocalypse, and readers who pick up RRR seeking help in reading them responsibly will receive only broad (though helpful) brushstrokes, and may be dissatisfied with only one chapter devoted to 15 of the 22 chapters of Revelation.With respect to the key interpretive issues familiar to Revelation scholarship, RRR appears to break no new ground. Gorman argues that the author is likely not the apostle John, accepts the traditional dating toward the end of Domitian’s reign (early-mid 90’s), and reads the primary issue as faithfulness to the gospel in the face of persecution. The dragon is understood to be Satan, the first beast as either the Roman Empire, the emperor himself, or imperial power in general, the second beast as those who promote the imperial cult, and “Babylon the Harlot” as Rome. All of these interpretations will continue to be debated, but none of them are new.What might be new—and perhaps disconcerting—for both scholar and novice is the relentlessness with which Gorman reads Revelation at a theopolitical text. That Revelation serves as a critique of empire and a manifesto against religion that sacrilizes imperial symbols, rhetoric, history and personalities is a point Gorman wishes to make crystal clear to the reader. While nearly all interpreters of the Apocalypse recognize it as a text with strong anti-imperial overtones, few have been as explicit as Gorman to connect the message of Revelation to what he refers to as “the theology/ideology of American civil religion in the beginning of the 21st century” (48). In chapter three Gorman presents a three-page list containing at least 45 symbols and practices of “American Civil Religion,” including things such as national flags, state funerals, prayers in church services for “those serving our country,” and hymns with explicitly nationalistic and militaristic language such as “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” A strong argument is made for seeing such signs, symbols and practices as antithetical to the vision of Christian worship and witness presented in Revelation. I found Gorman’s exposition of Revelation’s critique of “civil religion” to be wholly compelling—and wholly unnerving (which is undoubtedly part of the point!).In the end, RRR deserves to be read broadly and received enthusiastically by academics, professional clergy, and educated lay people. Gorman has graced readers of Revelation with a helpful guide for navigating a text that has been irresponsibly navigated by far too many for far too long. That he has done this in a way that also offers seasoned students of Revelation an engaging theological reading of the text is perhaps RRR’s greatest contribution.

In the last semester of my undergrad degree in Theology I stumbled across a journal article on Revelation which cited Gorman as someone who promoted a "missional" reading of Revelation, which perplexed me because for several years after I became a Christian I was repeatedly told that it was a future map of sorts for what would soon be coming upon the world after myself and my fellow believers were spirited away (i.e. raptured) and the rest of the world was left to suffer Divine Wrath a la 'Left Behind.' I talked to my New Testament Professor about the book only to learn that he had recently reworked his Revelation and Johannene Literature class with this book as the textbook for the Revelation portion. Needless to say, I picked up the book and read it in tandem with the Book of Revelation.Others have talked about the person Michael J. Gorman, and I won't discuss him other than to add that he has one of the de facto books on biblical exegesis which speaks to his ability and tact when it comes to Scripture. The book is organized very well, starting with introductions (both on the book and on aspects and themes Gorman deems important to understanding the actual text of Revelation), moves into exegesis on four sections of the book (1-3; 4-5; 6-20; 21-22 respectively), followed by a summary and application, and then a postlude to complete the book. The author maintains complimentary tones of conversation, teaching, and pastoral throughout most of the book, though at certain places (primarily where he is talking about dispensationalism or the Left Behind phenomena) the authoritative tone of someone who has worked diligently and consulted numerous other voices shines through far more powerfully than the other tones. He also concludes each chapter with questions for discussion and reflection, which allows the book to be used not only for personal/pastoral study, but also for small group discussion and classroom settings.I found the book to be extremely compelling, and in a few places very convicting. Gorman cites several problems within the church at large that are very commonplace and are often encouraged and relies on the authority of Revelation itself to call Christians to change their behaviors regarding these problems. I had one minor disappointment with the book, although it wasn't severe enough to even consider removing a star, and that was that the most complicated portion of Revelation, chapters 6-20 (which have the vivid apocalyptic imagery) was largely ignored. The chapter that focused on this section spent most of its space on the last two or so chapters of the section, neglecting the rest. This is permissible in my opinion for two reasons: First, Gorman acknowledges quite rightly that there simply isn't space for him to cover all of the imagery. Each chapter in this book is packed (although not long) and making it through a single chapter can at certain points feel like a feat of accomplishment. The second, and better reason, is that the three chapters that serve as an introduction cover much of the hermeneutical (interpretive) tools that the reader will need to read through Revelation. Anyone who paid attention to the book up until that point shouldn't have a very hard time reading those chapters reasonably well.Aside from this minor complaint I found the book virtually flawless for what it attempts to accomplish. The only conceivable reason I could see a person not liking this book is either they do not possess an awareness of what constitutes orthodox Christian theology and therefore don't understand why certain things are important to Gorman, or that his writing convicts them of sin/misconduct/irresponsibility in the eyes of Revelation and are unwilling to accept the conviction and consider changing their views and behaviors. A very easy to award, 5/5.

Reading Revelation Responsibly, is a work that opens our eyes to the central truth of Revelation. "The Slain Lamb." He is our king worthy of worship. He conquers only by sacrificial love. Gorman magnifies the call to give a good testimony through faithfully following the Lamb in words and deeds. The book also points out the seductive nature and anti-Christian ways of empire; Babylon, Rome, America etc. Faithful resistance to ways of exploitation, oppression, and violence is how we follow Jesus. I can't recommend this book enough.