The Book of Revelation presents the fascinating and terrifying story of what John reports happening to him while on the Mediterranean island of Patmos. It is a far more interesting story than the tired predictions of other would-be prophets whose many forecasts of the future have always failed to materialize. Tales of the End invites readers to hear John s story anew. Rather than forcing John s story into our time, it takes the reader back to the time of its original telling, exploring both what is told and how it is told examining its plot, characters, point of view, temporal perspective, narrator, listener, author and audience. Only then can we ask how this story bears on the modern world and how it addresses enduring human concerns. David Barr s narrative analysis uncovers a complex and compelling story addressed to the communities of Jesus followers in first-century Asia Minor, a story told vividly so that the audience can participate in John s extraordinary experience and so be transformed, adopting new values, new perspectives; indeed, a new understanding of what the world is really like.

An introduction to the interpretation of the Apocalypse. Each chapter provides an overall reading of Revelation that grows out of a particular methodological approach. The primary approaches include historical, literary, and social analysis, which are then used in combination with other reading strategies including social conflict theory, philosophy, women's studies, ethics, history of religions, postcolonial studies, and popular culture. Each of the essays focuses on a specific text from Revelation and shows how the method used helps interpret that text, and how diverse methods produce divergent readings of a text. A resource book for undergraduates, graduate students, religious leaders, and others who wish to explore how methods shape our understandings of texts.