Contents
Chapter one
John's Revelation: challenging the evil empire, Rome
Chapter two
Visions of heaven and Hell: From Ezekiel and John of Patmos to Paul
Chapter three
Other revelations: Heresy or Illumination?
Chapter four
Confronting Persecution:
How Jews and Christians Separated Politics from religion
Chapter five
constantine's Conversion:
How John's Revelation Became Part of the Bible
Concusion
Notes
Acknowledgments
Index

The strangest book of the New Testament, filled with visions of the Rapture, the whore of Babylon, and apocalyptic writing of the end of times, the Book of Revelation has fascinated readers for more than two thousand years, but where did it come from? And what are the meanings of its surreal images of dragons, monsters, angels, and cosmic war?
Elaine Pagels, New York Times bestselling author and "the preeminent voice of biblical scholarship to the American public" (The Philadelphia Inquirer), elucidates the true history of this controversial book, uncovering its origins and the roots of dissent, violence, and division in the world's religions. Brilliantly weaving scholarship with a deep understanding of the human needs to which religion speaks, Pagels has written what may be the masterwork of her unique career.