Breaking the Code Revised Edition: Understanding the Book of Revelation

by David A. deSilva

Publisher:

Abingdon Press

, 2019

The Book of Revelation contains passages of great beauty and comfort, as well as passages that strike the casual reader as bizarre, bewildering, and sometimes frightening. How are readers today to discern God’s message in this peculiar part of the Bible?


Breaking the Code Revised Edition provides a trustworthy guide to the rich symbolism of this important biblical book. Noted biblical scholar Bruce M. Metzger presents the fruits of solid scholarship in a non-academic style. This revised edition includes updates based on current biblical research, as well as additional teaching from author and respected New Testament scholar David deSilva.


Additional components for a six-week study include a DVD featuring David deSilva and a comprehensive Leader Guide introducing the main points and setting the stage for small group discussion.


Chapters include:

Introducing the Book of Revelation
John's Vision of the Heavenly Christ (Revelation 1:1-20)
Letters to Churches (Revelation 2:1-29)
More Letters to Churches (Revelation 3:1-22)
John's Vision of God and the Lamb (Revelation 4:1-5:14)
Opening the Seven Seals of God's Scroll (Revelation 6:1-8:2)
Sounding the Seven Trumpets (Revelation 8:3-11:19)
The Satanic Trinity: The Dragon and the Two Beasts (Revelation 12:1-14:20)
The Seven Bowls of God's Wrath (Revelation 15:1-18:24)
The Final Victory and the Last Judgment (Revelation 19:1-20:15)
John's Vision of the Heavenly Jerusalem (Revelation 21:1-22:21)

Features

Revised and updated based on current biblical research.

Includes new content by New Testament scholar David deSilva

Keeps the same rich content and insights from Bruce Metzger

DVD features New Testament scholar David deSilva.

Book can be a stand-alone resource or combined with the DVD and Leader Guide for a six-week study.

Accessible yet in-depth study of the Book of Revelation

Contents

Top Highlights

“What John is concerned to bring out in this section is that the church, whose lot it is to suffer the persecution of this world, will nevertheless continue to give faithful witness to the truth.” (source)

“Usually a day’s pay (a denarius) could purchase eight to sixteen times more grain than the amounts mentioned here. In other words, imperial expansion and civil war are followed by inflation and famine. There is an echo here of conditions in Roman Asia specifically under Domitian, for the large landholders had converted more and more of their arable land to vineyards and olive groves so as to reap more of the profits of international trade in these costlier products, diminishing the supply of grain and inflating its prices beyond the reach of the common person.” (source)

“John creates a composite picture that combines ‘the two olive trees’ (11:4) of Zechariah’s vision, by which the prophet meant the priestly Joshua and kingly Zerubbabel (Zechariah 4:1-14), with the activity of Elijah and Moses, who ‘shut the sky, so that no rain may fall’ and turned water into blood (Revelation 11:6; 2 Kings 1:10; Exodus 7:17, 19).” (source)

“Here it is linked to every city distinguished for its opposition to God: Sodom, which was possessed of such moral degradation that God selected it for extinction (Genesis 19:4-11); Egypt, the house of bondage (Exodus 20:2); and Jerusalem, where Christ was crucified (Revelation 11:8).” (source)

“The seventh seal, in turn, introduces a new series of visions, announced by the blowing of seven trumpets in turn.” (source)

Product Details

• Title : Breaking the Code Revised Edition: Understanding the Book of Revelation
• Authors:
  • Metzger, Bruce M.
  • deSilva, David A.
• Publisher: Abingdon Press
• Publication Date: 2019
• ISBN: 9781501881510

About David A. deSilva

Dr. David A. deSilva, PhD, is the Trustees’ Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Greek at Ashland Theological Seminary in Ohio, where he’s taught since 1995.

He’s written over 20 books in the areas of New Testament and Second Temple Judaism, including Unholy Allegiances: Heeding Revelation's Warning (Hendrickson, 2013), The Jewish Teachers of Jesus, James, and Jude (Oxford, 2012),Seeing Things John’s Way: The Rhetoric of the Book of Revelation (WJKP, 2009), An Introduction to the New Testament: Contexts, Methods & Ministry Formation (IVP, 2004), Introducing the Apocrypha (Baker Academic, 2002), and Perseverance in Gratitude: A Socio-rhetorical Commentary on the Epistle “to the Hebrews” (Eerdmans, 2000). He’s also interested in spiritual formation, having written Sacramental Life: Spiritual Formation through the Book of Common Prayer (IVP, 2008) and Praying with John Wesley (Discipleship Resources, 2001).

He’s ordained in the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church, and serves as director of music and organist at Christ United Methodist Church in Ashland. He and his wife, Donna Jean, have three sons.