Unholy Allegiances: Heeding Revelation’s Warning

by David A. deSilva

Publisher:

Hendrickson

, 2013

Overview

Amidst the fervor of popular apocalyptic books and unfounded “end times” theology, deSilva has written an excellent book that will help readers thoughtfully and properly approach the book of Revelation.

This is a truly unique book that studies Revelation by (1) stating the context in which it was written (Roman Asia in the first century), (2) noting why John wrote what he did to the church, and (3) powerfully applying John’s message to the church today. It is concisely written and carries a genuine spiritual message.

Key Features

• Discusses the context, meaning, intent, and message behind the book of Revelation
• Presents a concise and non-speculative look at John’s message and how it applies to a modern church

Contents

• Debunking Popular Myths about Revelation
• Divine Emperor, Eternal Rome: The Public Story about Roman Imperialism
• The True Center and the Unholy Scam: John’s Biblical Critique of the Public Story
• Looking at the Immediate in Light of the Infinite: The Seven Oracles to the Churches of Asia
• John’s Proclamation of the One Who Is, Who Was, and Is Coming

Top Highlights

“The critical challenge that must be given attention before all else is the forthcoming visitation of God and God’s Messiah.” (Page 78)

“John therefore intended his letter to be understood by them, to shape their perceptions of their everyday realities, and to motivate a particular response to their circumstances.” (Page 3)

“It quickly becomes clear that this vision of the perfectly ordered cosmos is a vision of the way things ought to be, but not of the way things are in every corner of the cosmos.” (Page 39)

“The risen and glorified Lord speaks a word to the churches through the prophet John, affirming their strengths, diagnosing their weaknesses, calling them to faithful action, threatening judgment upon the recalcitrant, and promising favor for the penitent and faithful.” (Page 7)

“Rome was thus indeed seen as ‘the great city that rules over the kings of the earth’ (Rev 17:18 NRSV” (Page 23)

Product Details

• Title: Unholy Allegiances: Heeding Revelation’s Warning
• Author: David A. deSilva
• Publisher: Hendrickson
• Publication Date: 2013
• Pages: 144
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Topic: Revelation

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.