Why is the Book of Revelation in the Bible?

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Revelation is the least read and most misunderstood book of the New Testament. Many readers wonder why it is in there at all. In this episode we consider the debates about Revelation in the early Church, seeing why numerous church leaders found it offensive (for reasons modern readers would not expect) and why eventually it came to be included in the canon anyway.

-Martin Luther had difficulty understanding Revelation as part of the NT - he certainly wasn’t the first person to have that struggle. How was the book received among early Christians?

Megan asks Bart:

-Do we have records of what people thought about it before the canon was finalized?

-Were early Christians more concerned about the graphic violence in the book, or about the heavily materialistic nature of the kingdom of heaven?

-Revelation was ultimately accepted as scripture. What was it that led Christian leaders to overlook its challenges and include it in the NT?

-Revelation seems to have enjoyed something of a renaissance in recent decades, with the rise of prophecy writers and popular media like the Left Behind books and movies. Has Revelation always been this popular, or is it a peculiarity of modern times?

[NightDocs]

Megan is the perfect host. Knowledgeable and knows how to steer the conversation and ask substantive questions to prompt him to new topics while keeping with the central subject matter

[FGuilt]

As a kid raised in the Independent Fundamental Baptist cult, Revelations gives so much excuse to the parents in that cult permission to feed their children nightmares from the earliest age (not to mention screamings and beatings "for my own good to save me from horrible eternal damnation"). It certainly broke me. I'm still (almost 40) trying to put the pieces of my identity back together. Thank you guys for discussing this damned book. Over the last 15 years, Dr Ehrman has been a massive help to me in putting Christianity into it's proper context. Thank you so much.

[frankgamez]

I loved that statement towards the end Dr. ehrman where you said it’s good to have an informed faith because otherwise you have an ignorant faith. Thanks to you for the scholarly work you do. As a Christian I enjoy listening to your content.

[michaelcimino-hurt]

I’d like to thank Megan for her hard work to make these videos possible. Kudos, Megan and thanks.

[joshieb]

Megan’s calm demeanor and sophistication makes this so easy to watch!

[rmendoza]

Another awesome episode, you two do a great job! Bart Ehrman never fails to educate and enlighten his viewers, and Megan rocks that hairdo and I love her accent. Thanks to you both!

[simonthompson]

Megan and Bart together is such a treat. Two intelligent academics talking about Christianity, one a believer the other not. But they get on famously. No tensions. No defense mechanism. Just seeking the truth about the Bible.

[mooncalf]

They tried it as the last chapter of Charlotte's Web but it didn't make any sense.

[martifingers]

The Internet can be a wild and even deranged space but spending time being informed and entertained in the company of these two cultured, bright and humane individuals is really something that should be cherished.

[philoyphilia]

I am pretty sure I am not the only one here who cannot wait for the next episode of this awesome podcast: Dr. Bart process of un-new-borning himself. A painful process that leaves a feeling a loneliness leading to spiritual freedom.

[hurdygurdyguy]

The Left Behind series! 🤣 I have no doubt LaHaye and company were snickering in their beer all the way to the bank!!
I credit the pastor of my local Mennonite Fellowship in the '80's who passionately taught Revelation is not a calendar of future events, it was meant for readers at the time of it's writing. If there were parts that were "secret" meant for a future audience then it had no meaning for it's original audience and if that's the case then what's the point of the book? It becomes irrelevant and useless as a future calendar...
Authors and movie makers love the notion of the Battle of Armageddon but as my pastor noted if you read the passage there is no terrific battle to end all battles, rather it merely states the nation's are gathered FOR battle but Christ appears, the Beast is destroyed and Satan is bound...voila, no Oscar winning cinematic battle ...
32:01 ... my struggle is Faith is a form of ignorance, isn't it? "I don't care what the facts are I have faith!"

[robertnorth]

Sometimes when I think of Revelations and folks I go to Church with who really get excited about it, it reminds me of a general thought of conservative white evangelicals, and maybe all sorts of people; Deep down, perhaps in areas of of which we aren't conscious, we want New Testament forgiveness for ourselves and Old Testament judgement for others. We want to be welcomed in the City of God, but we want THOSE people to get what they deserve (whoever those people are).

[Obijuan]

Thanks to you both for your scholarship and efforts in helping us understand.

[chrishooge]

I read Misquoting Jesus years ago and there are many examples of such subjective assumptions and straight out mis-translations that accumulated particularly in the 1000 years before the printing press. Basically a 1000 year game of Telegraph across Hebrew, Greek, Latin, Old English...and just about every other spoken language of the time. I'm being overly simplistic but I think it makes the point. There was a lot of adlibbing going on.

[Dean-qtow]

As a Christian, I think it's bizarre that The book of Revelation has become the core value of modern"Christian minister"profiteers, false teachers etc. Instead of teaching the character qualities of Christ

[fretnesbutke]

Great subject! After getting a little more familiar with the heretical, unorthodox sect's 'Mythos', Revelations always struck me as having a distinctly Gnostic flavor. Can't wait to hear Professor Bart's talk.

[NullStaticVoid]

I'm a Buddhist almost my entire life, but I find the Abrahamic faiths interesting. Not from a spiritual perspective, but because they affect me in my daily life due to Christians I interact with and laws which are passed by people who claim to be doing so for Christian reasons.
It's always been rather hard for me to reconcile the messages of the gospels with the behavior of these people. Where is the humility, modest means and compassion? Instead we get judgemental attitudes which appear to be modeled on the Old Testament.
But I find it interesting that Judaism is not so judgemental.

[doloresabernathy]

The one thing I dislike about almost all podcasts is that they always begin with ten minutes of small talk about nothing, As if people want to listen in on personal conversations about the weather, sports, kids etc. Please…edit that part out or catch up offline. Otherwise, this is super interesting.

[sionanenrois]

Great interview. As a kid I was always frightened by local church members who were primarily interested only in the hellfire and brimstone concepts of this. Thanks for the context. Also, Dr. Ehrman and I have a love of college basketball in common. Go Heels.

[francelaferriere]

"Either write things worth reading, or do things worth the writing." - Benjamin Franklin