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Jonathan Kirsch

A History of the End of the World: How the Most Controversial Book in the Bible Changed the Course of Western Civilization Paperback – September 18, 2007

by Jonathan Kirsch (Author)

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"[The Book of] Revelation has served as a "language arsenal" in a great many of the social, cultural, and political conflicts in Western history. Again and again, Revelation has stirred some dangerous men and women to act out their own private apocalypses. Above all, the moral calculus of Revelation—the demonization of one's enemies, the sanctification of revenge taking, and the notion that history must end in catastrophe—can be detected in some of the worst atrocities and excesses of every age, including our own. For all of these reasons, the rest of us ignore the book of Revelation only at our impoverishment and, more to the point, at our own peril."

The mysterious author of the Book of Revelation (or the Apocalypse, as the last book of the New Testament is also known) never considered that his sermon on the impending end times would last beyond his own life. In fact, he predicted that the destruction of the earth would be witnessed by his contemporaries. Yet Revelation not only outlived its creator; this vivid and violent revenge fantasy has played a significant role in the march of Western civilization.

Ever since Revelation was first preached as the revealed word of Jesus Christ, it has haunted and inspired hearers and readers alike. The mark of the beast, the Antichrist, 666, the Whore of Babylon, Armageddon, and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are just a few of the images, phrases, and codes that have burned their way into the fabric of our culture. The questions raised go straight to the heart of the human fear of death and obsession with the afterlife. Will we, individually or collectively, ride off to glory, or will we drown in hellfire for all eternity? As those who best manipulate this dark vision learned, which side we fall on is often a matter of life or death. Honed into a weapon in the ongoing culture wars between states, religions, and citizenry, Revelation has significantly altered the course of history.

Kirsch, whom the Washington Post calls "a fine storyteller with a flair for rendering ancient tales relevant and appealing to modern audiences," delivers a far-ranging, entertaining, and shocking history of this scandalous book, which was nearly cut from the New Testament. From the fall of the Roman Empire to the Black Death, the Inquisition to the Protestant Reformation, the New World to the rise of the Religious Right, this chronicle of the use and abuse of the Book of Revelation tells the tale of the unfolding of history and the hopes, fears, dreams, and nightmares of all humanity.

Print length

352 pages
Language

English
Publisher

HarperOne
Publication date

September 18, 2007
Dimensions

0.82 x 5.31 x 8 inches
ISBN-10

0061349879
ISBN-13

978-0061349874
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“A learned, lively, … literary tour of the life and the improbable afterlife of the greatest apocalypse of them all.” -- Jack Miles, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of God: A Biography and Christ: A Crisis in the Life of God

“[A]n important book that is essential reading in our torn, conflicted world: it is articulate, learned and balanced.” -- Karen Armstrong, New York Times bestselling author of A History of God and The Spiral Staircase

“This book does what history is supposed to do…A truly fine book.” -- John M. Barry, New York Times bestselling author of The Great Influenza

“[A] delightful, 2,000 year journey…. a fine book that merits wide readership.” -- Publishers Weekly

“Fascinating - and sure to provoke heated discussion.” -- Booklist

“Kirsch’s splendid examination of this dark corner of religious resentment holds out a new perspective and, mercifully, some solace.” -- Los Angeles Times

“A thorough account of the intellectual and spiritual mischief that Revelation has spawned.” -- Washington Post

“Kirsch traces Revelation’s 2,000-year history --- a “romantic tale, full of intrigue and suspense” --- in lucid, captivating prose.” -- Atlanta Journal-Constitution

About the Author

Jonathan Kirsch is the author of ten books, including the national bestseller The Harlot by the Side of the Road and his most recent work, the Los Angeles Times bestseller A History of the End of the World. Kirsch is also a book columnist for the Los Angeles Times, a broadcaster for NPR affiliates in Southern California, and an adjunct professor at New York University.

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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperOne; Reprint edition (September 18, 2007)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0061349879
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0061349874
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.6 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 0.82 x 5.31 x 8 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,511,525 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2,101 in History of Judaism
- #2,846 in Christian Eschatology (Books)
- #9,087 in History of Christianity (Books)

Customer Reviews:
76 ratings

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L. A. Veronie II

How humanity (Mis)interprets Revelations

Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2015

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While some reviewers credit this as not a "scholarly" work, I would venture to say that it succeeds on many levels, not the least of which is the author formatting it in a chronological order. It is NOT a rigorous study of Revelations, but rather an examination of the EFFECT it has caused (even to this day) on western civilization. What pleases me most is the author has no agenda, i.e. an axe to grind in the religious sense, but conveys the historical AND psychological implications of apocalyptic thought and imagery in a smooth, no-nonsense way. Additionally, the illustrations were gorgeous, and the inclusion of the entire text of Revelations at the end was most welcome!

6 people found this helpful

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Randolph Eck

An Interesting analysis of Revelation's effect on history

Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2007

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I have previously read the book of Revelation in its entirety, and I have come across various interpretations of what all the symbolism means. Somehow I never felt entirely comfortable with what I was being told. Kirsch delves into how throughout history various factions have given their interpretations to this famous book.

It is interesting to note that not a single century has passed in which some new prediction was formed to date when the prophecies would come to pass. Time and again people have interpreted Revelation to fit their era. Revelation and the whole apocalyptic tradition became a way of coping with oppression and persecution by imagining a better world to come. The book points out these examples (a partial list) and more:

* 1st century - John, the author, may have been applying the writing to the then oppressive Roman Empire near the end of the first century.
* 156 C.E. - The Montanist sect believed the end was near in their day.
* 5th century - Barbarians at the gates of Rome were seen as the armies of Satan whose arrival signaled the 2nd coming.
* ca. 1248-1298 - Hildegard of Bingen (Benedictine nun) stated the final battle in the not to distant future would involve the fall the clergy.
* 1844 - William Miller predicted the end of the world and the coming of Christ.

Down to the present, people have taken the book of Revelation to task to provide the sorely needed answers to explain the significance of the difficult times in which they lived. I find that Kirsch did a fine job and did extensive research to provide the information in this book and the effects it has had on western civilization.

7 people found this helpful

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Insightful commentary for those willing to listen

Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2009

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"A History of the End of the World" chronicles the history of the Book of Revelations and its impact on Western Civilization. Characterized by Kirsch, and in the minds of many readers rightfully so, as the single scariest book in the Bible (and arguably in all of Judeo-Christian writing), Revelations is a strange book that is both at odds with the rest of the Bible and yet surprisingly the biggest attraction in the Bible.

To serious scholars, much of what Kirsch discusses here is old news. He covers in great detail the theories behind the origins of Revelations and the identity of its author, and points out how Revelations borrowed and adapted the apocryphal works of the time period. But the bulk of Kirsch book is less about the Book of Revelations itself than how it has been used, and misused, by the Catholic Church, politicians, and most recently the Religious Right to both soothe the minds of the faithful and as a weapon against the "enemy," whomever that enemy might be.

One of the recurring themes in the book is the fact that, despite several millennia of biblical scholars and street corner preachers' claims; the world has "failed to end on time." Kirsch exhibits a slightly sarcastic tone on occasion as he goes through the litany of previous attempts to determine the end of the world, and how the world refused to cooperate. For casual readers, the history lesson is enjoyable and provides some perspective with which to view the current cries of the impending Apocalypse. "True Believers" will take offense to the tone, however as Kirsch points out they want to be offended. And in truth, need to be for Revelations to be legitimate.

One of the key elements of Kirsch's arguments focuses on how the Book of Revelations, and the belief in the end of the world, feeds the psychological needs of the believer. He notes that the book is written for an oppressed audience. The original audience of the Book of Revelations were early Christians who still felt the sting of persecution. However Revelations has become the favorite book of those who simply believe they are oppressed, but aren't necessarily being persecuted. Revelations is a book that does not seek to uplift the spirit of the reader, but instead seeks to sate the hunger for revenge against all the non-believers and allies of Satan that have wronged them. While violence is a normal topic in the Old Testament, nowhere do we see a Biblical author revel in depicting violence against the enemies of God like we do in Revelations. If Revelations was a "fiction" book, it would be banned from most schools.

Revelations, as Kirsch points out, is meant to provide a feeling of empowerment to those who feel they have no power; whether that feeling is based on fact or delusion (and as Kirsch explains, more often than not it is delusion). It allows the reader to shift blame for all of societies' real and imagined ills onto otherworldly forces, and provides a succor that these forces will be overcome by God for them.

One interesting point addressed by Kirsch is how Revelations factored into the push by Christian Zionist after WWII to establish the Israeli state. Kirsch notes that at the time, many Jewish leaders would have been happy with a land anywhere and were not themselves pushing for the lands of Israel, because they believed only God could restore their homeland. But for the Christian Zionists, it was vital that the Jews return to Israel in masse not out of compassion for the Jewish people, but because they considered it a prerequisite for the Apocalypse. Kirsch discusses the beliefs of these Christian Zionists when he notes "...that the Jews who returned to the land of Israel were destined to suffer and die during the reign of the Antichrist and to burn in hell for the rest of eternity." Further, he notes that "Christian Zionists, in fact, tend to regard the prospect of peace between Israel and its Arab neighbors as an obstacle to the second coming of Jesus Christ and, therefore, the work of the devil."

The book does, however, suffer a stylistic flaw. Kirsch has a tendency to pound away at a thought, rehashing it dozens of times after the point has already been made and explained. There is also an annoying tendency to overuse the phrase "as we have seen" and its evil cousin "as we shall see." Having read his previous work " God Against the Gods: The History of the War Between Monotheism and Polytheism ," which was much more succinct in its arguments, I can only chalk this up to a bad editor. Someone should have slapped his typing fingers with a red pen over this.

But that issue aside, readers with an interest in understanding the psychology and history behind the Book of Revelations will find a book written with the casual reader in mind. It is very accessible to the reader and presents complex issues in a manner that is clear without oversimplifying.

15 people found this helpful

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Janice Greene

Four Stars

Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2018

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A History Of The End Of The World. A study book. I will keep and read it again.

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Kelly Houser

Amazing Look At A Text That Continues To Influence Society

Reviewed in the United States on September 9, 2007

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Jonathan Kirsch tackles a subject that fascinates and terrifies most people: the end of the World. More specifically, Kirsch's work focuses on the Christian New Testament Book of Revelation. What is it about this text that fascinates readers to such an extent? Is this ancient text still relevant in our modern world? Kirsh takes on this difficult-to-answer questions in his book, The History of the End of the World.

I am a huge fan of Jonathan Kirsch. I find his non-fiction biblical theories to be well-researched and his books written in an engaging style that the reader can easily access. In this work, Kirsch takes a hard look at the way the Book of Revelation has influenced history and continues to impact the modern age, as well. Touching on relations between countries, the events of 9/11, and how church dogma was influenced by the one body of text that narrowly made it into the cannon, Kirsch explores all the fact and the lore surrounding the New Testament's most controversial text.

5 people found this helpful

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gary

A Thought Provoking Read

Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2013

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I have no doubt that this book will upset certain people of faith but this is well researched and written treatise that seems to have been written without preconception or prejudice by a aknowleged Biblical scholar.

2 people found this helpful

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Adrian J. Smith

A superb history of the most explosive book in the Bible!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 22, 2009

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Revelation, known in Greek as The Apocalypse (literally unveiling) is best understood by Jonathan Kirsch as being a revenge tract directed at the author's grievances, namely the Roman Empire, and all those who co-operate with the Empire. Despite the coded references to the decadence of the time, the many codewords and ciphers have been reapplied countlessly to every foreign threat, tyrannical despot, or upheaval of the age.
The text of revelation is cryptic and puzzling, and that, as Kirsch points out, is essentially its power, it opens the way for many more apocalypses, and for many different purposes. It stands out as a nasty precursor for anti semitism, despite its authors clear jewish routes, and has been seized upon by Fundamentalist Televangelists as a key selling point in their fire and brimstone preachings.
Kirsch correctly points out that Revelation is an anomaly within the Biblical canon as it contains no moral instruction, and creates a dangerous dualism wherein one is either allied with the Beast and Satan, or one of the righteous few. Essentially a dangerous duality.
Revelation is revealed to be a very dangerous book, but a truly enigmatic book that is best read as a piece of future history of the early first millennium. However, as it has become much more than that, and this book is a tour de force of almost everything Revelation has inspired.
A scholarly, thought provoking and brilliant expose of the most dangerous book in the Bible and everything it has inspired.

5 people found this helpful

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