The Good News of Revelation
by Larry R. Helyer and Ed Cyzewski
Imprint: Cascade Books
Dr. Larry R. Helyer is Professor Emeritus of Biblical Studies at Taylor University in Upland, Indiana. He is the author of Revelation for Dummies (2008), The Witness of Jesus, Paul and John (20
08) and The Life and Witness of Peter (2012).
Ed Cyzewski (MDiv, Biblical Theological Seminary) is the author of Coffeehouse Theology: Reflecting on God in Everyday Life (2008), Hazardous: Committing to the Cost of Following Jesus (2012), and Unfollowers: The Oversights, Distractions, and Misconceptions that Keep Us from Following Jesus (forthcoming). He writes for a variety of magazines, including Christianity Today and Leadership Journal, and blogs regularly on Christian belief and practice at www.inamirrordimly.com.
"Helyer and Cyzewski have collaborated their lifetime biblical and theological studies to (offer) a truly good and important new look at the interpretation of the Revelation of St. John. The apostle intended and expected that his letter would be both understood and applied in the lives of his contemporaries. . . . The 'code' of the book is the Old and New Testaments and a biblically based understanding of the person and ministry of Jesus Christ. Serious Bible-believing Christians will find great encouragement for living a Christian life in these troubling and confusing times."
--Jay Kesler, President Emeritus, Taylor University
"In The Good News of Revelation, Larry Helyer and Ed Cyzewski accomplish exactly what the title suggests: good news! In a culture where doomsday scenarios rank high at the box office and even higher in certain strands of the church, this book beckons us to imagine the world (although 'fallen') as ultimately destined for a hopeful future. By placing Revelation within its first century context, the authors offer a compelling and poetic introduction to the most misunderstood of biblical books. They invite us to proclaim the upside-down victory of the slaughtered lamb through peacefully resisting evil in all its forms, choosing perseverance rather than compromise, and living as though Jesus is actually King and Caesar is a mere imitation. I HIGHLY recommend The Good News of Revelation to anyone interested in reclaiming Revelation as a call to faithful living--not in the midst of some horrific predictable future, but RIGHT NOW!"
--Kurt Willems, Fresno Pacific, Anabaptist writer (KurtWillems.com) and church planter (PangeaCommunities.com)
"A highly readable, intriguing, and engaging commentary on one of the most mysterious books in the Bible."
--Frank Viola, author of God's Favorite Place on Earth
"Lively, instructive, and brimming with hope, The Good News of Revelation brings insight and clarity to a text that has baffled generations. Helyer and Cyzewski deliver 'aha!' moments with every turn of the page by inviting the reader to experience how Revelation would have been understood by its first readers. A refreshing and practical read, this book combines insights from the past and reflections on the future to illuminate the present. If you find the book of Revelation too intimidating to tackle on your own, start here. Helyer and Cyzewski are most friendly guides."
--Rachel Held Evans, author of A Year of Biblical Womanhood