Amid the fervor of popular apocalyptic "end-time" speculation, David deSilva invites readers to encounter Revelation as a word written to seven real congregations living under the shadow of the Roman empire. He shows how John "lifts the veil" from the public story by which Rome promotes the legitimacy and benefits of its rule, calling his readers to withdraw from participating in the systems that perpetuate exploitation, violent suppression of the truth, and lies about the nature of human empire. John is seen to invite his seven congregations, and, through them, us, to discover a radical obedience to the One true God and that God's vision for authentic and life-giving human community. Chapter 1. Debunking Popular Myths about Revelation Chapter 2. Divine Emperor, Eternal The Public Story About Roman Imperialism Chapter 3. The True Center and the Unholy John's Biblical Critique of the Public Story Chapter 4. Looking at the Immediate in Light of the The Seven Oracles to the Churches of Asia Chapter 5. John's Proclamation of the One Who Is, Who Was, and Is Coming