Oxford Scholar Unpacks the Relevance of the Book of Revelation for All-Time

Fr. C. C. Martindale, S.J. St John and the Apocalypse. Manchester, NH: Sophia Institute Press, 2022. Paperback. $17.95. 160 pages. Available from the publisher.
 

Finally, here is the accessible book you need to assist you in reflecting upon the Apocalypse and its reverberations. It will help you unlock one of the greatest mysteries of history—and today.

In St. John and the Apocalypse, Fr. C.C. Martindale, S.J.—convert to Catholicism and one of the foremost Jesuit intellectuals of the 20th Century—unpacks both prophecies that were fulfilled and have yet to occur. The words of this landmark book resound in our time when so many wonder about the state of the world and future events.

Fr. Martindale explained the importance of reading Book of Revelation: “[St. John himself] promises special blessings to those who ‘read it aloud’ and listen to and keep its words. … Moreover, it has been loved at all times by Catholic saints; it can be read and re-read with passionate thrilled interest by children; and unlimited consolation and encouragement can be drawn by all from its many passages of incomparable beauty, tenderness, and sublimity.”

Originally published a hundred years ago, this classic is still the most highly regarded for the average lay person. The six chapters assist readers in understanding the prophecies and structure of the sacred text. Readers will understand the audience to whom the Book of Revelation was written as well as the cultural influences.

Significantly, Fr. Martindale breaks open the Apocalypse’s many symbols and nuances, and shows its immediate relevance for our everyday life. He further reflects upon St. John’s identity, mystical experiences, and contributions to this awe-inspiring text.

Regarding the interpretation of the text, Father reflects, “There is no limit to the sublimity of the ideas, nor, again, to the practical moral value, as for the government of life, so for the interpretation of the world’s history, which are to be derived from his inspired visions, so long as they are not approached at random and arbitrarily.”

Indeed, in these pages, Fr. Martindale will help readers discover the multiple layers of meaning to be found in the study of Scripture and in the Book of Revelation in particular. St. John’s words in the Apocalypse speak to and challenge us as much today as they did nearly twenty centuries ago. Amidst worries of doom and gloom, they also echo the heart of the Gospel, God’s desire for a loving relationship with us in this life and the life to come.

Members of the media may send an email to Sophia Institute Press’ Director of Publicity, Sarah Lemieux at slemieux@SophiaInstitute.com to receive a physical or digital copy of St. John and the Apocalypse, and/or to schedule an interview.