Reading John’s book of Revelation is a fantastic voyage to the center of our Christian faith. For many people today John’s book is scary and provokes fear, but this Catechist’s Guide to Reading the Book of Revelation shows that for John’s first-century audience the visions he describes did not instill fear but confidence in God’s powerful presence to transform our world into a new creation.

This book is really meant to be an aid to your own reading of John’s book of Revelation and so focuses on the basic things that any reader needs to know to read it intelligently and with profit. Revelation’s form, content and function (once properly understood in the way John intended) can still help us to discover who we are as Christians today and how we can share with God in the challenge of eradicating evil from the systems and structures of our society–not to mention our own lives.

As John envisions Christ’s presence in our world for judgment and salvation, his reassuring visions reveal a brand new world that will turn our present world completely upside down. His visions describe the core theological truth that God is the real ruler of the universe, eternally present through Christ and now establishing a world that will contain no more evil.

Steve Mueller, PhD, author of the five books in The Catechist’s Guide Reading Series published by Faith Alive Books (FaithAliveBooks.com), has taught Philosophy, Theology, Scripture and Catholic Studies. He helped develop and taught for many years in the renowned Denver Catholic Biblical School for adult scripture study and was formerly the editor-in-chief of the monthly periodical for Eucharistic spirituality Living with Christ and a managing editor for Morehouse Education Resources for lectionary-based catechesis and sacramental preparation. He is the current editor for Words of Grace: Daily Reflections & Prayers for Catholics for All Saints Press (www.AllSaintsPress.com).