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The History of the Future

The History of the Future: Episode 3: The Book of Revelation

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Episode 3: The Book of Revelation

The Book of Revelation

BBC Radio 4 Extra - The History of the Future, The Book of Revelation

Juliet Gardiner on the apocalyptic visions of Divine judgement in the Book of Revelation.

Juliet Gardiner looks at the apocalyptic visions of Divine judgement in the Book of Revelation. History of the attempts by different cultures to predict the future. From Sep 2012.

Juliet Gardiner continues her look back into the History of the Future with the apocalyptic visions of Divine Judgement in the Book of Revelation. 

There is some dispute about its authorship but it is generally believed that the Revelations of Jesus Christ were communicated to a mystic, John, while in exile on the island of Patmos off the coast of Turkey. John wrote them down around AD 95 and some interpret the Book of Revelation as unveiling events that will take place in the future, when Satan will be cast out and the Second Coming will bring about paradise on earth, others see it as an allegory of the struggle between good and evil. 

Juliet views the Douse Manuscript, a dazzling 15th century illuminated Book of Revelation from a period when there was a flowering of interest in this vision of future, with its images of beasts, fires and plagues. Why did the Book's predictions become so pertinent at this particular time? Was this connected to anxieties and political aspirations of the Crusades? Juliet speaks to Professor of Early Modern ideas, Justin Champion.



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Series looking at how cultures of the past viewed the possibilities of the future

Juliet Gardiner looks at how cultures of the past viewed the possibilities of the future, and what these visions say about the pre-occupations of the time

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