Current Research

Modern biblical criticism emerges in the crucible of Reformation and Counter-Reformation interpretations of the Book of Revelation. After the Edict of Milan, medieval and pre-modern scholars interpreted Revelation with regard to the events of their day and of church history. The Counter-Reformation Jesuit scholars Francisco Ribera and Luis Alcazar—responding to the anti-papal interpretations of Revelation advanced by the Reformers—have been justly seen as the advent of historical criticism precisely because they recovered Revelation’s anti-Roman symbols and connected them to Roman persecution at the hands of Nero and Domitian.

My current research focuses on how the Revelation of John depicts God and Christ as imperial figures using images from pro-Roman propaganda. Just as Rome ruled through world and protected its citizens from enemies and chaos, God controls the cosmos and defeats the celestial and terrestrial powers. Revelation depicts a God who sends his Christ to conquer, bringing to heel the Dragon and his demonic minions and to heal the people of God.