Here’s an  opportunity.  Interested in reading the draft of my book on the Apocalypse of John (tentatively titled: Expecting Armageddon)?   I’m giving people the chance to do it as a fundraising effort for the blog.

As most of you probably know, I’m now finishing up the book.  I’ve been working on it for about three years and as of yesterday have all the chapters drafted.   The first half of the book deals with how the book of Revelation is typically read.  Most people don’t read it, of course: too weird or scary!  Those who do read it almost always suppose that it is talking about what will happen soon in our own future.  I will be arguing that this view is absolutely wrong and sometimes (literally) disastrous.

The second half of the book will be dealing with what Revelation actually does reveal (if not our future).  It has a distinctive image of God, of humans, and of the world that many people find disturbing, and it’s easy to see why.  In particular I will be pursuing the question of whether the views put forth in the book are compatible with the teachings of Jesus.  It’s an interesting question; and important.  If the views of John of Patmos run contrary to the views of Jesus of Nazareth, why did the book make it into the New Testament?

I’m doing the final edits now before showing it to anyone.   In a couple of weeks I will be sending it out to several scholars for comments — some experts on the New Testament in general and others on the book of Revelation in particular.  But since it is a book written for a broad audience, not scholars, I would like members of the human race at large to read it as well, to let me know what they think.  Wanna be one of them?

My idea is to use this as an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone: get a few people to read it and to use the opportunity to raise some extra funds for the blog.

So here’s the (possible) deal.   I will give anyone who is willing to donate $1000 to the blog the opportunity to read my draft of the book and make comments on it.  I will then consider the comments as I make further revisions, prior to submitting the book to my publisher.  (I did this with my last book if you recall; and I found it extremely useful.)   If you do this, I will acknowledge you by name in the Acknowledgements in the book.

This is a win-win-win situation, if you have the funds to make it possible.  You get to see the book before it goes into production; I get the benefits of your insights; and most important, we raise more money for the charities that the blog supports.  No one loses!

I know it’s a lot of dosh and most of you can’t do it, even if you want.  BUT, never fear: the book will be published in a year or so and I can assure you the published copy will not cost a cool grand.

But suppose you are interested.  I would get the book to you electronically in a couple of weeks.  All it would take would be a donation on your part in advance.

Everyone who wants to give it a go, let me know, not here by way of a comment on the blog, but in a personal email, to [email protected].