With increasing interest in apocalyptic themes in light of recent events, Rolf Svanoe has written The Beast in the Pulpit with a goal of “providing a resource for preachers to engage the latest research and insights into Revelation.” Because this book of the Bible is often misread and misrepresented in media, it is essential that Christians are able to explore the true intent and story within John’s writing of Revelation.
“The preacher’s task is to discern the main thought or point and then teach it in a way that people can apply to their lives.” In order to accomplish this in the book of Revelation, Svanoe has performed a close reading of each chapter throughout his book, helping readers to understand what these phrases meant when they were written, and what they mean for modern readers.
In his final chapters, Svanoe has structured a dramatic reading of Revelation, allowing for up to four actors to portray the events in front of a congregation for ease of comprehension. This book is written for all of God’s children, to help clarify this daunting book at the end of the Bible. Whether you have read Revelation over and over or never at all, you are sure to learn something from The Beast in the Pulpit.
See what others are saying about The Beast in the Pulpit, The Lamb in Our Hearts by Rolf D. Svanoe:
“Svanoe demonstrates how to preach this book without treating it like an end-time calendar...”
The book of Revelation contains a message of hope urgently needed today. But how does a pastor preach this book responsibly? Pastor Rolf Svanoe shows us the way. Drawing on the latest insights from several scholars, Svanoe demonstrates how to preach this book without treating it like an end-time calendar. The book of Revelation is primarily resistance literature to an idolatrous Empire. The Beast in the Pulpit: The Lamb in Our Hearts invites preachers to speak truth to power today and engage in faithful witness for God’s coming reign of justice and peace. As our world faces many challenges, the book of Revelation is just what we need to engage the imagination and inspire hope.
Barb Rossing
Professor of New Testament, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
Author of The Rapture Exposed: The Message of Hope in the Book of Revelation. (2005)
“...offers it in a relatable way for preachers’ use in parish ministry...”
Main-stream movies, genre-jumping literature, and the cultural vernacular are quite familiar with the book of Revelation: for example, most anyone, Christian or no, knows that 666 is the purported mark of the beast. Arguably, in fact, it’s the secular world, not the church, which has most comfortably adapted the book of Revelation into its every-day consciousness. Rev. Dr. Rolf Svanoe has noticed, however, that all too often “culture” has maladapted and misconstrued the intent of the book, and that the church is at best ambivalent about acknowledging and stewarding its own sacred text. In The Beast in the Pulpit, Svanoe surveys an array of biblical scholars to plumb their knowledge and offer it in a relatable way for preachers’ use in parish ministry. He also provides ways in which this oft-overlooked book can be incorporated into the liturgical year, as well as several samples of his own sermons, thereby demonstrating to laity and rostered leaders yet today that the Apocalypse of John offers meaning, relevance, and hope.
Rev. Dr. Anna Madsen
ELCA Pastor, Public Theologian at OMG: Center for Theological Conversation and the Spent Dandelion Theological Retreat Center
Author of I Can Do No Other: The Church’s New Here We Stand Moment (2019)
“...carefully and faithfully lays out how to read, understand, and proclaim Revelation.”
The Beast in the Pulpit, The Lamb in Our Hearts is a marvelous resource for congregational ministry! Too often congregations want to explore Revelation and the pastor doesn’t feel prepared for the task. Pastor Svanoe has provided a well-researched and well-written resource for bridging this gap. He carefully and faithfully lays out how to read, understand, and proclaim Revelation. This is a much-needed resource for congregational worship, preaching, and study.
Rev. Dr. Mark Braaten
Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Tyler, TX
Author of Come, Lord Jesus: A Study of Revelation (2018)
“...invites readers to discern new ways in which Revelation can speak meaningfully in new and changing contexts”
The book of Revelation often seems daunting for preaching, yet it has a compelling message of hope that needs to be heard. Drawing on pastoral wisdom and experience, Rolf Svanoe has created a resource that identifies the challenges and the opportunities that Revelation presents for preaching. Using actual sermons as examples, he invites readers to discern new ways in which Revelation can speak meaningfully in new and changing contexts.
Craig Koester
Asher O. & Carrie Nasby Professor of New Testament, Luther Seminary
Author of Revelation and the End of All Things (2018, 2nd ed.)
Rolf D. Svanoe is a recently retired ELCA pastor living in Decorah, Iowa. During his thirty-six years of ministry, he served congregations in Wisconsin, South Dakota and Minnesota. A graduate of Augustana University and Luther Seminary, he earned his Doctor of Ministry degree in 2008 from Luther Seminary with an emphasis in Biblical Preaching.
