Signs of the Times: The Matrix of Meanings in Revelation 2 – 3 is an exegetical study of the local references in chapters two and three of the Book of Revelation. The book presents that the revelations and messages to the seven churches of Asia Minor by John are essentially contextual and specifically local; meaningful only for the Christians of the first-century A.D. located in these seven churches. Any future expectations in the Book of Revelation are imminently relevant for these seven churches as their prevailing historical conditions predispose. The underlying postulation is that, John, through a revelation of Jesus Christ, was exposing the signs of the times in these seven churches that were either plaguing or needing redressal of the situations they were in during the late first-century A.D. in Asia Minor.

Contents

Preface
List of Abbreviations
Introduction

Chapter 1: Seven Churches: Neither Symbolic Nor Universal

Chapter 2: Contexts: Historical and Literary

Chapter 3: Ephesus: The Tree of Life

Chapter 4: Smyrna: The Crown of Life

Chapter 5: Pergamum: The Throne of Satan

Chapter 6: Thyatira: Feet of Burnished Bronze

Chapter 7: Sardis: Alive But Dead

Chapter 8: Philadelphia: Pillar in the Temple of God

Chapter 9: Laodicea: Neither Hot Nor Cold

Chapter 10: Conclusion

Bibliography

James Kalong is Professor of New Testament Interpretation at Oriental Theological Seminary, Bade, Nagaland. His other books are Table Talks of Jesus: Didactics of Reversals in the Gospel of Luke and The Year of the Lord’s Favor: Eclectic Musings and Essays on Contemporary, Biblical, and Theological Themes