We’ve reflected on the idea of apocalypse and the mysterious glimpses of heaven we get in parts of the book of Revelation before. But what on earth are we to make of the darker, lurid, confusing chapters which talk about a beast with horns and blasphemies coming out of the sea, goaded on by a dragon, which later becomes a blood-drunk prostitute? In this episode we consider what vision John of Patmos and the early church had of the Roman Empire and earthly government in general, and what influence Revelation has had on how Christians have engaged (or refused to engage) with the state over the centuries.

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Released on 11 Nov 2026