While commentaries continue to be published on the book of Revelation, few, if any, attempt to interpret the Apocalypse in light of the political, historical, and cultural setting of John's original audience. The purpose of Seven Congregations in a Roman Crucible is to provide fresh and illuminating exegesis of Revelation that takes seriously ancient literary and archaeological evidences. This book seeks to bring the reader into the world of John's Apocalypse with pictures of numerous sites and artifacts from the first and early second centuries AD. Moreover, the book also attempts to interpret John and his message through the lens of the Jewish prophetic tradition of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Ezekiel, and other pertinent Second Temple works. Thus John stands in the prophetic heritage of Israel in his attempt to challenge, threaten, admonish, and praise the seven churches of Roman Asia whose members are suffering at the hands of the idolatrous Graeco-Roman culture in which they reside. ""Richard Oster is one of the few scholars capable of competently interpreting Revelation within its historical setting. Oster's comments are judiciously based on his thorough knowledge of John's Old Testament heritage and his astounding grasp of relevant Graeco-Roman and Jewish backgrounds, including not only literary sources, but also material remains (nonliterary papyri, inscriptions, coins, temples, monuments, etc.)."" --Allen Black, Professor of New Testament, Harding School of Theology ""This commentary will be a valuable resource for specialists and non-specialists alike. Its accessible style commends it to a wide audience, and the evidence from primary sources makes the book a valuable addition to the scholar's library. The abundant evidence from archaeological artifacts in Asia Minor illuminates the setting of the ancient readers in a way that is without parallel among commentaries on Revelation."" --James W. Thompson, Professor of New Testament, Abilene Christian University Richard Oster (PhD, Princeton Theological Seminary) is Professor of New Testament at Harding School of Theology. He has written a commentary on 1 Corinthians and participated in a commentary on the Acts of the Apostles.