Often, the book of Revelation is appropriated for speculative, future-oriented, otherworldly purposes, closely aligned with reactionary politics (see the Left Behind books). Here is a paper arguing that instead Revelation is best read in solidly this-worldly, socially-radical terms. This paper, “Social Criticism in the Book of Revelation,” shows that Revelation is centrally concerned with a sharp critique of the power politics of the Roman Empire–and even more with the social alternative meant to be embodied by communities committed to following Jesus.