Argues that Jesus, like many of his later followers, proclaimed that God was soon to intervene in human affairs and bring all of history to a screeching halt. Through a careful evaluation of the New Testament Gospels and other sources, the author shows why Jesus should be understood as an apocalyptic prophet. preface ix the end of history as we know it 3(18) who was jesus? why it's so hard to know 21(20) how did the gospels get to be this way? 41(14) looking about a bit: non-christian sources for the historical jesus 55(10) looking about a bit more: other christian sources for the historical jesus 65(20) moving on to the past: how can we reconstruct the life of jesus? 85(18) finding a fit: jesus in context 103(22) jesus the apocalyptic prophet 125(16) the apocalyptic teachings of jesus 141(22) a place for everything: jesus' other teachings in their apocalyptic context 163(20) not in word only: the associates, deeds, and controversies of jesus in apocalyptic context 183(24) the last days of jesus 207(20) from apocalyptic prophet to lord of all: the afterlife of jesus 227(12) jesus as the prophet of the new millennium: then and now 239(8) notes 247(8) bibliography 255(4) index of subjects 259(6) index of passages 265(8) index of modern authors 273