by Stephen Cox

About the author: Stephen Cox is a senior editor of Liberty, a monthly libertarian review of thought, culture, and politics.

At the climax of the last book of the Bible, the book of Revelation, St. John presents his vision of the end of history:

And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men . . . and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away.

For two thousand years, this vision has inspired the devout and amused the...