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Revelation
The book of Revelation has long fascinated and even confused readers and students of the Bible. Yet the Bible is written to be understood, and Revelation is no exception. Who better to help you understand the seals, trumpets, vials, woes, and plagues than John F. Walvoord, one of evangelicalism's most prominent leaders, and Mark Hitchcock, today's leading Bible prophecy expert?
In this first in a renewed series of commentaries from Dr. Walvoord, he points out that much of the book's symbolism can be interpreted literally. At key points, different views and approaches to interpretation are explored. Walvoord devotes special attention to textual and doctrinal issues while avoiding technical language.
Refined, updated with the English Standard Version (ESV), and streamlined, this classic text is set to help you interpret the last book of the Bible and gain a better grasp of current trends and the climax of history!
In this first in a renewed series of commentaries from Dr. Walvoord, he points out that much of the book's symbolism can be interpreted literally. At key points, different views and approaches to interpretation are explored. Walvoord devotes special attention to textual and doctrinal issues while avoiding technical language.
Refined, updated with the English Standard Version (ESV), and streamlined, this classic text is set to help you interpret the last book of the Bible and gain a better grasp of current trends and the climax of history!
- GenresChristian
396 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 29, 2011
147 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 21, 2021
Very good! Revelation can be difficult to understand and its great to have someone take a biblical perspective in explaining it. There are so many liberal theologians who distort biblical meaning. Understanding literal vs figurative can be difficult. I am no expert on Revelation but do feel that this book has furthered my understanding. Recommended.
April 15, 2022
Overall I think that this is a really good commentary on the book of Revelation. Walvoord, like myself, holds to the futurist interpretation. The two things that I most like about this book are (1 the way that Walvoord explains the different interpretations at different points in Revelation, and (2 it’s readability. Although Walvoord stays pretty close to the text, this commentary reads more like a novel. I also found it rather touching that this book was published posthumously by Wavoord’s son as a dying wish from his father. An overall good read.
January 28, 2024
Clarity and Insight
I highly recommend this commentary on the book of Revelation. It takes a pretribulational premillennial perspective. The comments are brief and easy to understand (i.e. clear). Also they are often very insightful. For example, the comments on Rev. 6:7-8 contain the following paragraph…
“By any standard of comparison this is an awesome judgment. If one-fourth of the world’s population is destroyed in the fourth seal, it would be the greatest destruction of human life ever recorded. The population of the human race in Noah’s day undoubtedly was far less than the figure here cited as dying. If such a judgment would fall upon a world population of approximately six billion people, it would mean the deaths of 1,500,000,000 people. It should be clear from this description that the divine judgments being meted out to the earth are not trivial in character but describe a period of world history awful beyond any words, a period without precedent in its character and extent. “
This insightful comment makes it very clear there is no positive future for the earth as we know it today. The comment above is just one leading to the following insightful conclusion…
“From this introduction to the judgments portrayed in Revelation, it should be evident that the world is facing a time of trouble never known before. The dream of the optimist for a world becoming increasingly better scientifically, intellectually, morally, and religiously does not fit the pattern of God’s prophetic Word. The ultimate triumph of God is assured, and as Revelation makes plain, Christ will reign over the earth and bring in a kingdom of peace and righteousness after the time of trouble has run its course. First, however, there must be the awful time of the great tribulation.”
This insight, if taken seriously, should help one prioritize the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ over any other pursuits as those pursuits are destined to ultimately go nowhere whereas the gospel is used to prepare a people for a future that will last forever.
I highly recommend this commentary on the book of Revelation. It takes a pretribulational premillennial perspective. The comments are brief and easy to understand (i.e. clear). Also they are often very insightful. For example, the comments on Rev. 6:7-8 contain the following paragraph…
“By any standard of comparison this is an awesome judgment. If one-fourth of the world’s population is destroyed in the fourth seal, it would be the greatest destruction of human life ever recorded. The population of the human race in Noah’s day undoubtedly was far less than the figure here cited as dying. If such a judgment would fall upon a world population of approximately six billion people, it would mean the deaths of 1,500,000,000 people. It should be clear from this description that the divine judgments being meted out to the earth are not trivial in character but describe a period of world history awful beyond any words, a period without precedent in its character and extent. “
This insightful comment makes it very clear there is no positive future for the earth as we know it today. The comment above is just one leading to the following insightful conclusion…
“From this introduction to the judgments portrayed in Revelation, it should be evident that the world is facing a time of trouble never known before. The dream of the optimist for a world becoming increasingly better scientifically, intellectually, morally, and religiously does not fit the pattern of God’s prophetic Word. The ultimate triumph of God is assured, and as Revelation makes plain, Christ will reign over the earth and bring in a kingdom of peace and righteousness after the time of trouble has run its course. First, however, there must be the awful time of the great tribulation.”
This insight, if taken seriously, should help one prioritize the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ over any other pursuits as those pursuits are destined to ultimately go nowhere whereas the gospel is used to prepare a people for a future that will last forever.
June 24, 2024
Good but would you be great if it followed the Hebrew manuscript
The book is a good verse by verse explanation of the book of Revelation. I would have given it five stars if it had followed the Hebrew manuscript instead of the Greek manuscript as a source of its translation. The Greek version runs into problems such as the tree of Life having a split trunk through which the river of life flows. The Hebrew manuscript avoids this problem. Likewise, identifying Yeshua as the morning star runs into the problem that Lucifer also appears in the Bible to be identified as the morning star. There are videos on the internet that explain these problems and that the author could easily access. Those problems, caused by use of the Greek manuscript, take away from the excellent scholarship that the author brings to bear on this wonderful topic.
The book is a good verse by verse explanation of the book of Revelation. I would have given it five stars if it had followed the Hebrew manuscript instead of the Greek manuscript as a source of its translation. The Greek version runs into problems such as the tree of Life having a split trunk through which the river of life flows. The Hebrew manuscript avoids this problem. Likewise, identifying Yeshua as the morning star runs into the problem that Lucifer also appears in the Bible to be identified as the morning star. There are videos on the internet that explain these problems and that the author could easily access. Those problems, caused by use of the Greek manuscript, take away from the excellent scholarship that the author brings to bear on this wonderful topic.
October 17, 2021
Revelation of Jesus
A good commentary explaining, with Scripture, the pre-tribulation, premillenialist view of the end times while explaining some of the different interpretations and viewpoints that many Bible-believing Christians hold.
"God blesses the one who reads the words of this prophecy to the church, and he blesses all who listen to its message and obey what it says, for the time is near." ~ Revelation 1:3 (NLT)
"The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come.' Let anyone who hears this say, 'Come.' Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life." ~ Revelation 22:17 (NLT)
A good commentary explaining, with Scripture, the pre-tribulation, premillenialist view of the end times while explaining some of the different interpretations and viewpoints that many Bible-believing Christians hold.
"God blesses the one who reads the words of this prophecy to the church, and he blesses all who listen to its message and obey what it says, for the time is near." ~ Revelation 1:3 (NLT)
"The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come.' Let anyone who hears this say, 'Come.' Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life." ~ Revelation 22:17 (NLT)
May 18, 2020
Verse by verse exposition
Thorough, written for the laity, exhaustive footnotes and is never dogmatic about difficult passages. He simply discuses the differing views and then explains his reasoning for his position. Great read.
Thorough, written for the laity, exhaustive footnotes and is never dogmatic about difficult passages. He simply discuses the differing views and then explains his reasoning for his position. Great read.
March 20, 2017
This a great book by a classic authority on the Book of Revelation. It has been updated by Mark Hitchcock. I would have given it 5 stars, but in the effort to present all of the alternatives for interpretation in such a brief amount of space, statements are made without sufficient backing. That being said, I agree with the positions taken. It is a great resource for understanding this often misunderstood book.
August 14, 2018
Excellent study on the Book of Revelation
A comfort and hope to the Christian. A dire warning to those who refuse Christ. Time is short. Come Lord Jesus!
A comfort and hope to the Christian. A dire warning to those who refuse Christ. Time is short. Come Lord Jesus!
September 1, 2020
Without a doubt, the most helpful exposition of Revelation that I have ever encountered. Highly recommend.
August 30, 2024
A must-read!
January 27, 2017
What an amazing book. This commentary goes into great depth on what might be the most difficult to interpret books of the Bible, Revelation. I read this for the free online course Dallas Theological Seminary is offering on the book. This book really illuminated the text and helped me to understand some of the more difficult parts of this Apocalyptic book of Scripture. It's not the world's easiest read but it is quite accessible and really helped me, especially in some of the tougher points of Revelation from a solid biblical point of view. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
December 19, 2020
This was used to enhance research for a study in Revelation.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews