What do you think?
Rate this book
The Bible Speaks Today: New Testament
The Message of Revelation
What is the book of Revelation? Does it describe in veiled language events of its writer's own day, or is it largely a prophecy of events still to come? Is it a chart of the whole of history from Christ's first coming to his second? Or does it deal chiefly with principles which are always valid in Christian experience? And what is a twentieth-century reader to do with creatures covered with eyes, locusts like horses, seven bowls of wrath, war in heaven, various beasts and a dragon? Michael Wilcock maintains tha when God's words, declarations, arguments and reasonings had all been spoken, God gave the church "a gorgeous picture book." Wilcok lifts the curtain on Revelation's drama in eight scenes, helping our imaginations as well as our minds grasp the key concepts of this fascinating and enigmatic New Testament book.
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1975
34 people are currently reading
137 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
May 12, 2024
This book, I loved it. I'll have another!
I'm so happy to have discovered this series of what the general editors described as "expositions" - not commentaries and not sermons, but short explications and applications of the books of the Bible. I'm also extremely happy that the books have been revised since their original publication in the 1970s-80s, with spiffy new covers and lovely typesetting (because I'm a shallow person who cares a lot about such things). I've only read THE MESSAGE OF ZECHARIAH and this one so far, but am excited to read more: they are relatively short, divided up into bite-sized portions, and move chapter by chapter, which makes them great for reading alongside the biblical book itself.
The Revelation of John is a difficult book, and anyone who says differently is selling something. I've steered clear of end-times debates and Dispensational chronology in my life; I lean amillennial but have always approached the complex, mind-bending imagery of the Apocalypse with caution. In fact, while the opening and closing chapters of Revelation seem relatively "straightforward" to me, the middle portion has frankly been quite confusing: I was vaguely aware of the principle of repetition and patterns in John's visions but hadn't been taught or studied it enough to see them clearly. I deeply appreciated the way Wilcock lays out the Scenes and individual moments/visions/events within those Scenes. He very gently but cogently demonstrates that John isn't seeing a chronological series of events, but a series of visions that repeat, modify, and expand upon particular motifs. While it can be difficult to keep track of Wilcock's references to, say Scene 4 or Vision 5, I think this way of laying out the structure of Revelation really helps bring clarity to our reading of it.
The major aspect I've appreciated in both the series entries I've read so far has been their "big picture" look at the biblical book's message. Without getting down into too many weeds, both authors connect the dots across God's unfolding self-revelation, highlighting key reference points that had me regularly looking up other passages and making annotations in my margins. Because we so often follow "read through the Bible" guides or bounce around between different books of the Bible -- and because we have to contend with a strong theological undercurrent telling us that Old Testament and New Testament represent completely separate divine dispensations -- it is incredibly useful to have our attention drawn to the sheer wholeness of God's word. Many of these principles are ones I've been taught before, but these books have drawn out even more of the parallels, overlaps, and echoes, and they are just incredibly EXCITING because of that. THE MESSAGE OF ZECHARIAH, because it focused on an era and a book I knew little about to begin with, was eye-opening in this respect, but so was this one. I'm convinced that it helps that Wilcock's passion for the word is so evident. You can tell this book and the gospel itself excite him. I loved this line from his epilogue about the purpose of Revelation: "...Revelation is a 'pledge of his love'. We could do without it; it tells us nothing we could not learn elsewhere in Scripture.* But Jesus has given it to us as a sacrament of the imagination, to quicken the pulse and set the soul aflame over the gospel which all too often we take for granted."
*speaking to his argument that Revelation is a summing up, a crescendo, of the teaching of the rest of Scripture, not an addendum to it
I'm so happy to have discovered this series of what the general editors described as "expositions" - not commentaries and not sermons, but short explications and applications of the books of the Bible. I'm also extremely happy that the books have been revised since their original publication in the 1970s-80s, with spiffy new covers and lovely typesetting (because I'm a shallow person who cares a lot about such things). I've only read THE MESSAGE OF ZECHARIAH and this one so far, but am excited to read more: they are relatively short, divided up into bite-sized portions, and move chapter by chapter, which makes them great for reading alongside the biblical book itself.
The Revelation of John is a difficult book, and anyone who says differently is selling something. I've steered clear of end-times debates and Dispensational chronology in my life; I lean amillennial but have always approached the complex, mind-bending imagery of the Apocalypse with caution. In fact, while the opening and closing chapters of Revelation seem relatively "straightforward" to me, the middle portion has frankly been quite confusing: I was vaguely aware of the principle of repetition and patterns in John's visions but hadn't been taught or studied it enough to see them clearly. I deeply appreciated the way Wilcock lays out the Scenes and individual moments/visions/events within those Scenes. He very gently but cogently demonstrates that John isn't seeing a chronological series of events, but a series of visions that repeat, modify, and expand upon particular motifs. While it can be difficult to keep track of Wilcock's references to, say Scene 4 or Vision 5, I think this way of laying out the structure of Revelation really helps bring clarity to our reading of it.
The major aspect I've appreciated in both the series entries I've read so far has been their "big picture" look at the biblical book's message. Without getting down into too many weeds, both authors connect the dots across God's unfolding self-revelation, highlighting key reference points that had me regularly looking up other passages and making annotations in my margins. Because we so often follow "read through the Bible" guides or bounce around between different books of the Bible -- and because we have to contend with a strong theological undercurrent telling us that Old Testament and New Testament represent completely separate divine dispensations -- it is incredibly useful to have our attention drawn to the sheer wholeness of God's word. Many of these principles are ones I've been taught before, but these books have drawn out even more of the parallels, overlaps, and echoes, and they are just incredibly EXCITING because of that. THE MESSAGE OF ZECHARIAH, because it focused on an era and a book I knew little about to begin with, was eye-opening in this respect, but so was this one. I'm convinced that it helps that Wilcock's passion for the word is so evident. You can tell this book and the gospel itself excite him. I loved this line from his epilogue about the purpose of Revelation: "...Revelation is a 'pledge of his love'. We could do without it; it tells us nothing we could not learn elsewhere in Scripture.* But Jesus has given it to us as a sacrament of the imagination, to quicken the pulse and set the soul aflame over the gospel which all too often we take for granted."
*speaking to his argument that Revelation is a summing up, a crescendo, of the teaching of the rest of Scripture, not an addendum to it
March 6, 2018
My favorite commentary on Revelation. Seeing it's part of the BST series, it's readable and useable for devotions, but that's not the best attribute. Wilcock's essays at the start of each section are worth the book themselves, explaining symbolism, numbers, the unique genre of the book of Revelation and other topics. Coming from an amillenialist perspective, it is an excellent mid-level commentary and a springboard to further studies in Revelation and the end-times.
October 25, 2011
I am amillenial in my eschatology and this book does the best job of any book I have read of giving the Book of Revelation shape and substance from that perspective. Not only that but Wilcock makes a good read of it - it is soul shaped and enlivening. I have returned to this book time and again for reading and encouragement.
March 7, 2022
A wonderful companion for our study series
February 17, 2021
This was SUCH a helpful and refreshing commentary. I had always read Revelation in a state of confusion, trying to pick out helpful bits and pieces that vaguely made sense, but Michael Wilcock does an excellent job here of explaining the clear sense of the book as a "sacrament of the imagination" that restates the truths of the gospel in vivid picture "when [God's] children have had enough of reciting systematic theology." The result is a sweeping vision that calls God's people to repentance and perseverance, warns them of evil that all will experience as well as judgments that the unrepentant will face, and above all encourages them to remember that their lives are eternally secure in the Father's hands, no matter what trials they face in this life.
Wilcock also does a great job at pointing out the highly organized structure of the book and the parallels within its various sections. I'd seen some reviews that readers were confused by his organization, but as long as you go into it planning to read Revelation by his "scenes" rather than by biblical chapters, I think it makes a lot of sense.
I would highly recommend this commentary to anyone baffled by Revelation or skeptical of the weird code-cracking tactics too often used to try to decipher it. Every volume in "The Bible Speaks Today" series that I've read has done a great job at balancing depth and readability for a general audience, and this was one of the best.
Wilcock also does a great job at pointing out the highly organized structure of the book and the parallels within its various sections. I'd seen some reviews that readers were confused by his organization, but as long as you go into it planning to read Revelation by his "scenes" rather than by biblical chapters, I think it makes a lot of sense.
I would highly recommend this commentary to anyone baffled by Revelation or skeptical of the weird code-cracking tactics too often used to try to decipher it. Every volume in "The Bible Speaks Today" series that I've read has done a great job at balancing depth and readability for a general audience, and this was one of the best.
December 21, 2018
I'd like to tell you that this was yet another great book on the interpretation of Revelation, but the truth is that I had a hard time following the author's train of thought. It isn't that I disagreed with him in his explanations of the symbols in the book, but he kept jumping back and forth in the book and it was impossible for me to follow his many references without stopping and rereading the sections he was referring to. Sorry, but I just didn't have time for it, so eventually I just barged ahead only to get to the end of the book. I've read several other commentaries on Revelation in the last two years and didn't have this problem. Sorry to say I can't really recommend this book due to its confusing writing style.
January 10, 2021
I read this simultaneously with N.T. Wright’s “Revelation for Everyone” and I found it very helpful to have the two perspectives. They agreed about much but on some issues it was nice to have two opinions.
The reason I rated this as a 3 star is because Wilcock breaks Revelation down into Scenes and Visions within the scenes and then refers back to his own numbering systems rather than Chapter and verse. It can get very confusing to know what he actually referring to. What is the fourth vision of Scene 5?? I don’t want to have search through your book to find it, just tell me where it is in Revelation!
The reason I rated this as a 3 star is because Wilcock breaks Revelation down into Scenes and Visions within the scenes and then refers back to his own numbering systems rather than Chapter and verse. It can get very confusing to know what he actually referring to. What is the fourth vision of Scene 5?? I don’t want to have search through your book to find it, just tell me where it is in Revelation!
June 19, 2024
Not an "easy" read. If you want in depth, yet understandable discussions of the contents of the Book of Revelation, then this book is for you. I read it slowly, taking a small bite at a time. It opened my eyes to see much more than I expected. Excellent referral to supporting scriptures throughout.
At the end I am now confident that I have a resource that I can turn to to understand not only Revelation, but also other "difficult to understand" prophetic books such as Daniel, Isiah, etc.
At the end I am now confident that I have a resource that I can turn to to understand not only Revelation, but also other "difficult to understand" prophetic books such as Daniel, Isiah, etc.
Read
March 13, 2021An Amillenial view that makes its case well for the most part. It acknowledges tacitly that millennial and post millennial views both have their place and provide some illumination - there are areas where the millennial view applies better without venturing into Left Behind territory of dreadful nineties rapture movies . A very readable way in.
October 3, 2021
Wilcock's style of writing is lucid and elegant. It is easy to understand what he is trying to say in this book. I do not completely agree with the views of Wilcock but he makes a good read.
Wilcock sees the Book of Revelation as conveying a message not just for people in John's time but also throughout all generations.
Wilcock sees the Book of Revelation as conveying a message not just for people in John's time but also throughout all generations.
July 28, 2019
Excellent summary of Revelation. Not a commentary, nor sermons but rather in book form. He settles on the amillenial interpretation. There is a good discourse on his hermeneutic of interpretating symbols.
September 28, 2022
Great commentary on the Book of Revelation! I originally read it 22 years ago and it's held up well. (It was first published in 1975.) It really deserves 4.5 stars. His view of the Sacraments at the end, I tended to disagree with. Overall, though, highly recommended.
October 7, 2021
Best Commentary Series upon earth.
March 6, 2025
Enjoyed what I read, but had to turn it back in to library.
January 24, 2016
A personal classic for the amillenarist, idealistic reading of Revelation which I favour. Read it in translation several years ago, skimmed the original for Sunday school a few years ago, now fully read the original for domestic study. Still merited a leisurely read with full reference to all the Old Testament related texts.
Just wish IVP would reset the text. Seems like a photocopy from a badly printed original.
Just wish IVP would reset the text. Seems like a photocopy from a badly printed original.
April 2, 2019
Amazing book - very well researched, and really opened my eyes to a new approach to understanding Revelation - one which finally made sense to me, and makes sense in the context of the entire OT and NT writings as well.
And for theology - very readable, even some sly humor in parts. Highly recommended.
And for theology - very readable, even some sly humor in parts. Highly recommended.
April 12, 2017
I'm afraid this book does not deliver a great deal of explanation, though to be fair, it delivers no less than it promises. At the very least it will not make the quirks of Revelation any more confusing, and Wilcock does not indulge in any wild speculation.
December 12, 2009
So much to learn from the Book of Revelation. This was an excellent source of insight.
December 23, 2009
Some good points. Interesting proposal for a "dramatic" structuring of Revelation.
September 25, 2015
One of the best in the series.
May 3, 2016
Great companion to the study of the Bibles' final book, Revelation. It helped me understand and interpret much of Revelation's contents.
October 12, 2016
Good introductory commentary for people who want to take their studies of the book of Revelations seriously.
January 15, 2017
I learned a lot and I believe this book has the best insight into what Revelation is intended to be.
September 25, 2015
A ler e reler. De abrir os olhos. Explica porque o livro é chamado ‘Revelação’, e não ‘Confusão’…
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews