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God's Final Word: Understanding Revelation
Ray Stedman guides you on a verse-by-verse exploration of the book of Revelation, bringing to life the mysteries of this highly symbolic book of the Bible.
God's Final Word encompasses and brings into brilliant focus the entire scope of human history—of eternity itself.
* As thorough as any commentary, but reads like a story
* Bible passages included in the text
* Personal illustrations help explain difficult concepts
* Full of interesting anecdotes
God's Final Word encompasses and brings into brilliant focus the entire scope of human history—of eternity itself.
* As thorough as any commentary, but reads like a story
* Bible passages included in the text
* Personal illustrations help explain difficult concepts
* Full of interesting anecdotes
492 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1991
45 people are currently reading
90 people want to read
About the author
Ray C. Stedman
154 books34 followersRaymond Charles Stedman was an evangelical Christian pastor and author. He was a long-time pastor of Peninsula Bible Church in Palo Alto, California, and author of several books.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 31, 2013
5 Stars
Revelation is a book in the Bible that is often misunderstood and or ignored. A casual reader of the Bible will read through the book, not stopping to try and understand it. It's treated as if it's something to be feared, rather than studied and embraced.
Ray C. Stedman explains Revelation in terms that are easy to understand.
Some of these topics are:
The letters to the seven churches.
The various horsemen.
Angels and other created beings.
God's judgment.
The meaning behind the symbols.
The seals that are opened.
God's Word that stands alone.
The Holy City.
After reading God's Final Word, Understanding Revelation, there are two things that stand out to me.
Revelation is a book of hope. I live in a world that is steadily becoming more violent. People are eager to find a way to protect human life, albeit with other innocent life they call that (a choice). It's a mixed-up world, and I feel as if I don't belong in this world. That feeling of not feeling as if I don't belong here is because I don't, I'm a child of God, and someday he will call me to my true home, which is with Him in heaven. Revelation is a book of hope, because at some point God will say enough. Enough of the selfishness, greed, hatred, strife, war, murder, arguments, pride, arrogance, vengeance, and apathy, that has continued to morph and fester until it's hard to imagine it could get any worse. Revelation gives me hope that someday all these things will pass away, they "will grow strangely dim", and will be forgotten by us.
Revelation is a book of judgment. Ray C. Stedman calls our age, an age of grace. "God's dealings with mankind enter a new phase. At the end of human history God at last turns from grace to judgment." page 128. Throughout the Bible we are shown God's grace, especially in the New Testament. But there will come a time when God will "turn from grace to judgment." For those who are unbeliever's this judgment will fall on them and crush them, for those who've accepted by faith Jesus as God's Son and believe in His Gospel message, they will be saved. Talking about God's judgment is not something people take kindly to. Human nature is rebellious and defiant. People want to be the master of their own life. There will come a time when all mouths will cease spewing out what they will or will not do, and our Holy God will say "enough".
Thank you to Discovery House Publishers and Ray C. Stedman for my free review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Revelation is a book in the Bible that is often misunderstood and or ignored. A casual reader of the Bible will read through the book, not stopping to try and understand it. It's treated as if it's something to be feared, rather than studied and embraced.
Ray C. Stedman explains Revelation in terms that are easy to understand.
Some of these topics are:
The letters to the seven churches.
The various horsemen.
Angels and other created beings.
God's judgment.
The meaning behind the symbols.
The seals that are opened.
God's Word that stands alone.
The Holy City.
After reading God's Final Word, Understanding Revelation, there are two things that stand out to me.
Revelation is a book of hope. I live in a world that is steadily becoming more violent. People are eager to find a way to protect human life, albeit with other innocent life they call that (a choice). It's a mixed-up world, and I feel as if I don't belong in this world. That feeling of not feeling as if I don't belong here is because I don't, I'm a child of God, and someday he will call me to my true home, which is with Him in heaven. Revelation is a book of hope, because at some point God will say enough. Enough of the selfishness, greed, hatred, strife, war, murder, arguments, pride, arrogance, vengeance, and apathy, that has continued to morph and fester until it's hard to imagine it could get any worse. Revelation gives me hope that someday all these things will pass away, they "will grow strangely dim", and will be forgotten by us.
Revelation is a book of judgment. Ray C. Stedman calls our age, an age of grace. "God's dealings with mankind enter a new phase. At the end of human history God at last turns from grace to judgment." page 128. Throughout the Bible we are shown God's grace, especially in the New Testament. But there will come a time when God will "turn from grace to judgment." For those who are unbeliever's this judgment will fall on them and crush them, for those who've accepted by faith Jesus as God's Son and believe in His Gospel message, they will be saved. Talking about God's judgment is not something people take kindly to. Human nature is rebellious and defiant. People want to be the master of their own life. There will come a time when all mouths will cease spewing out what they will or will not do, and our Holy God will say "enough".
Thank you to Discovery House Publishers and Ray C. Stedman for my free review copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 6, 2023
I had never read through the entire book of Revelation and found it so intimidating. This year, I did. It’s frightening but also hopeful for those who believe. Ray Stedman made walking through this book much easier than I expected. His stories and parallels helped me understand as far as we humans can. When I thought, wow! Is this meant to be a realistic visual or figurative? He asked and answered based on his perspective.
Some things we simply have to accept as a mystery of God. And believe with childlike faith thst one day the full circle will be completed and we will be in eternity with our creator. Revelation amplifies that over and over again. I highly recommend Revelation and doing it with Ray Stedman.
Some things we simply have to accept as a mystery of God. And believe with childlike faith thst one day the full circle will be completed and we will be in eternity with our creator. Revelation amplifies that over and over again. I highly recommend Revelation and doing it with Ray Stedman.
March 20, 2025
A commentary on Revelation unlike any commentary I have ever read for any book of the Bible. If you want to know what will happen at the end of the world and who wins (hint: God) then you should read this book. Your time will not be wasted.
April 8, 2020
I quit reading it in the middle. There was good material, and Sherman is a good writer, but there was enough poor material to make it not worth continuing.
August 9, 2025
Overall, a good but brief commentary. Stedman leaves out much needed commentary for the more mature believer and instead offers anecdotes where critical commentary should be. Great for for new believers. There are some outdated sections in the book, hence someone should revise it.
Additionally, Stedman appears dogmatic in his eschatology which I disagree with. Mr. Stedman was a diehard dispensational premillennialist. He often misinterprets symbolisms. A better commentary would be Greg Beale's "Revelation, A Shorter Commentary" This is an extensive commentary covering the entirety of the Book of Revelation. It is profound and enlightening as well.
Additionally, Stedman appears dogmatic in his eschatology which I disagree with. Mr. Stedman was a diehard dispensational premillennialist. He often misinterprets symbolisms. A better commentary would be Greg Beale's "Revelation, A Shorter Commentary" This is an extensive commentary covering the entirety of the Book of Revelation. It is profound and enlightening as well.
May 15, 2012
Make this one of your books you read in helping you grasp the Book of Revelation.
December 17, 2012
This writer seems to understand Revelations very well. There is little doubt with interpretation. That is a weak point. Be careful how to interpret.
March 26, 2013
Thought it was a very good and detailed study of Revelations. Takes it verse by verse.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews