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Revelation for Normal People: A Guide to the Strangest and Most Dangerous Book in the Bible
- GenresNonfictionChristianity
142 pages, Paperback
Published November 24, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 24, 2023
Revelation for Normal People absolutely delivers on its title. In my experience, this is easily the most accessible, easy to follow introduction to a scripture that is notoriously neither accessible nor easy to follow.
I’m not a Revelation neophyte, having read a shelf full of books about it and several excellent study Bibles, and I would wager I know my way around the text as well as any other interested layperson. But the way Whitaker organizes this book has given me a roadmap to impose on the fever-dream chaos of Revelation, more than any other commentary I’ve seen was able to. She divides the sections of the text into comprehensible movements, and effortlessly pulls apart the tangled web of allusions and references without getting waist-deep in an impenetrable bog of Old Testament citations.
Whitaker debunks some of the most off-kilter and dangerous interpretations of Revelation that have sprung up in the last hundred years or so, while also offering some keen insights to replace them. “Revelation is a highly political, but also deeply theological, text,” she writes. “It offers us a profound way to think about evil as something found in structures and systems, and to ponder what an ethical response to such evil might be.” She clears away the mythmaking and misreadings that have cluttered up the popular imagination of this work, and makes it feel relevant again by (ironically) going back to its original context, and the meaning it would have had to its first listeners.
This book is a brief and engaging read, while still managing to cover all of the relevant themes and messages of this apocalyptic work. It feels thorough without being exhausting, and deeply researched without reading like a work of research itself. It’s definitely the book I’ll recommend to any future person I encounter who is baffled and perplexed by Revelation, and I look forward to revisiting it again myself in the future.
I’m not a Revelation neophyte, having read a shelf full of books about it and several excellent study Bibles, and I would wager I know my way around the text as well as any other interested layperson. But the way Whitaker organizes this book has given me a roadmap to impose on the fever-dream chaos of Revelation, more than any other commentary I’ve seen was able to. She divides the sections of the text into comprehensible movements, and effortlessly pulls apart the tangled web of allusions and references without getting waist-deep in an impenetrable bog of Old Testament citations.
Whitaker debunks some of the most off-kilter and dangerous interpretations of Revelation that have sprung up in the last hundred years or so, while also offering some keen insights to replace them. “Revelation is a highly political, but also deeply theological, text,” she writes. “It offers us a profound way to think about evil as something found in structures and systems, and to ponder what an ethical response to such evil might be.” She clears away the mythmaking and misreadings that have cluttered up the popular imagination of this work, and makes it feel relevant again by (ironically) going back to its original context, and the meaning it would have had to its first listeners.
This book is a brief and engaging read, while still managing to cover all of the relevant themes and messages of this apocalyptic work. It feels thorough without being exhausting, and deeply researched without reading like a work of research itself. It’s definitely the book I’ll recommend to any future person I encounter who is baffled and perplexed by Revelation, and I look forward to revisiting it again myself in the future.
February 10, 2025
Excellent, But Stick to the Message
Revelation is perhaps the most mysterious, even confounding, book in the Bible. It is rife with fantastic imagery, disturbing visions, and enigmatic messages. With all its perplexity it is little wonder that Revelation has been interpreted from many, many perspectives. No single interpretation prevails. Revelation defies consensus. But, as God’s final Word to believers, it has crucial importance and its message demands attention.
Robyn Whitaker, New Testament scholar and ordained minister, has written an excellent commentary from mostly the historical school of thought that sees Revelation as addressed principally to a First Century audience undergoing a period of persecution and rejection. That is not to say that historicists believe Revelation is ONLY about the condition and experience of First Century Christians, but rather that the images, visions, symbols and prophecies are best explained in that context. Whitaker, on “Revelation for Normal People” offers outstanding and persuasive exposition from that perspective. It is highly recommended, but the serious student must recognize that there are other interpretations, and pursuit of an understanding of Revelation is an unending, but also rewarding, quest.
In an otherwise excellent exegesis of Revelation, however, Whitaker resorts on a few occasions to unnecessary and unhelpful eisegesis, revealing her progressive Christianity bent. There is utterly no benefit from departing from impartial, scholarly analysis to interject progressive opinions about homosexuality and Sodom and Gomorrah, feminism and Revelation’s “great whore/prostitute” (Babylon, as pseudonym for Rome), concerns for Twenty-First Century sex workers, or “patriarchal stereotypes regarding women’s sexuality and purity.” Now these unnecessary departures are not overwhelming, but Whitaker would be advised to stick to the message and avoid progressive tangents. Greater discussion of the Tribulation and Millennium would be beneficial, as well as the arguments against Whitaker’s apparent annihilationist understanding of Hell. Despite these criticisms, “Revelation for Normal People” is excellent, but keep in mind that it is one perspective on a subject that has generated many interpretations.
Revelation is perhaps the most mysterious, even confounding, book in the Bible. It is rife with fantastic imagery, disturbing visions, and enigmatic messages. With all its perplexity it is little wonder that Revelation has been interpreted from many, many perspectives. No single interpretation prevails. Revelation defies consensus. But, as God’s final Word to believers, it has crucial importance and its message demands attention.
Robyn Whitaker, New Testament scholar and ordained minister, has written an excellent commentary from mostly the historical school of thought that sees Revelation as addressed principally to a First Century audience undergoing a period of persecution and rejection. That is not to say that historicists believe Revelation is ONLY about the condition and experience of First Century Christians, but rather that the images, visions, symbols and prophecies are best explained in that context. Whitaker, on “Revelation for Normal People” offers outstanding and persuasive exposition from that perspective. It is highly recommended, but the serious student must recognize that there are other interpretations, and pursuit of an understanding of Revelation is an unending, but also rewarding, quest.
In an otherwise excellent exegesis of Revelation, however, Whitaker resorts on a few occasions to unnecessary and unhelpful eisegesis, revealing her progressive Christianity bent. There is utterly no benefit from departing from impartial, scholarly analysis to interject progressive opinions about homosexuality and Sodom and Gomorrah, feminism and Revelation’s “great whore/prostitute” (Babylon, as pseudonym for Rome), concerns for Twenty-First Century sex workers, or “patriarchal stereotypes regarding women’s sexuality and purity.” Now these unnecessary departures are not overwhelming, but Whitaker would be advised to stick to the message and avoid progressive tangents. Greater discussion of the Tribulation and Millennium would be beneficial, as well as the arguments against Whitaker’s apparent annihilationist understanding of Hell. Despite these criticisms, “Revelation for Normal People” is excellent, but keep in mind that it is one perspective on a subject that has generated many interpretations.
December 15, 2023
Stepping into theology and attempting to make sense of Scripture can oftentimes feel overwhelming. On the surface, some stories just make more sense compared to others, but Revelation easily takes the cake for the most yikes-level books in the bible. Thanks to Robyn J. Whitaker's work in Revelation For Normal People, readers can start to work through the text as if they were listening to an accessible (and incredibly informative) seminary lecture, all the while having their burning questions answered one by one.
Short and sweet, yet overflowing with thorough research and useful resources for further independent study, Revelation For Normal People, may be the single best introductory book to what has been deemed historically one of the most misinterpreted books of the bible. A master work on Robyn's part, and another brilliant addition to the Bible For Normal People catalogue. Can't wait for the next one!
Short and sweet, yet overflowing with thorough research and useful resources for further independent study, Revelation For Normal People, may be the single best introductory book to what has been deemed historically one of the most misinterpreted books of the bible. A master work on Robyn's part, and another brilliant addition to the Bible For Normal People catalogue. Can't wait for the next one!
December 27, 2023
“Revelation is the weird cousin in the Bible—the one you have to invite to family events but would rather not spend much time with. It is one of those biblical books that Christians either ignore or get a little bit too obsessed with (you know the people I
mean).”
“It is dangerous to read books like Revelation in a literalistic way. The vivid imagery and violence of Revelation, when seen as normative (or worse, divinely mandated) can and has been used to justify earthly violence.”
“Revelation offers us a profound way to think about evil as something found in structures and systems, and to ponder what an ethical response to such evil might be.”
mean).”
“It is dangerous to read books like Revelation in a literalistic way. The vivid imagery and violence of Revelation, when seen as normative (or worse, divinely mandated) can and has been used to justify earthly violence.”
“Revelation offers us a profound way to think about evil as something found in structures and systems, and to ponder what an ethical response to such evil might be.”
July 30, 2024
Revelation, easily the most confusing book in the Bible. Here is a short, clear commentary on how to understand all those strange images and references. The author does a good job of describing how to interpret the book overall, its rather unique nature and references to the Hebrew Bible and inter testament books. Thankfully (IMO) she avoids useless speculation on dates and who and what is referred to in history(past, present, future).
December 11, 2023
What a read! I will probably go back and read it again at some point. Dr Whitaker did as deep of a dive into a complex book as you can and did it in about 150 pages. I have learned and unlearned with reading this book. I highly recommend to anyone who loves theology and learning about the world of those who lived in biblical times.
December 13, 2024
A clear and thorough explanation of the Book of Revelation for anyone who wishes to study the visionary, apocalyptic book of the Bible.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews