The Complete Idiot's Guide(R) to the Book of Revelation

by James Stuart Bell, Stan Campbell

You’re no idiot, of course. You’re familiar with the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and Judgment Day—especially in the wake of the new millennium. However, the Book of Revelation has existed for almost 2,000 years and is open to countless interpretations. Don’t get confused by scholarly analysis and religious dogma! The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to the Book of Revelation shows you how so many meanings are derived from the book’s text. In this Complete Idiot’s Guide®, you get:  

Genres: Religion

312 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2001

About the author

James Stuart Bell is the owner of Whitestone Communications, a literary development agency. He consults with numerous publishers, represents various authors, and provides writing and editing services. He has previously served as executive editor at Moody Press, director of religious publishing at Doubleday, and publisher at Bridge Publishing. He also has more than one hundred books with cover credit. He coauthored the best-selling Complete Idiot's Guide to the Bible (more than 300,000 sold) and numerous other Christian guides in that series for the Penguin Group. He has also contributed numerous Christian volumes to the best-selling Cup of Comfort series by Adams Media.

Reviews

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would recommend this to someone confused by the Book of Revelation. Clear and concise. Positive and up-front. AND it had the scripture in the book. It never said which or whose translation but it was nice having it fully in the book.

[Den · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's the end of the world as we know it.

Or at least it's how Saint John the Divine saw it in the First Century.

If you've ever wanted to really understand the Book of Revelation as it was written and not filtered through the political and social views of writers behind the Left Behind series, then pick up The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Book of Revelation.

Bell breaks Revelation down into manageable chunks and spreads it across several chapters, which digesting the final book of the Bible a lot easier. Revelation is chock full of imaginary and much of it is bloody and arcane. Bell goes through each passage and puts them in context of how fit into the the time it was written. He also unwinds the dense text and puts into the simple terms so that modern readers can grasp what is being described as the Seven Seals are unveiled, the Seven Trumpets are blasted, and the Beast rises out of the sea.

So, what does it all mean? Well, who knows. Maybe John really did have a revelation or maybe he was just tripping on mushrooms. Either way, he had something to say to the Christians of his time.

Bell spends most of his explanations based on two assumptions 1) That the John who wrote Revelation was also the author of the Gospel According to John (Many scholars point to the differences in writing styles to argue against this) and 2) John really was writing down what he saw as it was "revealed" to him. It's only in the back chapters that Bell devotes time to discussing the idea that Revelation is a metaphor or a description of events contemporary to the author.

Still, Bell manages to give the modern audience and approachable glimpse into how early Christians viewed the apocalypse that many were sure would happen in their lifetime.

In that respect, not much has changed in two thousand years.

[Kelly Korby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating synopsis of the subject. Finished quickly because it is a real page turner. A lot of speculation is given workout real tangible outcomes, because of the obvious controversy that could ensue giving definite answers. Great start for people not too sure of the topic, and interesting read for those who know some, but not experts.