What do you think?
Rate this book
Where Earth Meets Heaven: A Commentary on Revelation
Revelation presents a view of reality different from the the world according to God. It reveals that, since the death and resurrection of Christ, God is creating all things new. The relevance of the book for today is that it challenges Christians about where their ultimate allegiance lies. Revelation shows that it is in worship--where earth meets heaven--that Christians still participate in God's judging and saving activity in the world. This commentary uses language that is simple and clear, avoiding technical terms. It gives an explanation of the text that is sound and reliable, easy to understand without being superficial.
402 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2007
2 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 of 1 review
July 9, 2016
"Where Earth Meets Heaven: A Commentary on Revelation" by John G. Strelan is a theologically rich, if at times dry, book concerning the last book of the Bible. He takes the mainstream approach of Christendom (outside of America) that John wrote to encourage the persecuted Christians of his day.
What Strelan does here is nothing short of fascinating. He shows that Revelation (perhaps the most misunderstood and confusing and divisive book of the Bible) is often made far more confusing and mysterious than it really is. Jesus Christ is the focus of the book, not future events in modern America. There's no Left Behind-like 'theology' here (thank God), no weird understandings related to the pervasive symbolic language. It's sound biblical hermeneutics informed by God's Word as a whole.
Strelan's premise is that Revelation explores past, present and future events (mostly past and present) but not in a sequential, linear manner. After all, John was in the Spirit, outside time and space, when he received the visions. Perhaps, Strelan muses John received the visions in a fraction of a second. He sees the four visions as exploring one set of events from different perspectives. Peeling back the curtain to reveal the heavenly realms, to offer a greater understanding of God's kingdom at work in seemingly hopeless times. John's first vision explores his history and culture in relation to the Church. God gives John seven messages to seven churches. John writes these messages and sends them to the seven churches. These letters inform the following three visions. And as always, heavenly worship provides the framework for the events being described.
I have a few niggles with the book. Firstly, the book proved to be a dry read at times and is very dense, so it should be digested slowly. Secondly, there's a weird theory of Strelan's where he equates the Archangel Michael with Jesus (but not in a Jehovah's Witness sense, he says as much) I still don't know what to make of that one - thankfully it doesn't take up much room. Finally, while there is some talk of future events (future as in post-AD 70), there's precious little concerning the New Heavens and the New Earth. I believe this is a huge oversight on Strelan's part, as this truth is the great eternal hope and final home for followers of Jesus.
All in all, this is a rather good book. I highly recommend it, but perhaps only to theology students and pastors or weirdos like me.
8/10
What Strelan does here is nothing short of fascinating. He shows that Revelation (perhaps the most misunderstood and confusing and divisive book of the Bible) is often made far more confusing and mysterious than it really is. Jesus Christ is the focus of the book, not future events in modern America. There's no Left Behind-like 'theology' here (thank God), no weird understandings related to the pervasive symbolic language. It's sound biblical hermeneutics informed by God's Word as a whole.
Strelan's premise is that Revelation explores past, present and future events (mostly past and present) but not in a sequential, linear manner. After all, John was in the Spirit, outside time and space, when he received the visions. Perhaps, Strelan muses John received the visions in a fraction of a second. He sees the four visions as exploring one set of events from different perspectives. Peeling back the curtain to reveal the heavenly realms, to offer a greater understanding of God's kingdom at work in seemingly hopeless times. John's first vision explores his history and culture in relation to the Church. God gives John seven messages to seven churches. John writes these messages and sends them to the seven churches. These letters inform the following three visions. And as always, heavenly worship provides the framework for the events being described.
I have a few niggles with the book. Firstly, the book proved to be a dry read at times and is very dense, so it should be digested slowly. Secondly, there's a weird theory of Strelan's where he equates the Archangel Michael with Jesus (but not in a Jehovah's Witness sense, he says as much) I still don't know what to make of that one - thankfully it doesn't take up much room. Finally, while there is some talk of future events (future as in post-AD 70), there's precious little concerning the New Heavens and the New Earth. I believe this is a huge oversight on Strelan's part, as this truth is the great eternal hope and final home for followers of Jesus.
All in all, this is a rather good book. I highly recommend it, but perhaps only to theology students and pastors or weirdos like me.
8/10
Displaying 1 of 1 review