I grew up in the 80’s and 90’s with the Thief in the Night video and the Left Behind Book Series. The images conjured were terrifying. As a Christian, I knew the end result was heaven, but the events leading up to my eternal life were still frightening.
For many years I could not read Revelation without breaking out in a cold sweat. Then about 2019, my husband and I watched a sermon series by Greg Boyd about Revelation with a different view of how the passages should be read and interpreted. My husband also suggested I read this book, Revelation for Everyone by N.T. Wright.
Wright is a New Testament scholar, Anglican bishop and has been a Research Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity. With this background and knowledge set, he gives his translation of Revelation. After a passage of Revelation scripture, Wright then gives an anecdote that leads into an explanation of the passage. As he covers each of the seven churches, he gives the cultural and historical context of that church of the first few centuries. Wright explains what the message would have meant to the first century church before he goes into what we can take away in our present day. I found this very helpful as some pastors and teachers today seem to rush to how we can apply to today before giving the context of when a passage of Revelation was first penned.
In Revelation 4, we move from talking about the churches to the Throne Room. Wright explains that in biblical theology heaven is not way up in the sky as many tend to imagine it. In biblical theology, heaven and earth were thought to overlap more. So John was not mentally or physically transported to a different place, but the revelation experience was more like a curtain was lifted and he was seeing what was happening behind the scenes.
As Wright discusses the four creatures, he suggests multiple symbolisms which I found quite interesting. He continues to do that with many of the symbols--this is how the first century might have understood it, others have thought it meant this, but it could also mean this to us today. This was quite helpful to me as I have heard Revelation taught but as though it could only mean one thing. Knowing there is some wiggle room in the interpretation because of the symbols used gives me hope that Revelation is less terrifying and much more interesting and rich. It is less about the future, yet gives us a better picture of the history of the church.
The anecdotes were entertaining and definitely helped me better understand the explanations that followed. The explanations themselves were deep and rich. Anyone who has grown up with the rapture/tribulation/end times explanation for Revelation should read this book. It gives more insight into what John’s writing meant to the early church and what Christians today should be learning from it.
I bought this book on kindle and this is my honest and unbiased review.
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About the author
If you purchase any book on Revelation, make this THE ONE!
I have taken classes, attended Bible Study workshops and read countless books on Revelation only to be more confused by "End Times" explanations and doomsday buzzwords.For years, I've felt that there was something wrong with me because I couldn't understand this final chapter in the New Testament. Forget the "Left Behind," series. That did nothing but confuse a nation of believers. Along comes N.T. Wright. This author provides insight and historical information guaranteed to help anyone understand the true message in Revelation -- and it's so much more than "the end is near." If you struggle with this chapter, invest in this book. N.T. Wright unlocks the mystery of Revelation by taking us back to the first century. The author provides clear and simple historical information. Without this history, one cannot understand the message of Revelation. Each chapter of Revelation is divided and explained in simple terms. Do a little research on the author to gain an understanding of his extensive theological knowledge. This book is based on years of studies and research and buries some of those "left behind" theories that border on heresy. If you purchase any book with the hopes of gaining an understanding of the final chapter of the Bible, make this the one. I am attaching photos of several passages from this book as examples of the wonderful writing of N.T. Wright.
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2020
- Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2022
I have taken classes, attended Bible Study workshops and read countless books on Revelation only to be more confused by "End Times" explanations and doomsday buzzwords.
If you purchase any book on Revelation, make this THE ONE!
Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2022
For years, I've felt that there was something wrong with me because I couldn't understand this final chapter in the New Testament. Forget the "Left Behind," series. That did nothing but confuse a nation of believers. Along comes N.T. Wright. This author provides insight and historical information guaranteed to help anyone understand the true message in Revelation -- and it's so much more than "the end is near." If you struggle with this chapter, invest in this book. N.T. Wright unlocks the mystery of Revelation by taking us back to the first century. The author provides clear and simple historical information. Without this history, one cannot understand the message of Revelation. Each chapter of Revelation is divided and explained in simple terms. Do a little research on the author to gain an understanding of his extensive theological knowledge. This book is based on years of studies and research and buries some of those "left behind" theories that border on heresy. If you purchase any book with the hopes of gaining an understanding of the final chapter of the Bible, make this the one. I am attaching photos of several passages from this book as examples of the wonderful writing of N.T. Wright.
Images in this review
- Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2011
Top reviews from other countries
- DonReviewed in Canada on December 25, 2013
Is Revelation the hardest book in the N.T. to understand?
