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Revelation: Four Views : A Parallel Commentary
How can we understand the book of Revelation and its many interpretations? Four Views of A Parallel Commentary covers the traditional views in an even-handed fashion. Four parallel columns present the information you need on these key views, and inform you about outstanding commentators on the book of Revelation. No other book gives such extensive coverage of how the church has understood Revelation over the centuries. The four-column format makes this an easy read for lay people, pastors, and scholars alike. This is a wonderful addition to any Bible study resource library. Features
528 pages, Hardcover
First published October 9, 2012
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June 23, 2012Just got it but like what I'm reading. His lectures are awesome too!!!!
October 3, 2024
Steve Gregg has filled a large hole in apocalyptic scholarship with this remarkably helpful commentary.
As someone who has been very confused by the different understandings and interpretations of Revelation (and having grown up only knowing of a futurist, pre-trib, pre-millennial understanding), when my pastor recommended this resource by Steve Gregg I was excited to get into it. Gregg has provided a thoroughly excellent resource for anyone to better understand the four main views of interpreting the book of Revelation. The book is balanced and even-handed with each view, and by the end of the book I have found myself becoming more understanding of why exactly people would hold each of the different views. I also learned a massive amount over my year and a half read through, foremost being that not everyone sees the new earth to be a literal and tangible reality (this wasn’t fun to discover). While those who want more specifics about each view should jump from this to specific commentaries by theologians with specific views, this is a thoroughly helpful summary of the broad beliefs held by each of the four views. Bravo, Steve Gregg.
As someone who has been very confused by the different understandings and interpretations of Revelation (and having grown up only knowing of a futurist, pre-trib, pre-millennial understanding), when my pastor recommended this resource by Steve Gregg I was excited to get into it. Gregg has provided a thoroughly excellent resource for anyone to better understand the four main views of interpreting the book of Revelation. The book is balanced and even-handed with each view, and by the end of the book I have found myself becoming more understanding of why exactly people would hold each of the different views. I also learned a massive amount over my year and a half read through, foremost being that not everyone sees the new earth to be a literal and tangible reality (this wasn’t fun to discover). While those who want more specifics about each view should jump from this to specific commentaries by theologians with specific views, this is a thoroughly helpful summary of the broad beliefs held by each of the four views. Bravo, Steve Gregg.
October 7, 2024
I'd been looking forward to working through this commentary for some time, and for the past year, it has been a good help in preparation for our home Bible study's trek through Revelation (the group is still in progress, but I've now read through the whole commentary, and I'll continue dipping into it for each week's lesson prep).
The concept sounds so intriguing: setting the four dominant views of Revelation (historicist, preterist, futurist, idealist) next to one another in a commentary that goes chapter by chapter (in shorter segments). As I knew before starting the book, Protestant theologians currently tend to align with either the futurist (often premillennial, sometimes dispensationalist) or the idealist (amillennial, sometimes also called "symbolist") views, so my interest in learning about the other two views was more as a way of knowing other possible interpretations theologians have sometimes applied to the text; it was the futurist and idealist that I was most interested in studying. The "four views" side-by-side concept begins after the letters that open Revelation, and then at the end of the book they shift to the three millennial views (pre-, a-, and post-) before returning to a single commentary for the book's conclusion.
With all of this going on in the book, I felt it was sometimes an odd mix of broad-brush overviews and micro-level details. This commentary won't provide all you want to know about any of the four views, and the way Steve Gregg references theologians within each view made me feel sometimes that the history of those thought streams was being flattened and streamlined in artificial ways. I often wanted to back away from text and be reminded of the big picture over all the minute details—but that says more about the way I want to explore Revelation than a particular shortcoming of the book. In general, I've long found the bigger themes more fascinating than the small details, and reading this commentary didn't change that (though of course it's always fun when Hal Lindsay makes an appearance to explain how such-and-such a detail obviously refers to the aftermath of a nuclear war).
I don't recommend Four Views as a book to read straight through, as I just did, but it can provide a good resource for getting a handle on the very basics of each of the views, especially if you're teaching a small section at a time.
The concept sounds so intriguing: setting the four dominant views of Revelation (historicist, preterist, futurist, idealist) next to one another in a commentary that goes chapter by chapter (in shorter segments). As I knew before starting the book, Protestant theologians currently tend to align with either the futurist (often premillennial, sometimes dispensationalist) or the idealist (amillennial, sometimes also called "symbolist") views, so my interest in learning about the other two views was more as a way of knowing other possible interpretations theologians have sometimes applied to the text; it was the futurist and idealist that I was most interested in studying. The "four views" side-by-side concept begins after the letters that open Revelation, and then at the end of the book they shift to the three millennial views (pre-, a-, and post-) before returning to a single commentary for the book's conclusion.
With all of this going on in the book, I felt it was sometimes an odd mix of broad-brush overviews and micro-level details. This commentary won't provide all you want to know about any of the four views, and the way Steve Gregg references theologians within each view made me feel sometimes that the history of those thought streams was being flattened and streamlined in artificial ways. I often wanted to back away from text and be reminded of the big picture over all the minute details—but that says more about the way I want to explore Revelation than a particular shortcoming of the book. In general, I've long found the bigger themes more fascinating than the small details, and reading this commentary didn't change that (though of course it's always fun when Hal Lindsay makes an appearance to explain how such-and-such a detail obviously refers to the aftermath of a nuclear war).
I don't recommend Four Views as a book to read straight through, as I just did, but it can provide a good resource for getting a handle on the very basics of each of the views, especially if you're teaching a small section at a time.
July 23, 2021
Very helpful to have the four main viewpoints of Revelation presented side by side.
March 8, 2025
⭐️4.2/5
Medium: Physical 📚 (Second edition, though. First edition pictured).
🎧 Audiobook Friendly: There is an audiobook, but I don't know how well the format would translate. The book is in four (or three) parallel collums juxtaposing competing views.
Reading Level: 2.5/5; Accessible. Purpose is to be helpful and clarifying, not confusing or jargon-y. At times, you may want more discussion or deep argumentation, but that's beyond the purpose of this volume. The point is to get the thrust of differing view of John's Apacalypse by hearing from advocates themselves via extensive in-text citations/quotes. The book opts for endnotes rather than footnotes.
Review: A Uniquely Helpful Resource
An incredibly helpful introduction to differing views of Revelation. The first 75 pages or so are a superb introduction. The inroduction alone, makes the book worth its weight in gold. This section introduces you to key debates, histories and terminological distinctions. This section alone is enough to make you reconsider what you thought you knew. Revelation 1-3 is set in single column format but beginning in Revelation 4, the book breaks into four parallel collumns, each representing a differing interpretive approach toward the book of Revelation (Histoicism, Preterism, Futurism, & Idealism). In chapter 20, through to the end, the book moves to a three collumn format representing major approaches to the millennium (Premillenialism Postmillenialism, & Amillenialism). The book will serve as a resource for me for years to come. The author does a phenomenal job of quote-mining (not a negative, in this case) representatives for each position. The author consulted over 50 commentaries in composing this unique volume. The author's own views are not represented in the commentary, but I know from outside homework he takes an eclectic, but mostly partial preterist, approach to Revelation and is Amillenial with respect to the millennium. The Forward to the book is written by Dr. Robert G. Clouse (Futurist & Premillenial). This endorsement is important to demonstrate the fairness Gregg strikes in this work despite his own views. His own views really aren't given favorable treatment. Each view is usually resourced from the aforementioned commentaries, and Gregg only introduces or summarizes their views. My only negative is that sometimes he doesn't represent the full range of possibilities within a view. I found some of my own views lacking at certain points, but I understand that this book was already dauntingly large to most at about 600 pages. It's an ambitious project, to say the least, and I completely understand why not everything could be said. That being said, Steve Gregg is a phenomenal teacher and gift to the Church. This book increased my knowledge of the various theological camps immensely. I'd recommend this book to just about anyone who is looking to learn more about eschatology.
Note: I struggled a lot with what to rate this book as it is a reference work, and I certainly did not read every single word. But I have read a majority of it and was very impressed. I challenge you to at least read the introduction, and you'll soon be consulting the rest for 'what-abouts'. This book pulls you in, unlike most reference works, and is very readable.
Medium: Physical 📚 (Second edition, though. First edition pictured).
🎧 Audiobook Friendly: There is an audiobook, but I don't know how well the format would translate. The book is in four (or three) parallel collums juxtaposing competing views.
Reading Level: 2.5/5; Accessible. Purpose is to be helpful and clarifying, not confusing or jargon-y. At times, you may want more discussion or deep argumentation, but that's beyond the purpose of this volume. The point is to get the thrust of differing view of John's Apacalypse by hearing from advocates themselves via extensive in-text citations/quotes. The book opts for endnotes rather than footnotes.
Review: A Uniquely Helpful Resource
An incredibly helpful introduction to differing views of Revelation. The first 75 pages or so are a superb introduction. The inroduction alone, makes the book worth its weight in gold. This section introduces you to key debates, histories and terminological distinctions. This section alone is enough to make you reconsider what you thought you knew. Revelation 1-3 is set in single column format but beginning in Revelation 4, the book breaks into four parallel collumns, each representing a differing interpretive approach toward the book of Revelation (Histoicism, Preterism, Futurism, & Idealism). In chapter 20, through to the end, the book moves to a three collumn format representing major approaches to the millennium (Premillenialism Postmillenialism, & Amillenialism). The book will serve as a resource for me for years to come. The author does a phenomenal job of quote-mining (not a negative, in this case) representatives for each position. The author consulted over 50 commentaries in composing this unique volume. The author's own views are not represented in the commentary, but I know from outside homework he takes an eclectic, but mostly partial preterist, approach to Revelation and is Amillenial with respect to the millennium. The Forward to the book is written by Dr. Robert G. Clouse (Futurist & Premillenial). This endorsement is important to demonstrate the fairness Gregg strikes in this work despite his own views. His own views really aren't given favorable treatment. Each view is usually resourced from the aforementioned commentaries, and Gregg only introduces or summarizes their views. My only negative is that sometimes he doesn't represent the full range of possibilities within a view. I found some of my own views lacking at certain points, but I understand that this book was already dauntingly large to most at about 600 pages. It's an ambitious project, to say the least, and I completely understand why not everything could be said. That being said, Steve Gregg is a phenomenal teacher and gift to the Church. This book increased my knowledge of the various theological camps immensely. I'd recommend this book to just about anyone who is looking to learn more about eschatology.
Note: I struggled a lot with what to rate this book as it is a reference work, and I certainly did not read every single word. But I have read a majority of it and was very impressed. I challenge you to at least read the introduction, and you'll soon be consulting the rest for 'what-abouts'. This book pulls you in, unlike most reference works, and is very readable.
June 10, 2023
No greater book has been written to simply understand the 4 legitimate interpretations of Revelation.
November 19, 2012
***As the Middle East prepares for war is it time to refresh what you know about Bible prophecy?***
Steve Gregg compares “four traditional views� of the Rapture using a verse-by-verse, parallel format in Revelation: Four Views that is sure to become a useful tool for students of prophecy.
The easy-to-use format is especially useful for those without a background in Revelation’s prophecies.
Gregg said he didn’t expect to write such a commentary until he couldn’t find one that compared different perspectives from the Book of Revelation for class use. Inspired, he then wrote this easy-to-understand commentary for students at Youth with a Mission, Oregon’s Good News Underground and Great Commission School.
If you’re inclined to skip the “Foreword� and “Introduction� like I sometimes do, reconsider for this commentary. One reviewer wrote: "The Introduction alone in Gregg's book is definitely worth the price of the book.� And the foreword is the same.
In the Foreword, Gregg defines and explores the differences between three traditional Millennium views of the rapture, “premillennial, amillennial and postmillennial.� He uses Revelation, chapter twenty as the foundation chapter to describe these views also known as pre-tribulation, mid-tribulation and post-tribulation…Full Review:
Steve Gregg compares “four traditional views� of the Rapture using a verse-by-verse, parallel format in Revelation: Four Views that is sure to become a useful tool for students of prophecy.
The easy-to-use format is especially useful for those without a background in Revelation’s prophecies.
Gregg said he didn’t expect to write such a commentary until he couldn’t find one that compared different perspectives from the Book of Revelation for class use. Inspired, he then wrote this easy-to-understand commentary for students at Youth with a Mission, Oregon’s Good News Underground and Great Commission School.
If you’re inclined to skip the “Foreword� and “Introduction� like I sometimes do, reconsider for this commentary. One reviewer wrote: "The Introduction alone in Gregg's book is definitely worth the price of the book.� And the foreword is the same.
In the Foreword, Gregg defines and explores the differences between three traditional Millennium views of the rapture, “premillennial, amillennial and postmillennial.� He uses Revelation, chapter twenty as the foundation chapter to describe these views also known as pre-tribulation, mid-tribulation and post-tribulation…Full Review:
February 19, 2016
What an amazing book! There is no way the author could be paid enough for how great a service this book is for those who want to study completely the book of Revelation. I highly recommend it
December 19, 2023
Revelation is a complex book of Scripture, containing visions and prophecies that are very difficult to understand and to correctly interpret. However, it is important to note that if you are looking for a book to simplify or make sense of Revelation’s complexity, this is not the book for you. Instead, this book seems to add to the complexity and misunderstandings about Revelation, not to simplify them. However, in fairness to the author, it was never his intent to simplify Revelation. Instead, his goal was to walk through the verses of Revelation and show how the leading evangelical scholars have interpreted the text. His goal is to present the controversies, not to solve them.
This book is especially useful in understanding the arguments and the basis for the different interpretations of passages in Revelation. He has avoided liberal scholars and others who would reduce Revelation to something less than God’s inspired Word. For these points, the author is to be commended.
For most of the book, the author presents four leading views on how to interpret the prophecies of Revelation. The four views are:
Preterist � the prophecies of this book have been fulfilled in the first century: usually through the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 or the fall of the Roman empire.
Historicist � the prophecies of this book are currently being fulfilled through history.
Futurist � the prophecies of this book will be fulfilled in the future.
Idealist (spiritualist) � the prophecies of this book represent an allegorical conflict between good and evil.
In the lengthy introduction, the author concedes that if you approach Revelation consistently as you would the other books of Scripture (i.e. a consistent hermeneutic), you would have no choice but to interpret the prophecies of Revelation as literal and future. However, the author does not necessarily endorse this view, and presents a literal and future prophecy as only one of the many views of the text in Revelation.
But in the words of Revelation 2:14, “I have a few things against you�. There are some major problems that prevent me from recommending this book. They are the following issues:
- While giving lip service to multiple interpretations of Revelation’s prophecies, the author often scoffs at those who would believe the events in Revelation as happening in the future. For example, he has ridiculed and misrepresented many “future� commentators in their understanding of the woman’s flight to the wilderness in Revelation 12.
- Whether intentionally or not, the author is presenting a case that the Book of Revelation has multiple valid interpretations. But this cannot be true. A statement in Scripture cannot have four valid meanings (many of which conflict with each other). We may not fully understand it, but there can only be one correct answer.
- The author is taking the perspective that your theology should drive your interpretation, not the other way around. This is an important distinction, as it means that your authority of truth is based on your theology and not on your reading of God’s Word. Instead, you need to first seek to understand God’s Word, and then let that understanding influence your theology. This goes for all Scripture, and not just Revelation.
This book is especially useful in understanding the arguments and the basis for the different interpretations of passages in Revelation. He has avoided liberal scholars and others who would reduce Revelation to something less than God’s inspired Word. For these points, the author is to be commended.
For most of the book, the author presents four leading views on how to interpret the prophecies of Revelation. The four views are:
Preterist � the prophecies of this book have been fulfilled in the first century: usually through the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 or the fall of the Roman empire.
Historicist � the prophecies of this book are currently being fulfilled through history.
Futurist � the prophecies of this book will be fulfilled in the future.
Idealist (spiritualist) � the prophecies of this book represent an allegorical conflict between good and evil.
In the lengthy introduction, the author concedes that if you approach Revelation consistently as you would the other books of Scripture (i.e. a consistent hermeneutic), you would have no choice but to interpret the prophecies of Revelation as literal and future. However, the author does not necessarily endorse this view, and presents a literal and future prophecy as only one of the many views of the text in Revelation.
But in the words of Revelation 2:14, “I have a few things against you�. There are some major problems that prevent me from recommending this book. They are the following issues:
- While giving lip service to multiple interpretations of Revelation’s prophecies, the author often scoffs at those who would believe the events in Revelation as happening in the future. For example, he has ridiculed and misrepresented many “future� commentators in their understanding of the woman’s flight to the wilderness in Revelation 12.
- Whether intentionally or not, the author is presenting a case that the Book of Revelation has multiple valid interpretations. But this cannot be true. A statement in Scripture cannot have four valid meanings (many of which conflict with each other). We may not fully understand it, but there can only be one correct answer.
- The author is taking the perspective that your theology should drive your interpretation, not the other way around. This is an important distinction, as it means that your authority of truth is based on your theology and not on your reading of God’s Word. Instead, you need to first seek to understand God’s Word, and then let that understanding influence your theology. This goes for all Scripture, and not just Revelation.
January 28, 2021
This volume is a running commentary on the book of Revelation from four entirely different perspectives. The historical view sees the Revelation as something akin to a church history culminating in the second coming of Christ. This view has fallen out of favor but was held in high regard by many historical expositors including the Reformers. The partial preterist view sees much of the contents of Revelation as having been fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. This interpretation is especially concerned with interpreting the book in light of Christianity's relationship and struggle with first century Judaism. The futurist interpretation holds that nearly the entire book takes place during a seven year period called "the Great Tribulation." This has been the predominant understanding of Revelation by evangelicals in the last hundred years and obviously popular throughout history. The spiritual interpretation understands Revelation less about detailed prophecies of the future and more truths about sin, earthly power, and divine sovereignty which are applicable in every generation but that ultimately are fulfilled in the second coming. Whatever view one holds, the latter interpretation can be helpful in applying Revelation to any generation in history.
The book is poorly bound and the hardback cover fell off pretty soon after I began reading it. But the layout is very handy, each page has four columns representing each view. Greg has a valuable introduction to the Book or Revelation that gives a history of interpretation and how different variations of the four views relate to one another. While there are much more detailed exegetical commentaries dealing with symbols, vocabulary and grammar (including Beale's ) this book may be one of the most helpful volumes available to the average reader.
The book is poorly bound and the hardback cover fell off pretty soon after I began reading it. But the layout is very handy, each page has four columns representing each view. Greg has a valuable introduction to the Book or Revelation that gives a history of interpretation and how different variations of the four views relate to one another. While there are much more detailed exegetical commentaries dealing with symbols, vocabulary and grammar (including Beale's ) this book may be one of the most helpful volumes available to the average reader.
May 10, 2024
a gem
This book does what most eschatology books don't, which is to represent all the main views without straw-manning them.
it doesn't claim to go into every bit of detail as a consequence.
but it does show you the main areas you need to follow-up on.
Am reviewing this as a man in his mid 30's.
i had only heard one view all my life before i came across Steve Gregg's videos on thenarrowpath.com,
who i found from the amillenial.org site when trying to figure out why anyone would believe in that stuff.
i started out as a premil dispensationalist zionist as most Christians in the US are.
there are legitimate questions that pastors and teachers alike are either not allowing to be asked or are giving self-contradictory answers about.
this book should help you see how many vastly wide views folks hold on Revelation.
from there, do your own research as your dive in deep.
find teachers who disagree with your current view to see if your view holds up.
ask the AI questions about what opposing views have to say about your view.
Others may seem confident of their view, but you have to do the work on your own before you can see if such confidence is unfounded or not.
fair winds to all who endeavor to seek truth.
-God bless
This book does what most eschatology books don't, which is to represent all the main views without straw-manning them.
it doesn't claim to go into every bit of detail as a consequence.
but it does show you the main areas you need to follow-up on.
Am reviewing this as a man in his mid 30's.
i had only heard one view all my life before i came across Steve Gregg's videos on thenarrowpath.com,
who i found from the amillenial.org site when trying to figure out why anyone would believe in that stuff.
i started out as a premil dispensationalist zionist as most Christians in the US are.
there are legitimate questions that pastors and teachers alike are either not allowing to be asked or are giving self-contradictory answers about.
this book should help you see how many vastly wide views folks hold on Revelation.
from there, do your own research as your dive in deep.
find teachers who disagree with your current view to see if your view holds up.
ask the AI questions about what opposing views have to say about your view.
Others may seem confident of their view, but you have to do the work on your own before you can see if such confidence is unfounded or not.
fair winds to all who endeavor to seek truth.
-God bless
November 8, 2020
This was a very informative book about interpretations on the book of Revelation. Who knew there were four?! It's easy to read, and you don't need a theological degree to understand it. The author does not use deep theological or religious words, just plain language. You can tell this is a thoroughly researched work, almost like a thesis, because of all the references and resources he used and people he interviewed in writing this book. Reading it is very illuminating and widens the reader's theological viewpoint on the controversial and much-debated book of Revelation. If you're a believer, you can actually see which of the four views you fall into just by reading each interpretation. The chapters follow each chapter of Revelation, and interpretations are grouped per significant entry that may consist of a few verses or a long passage. Then each of the 4 views are presented in 4 different columns underneath those verses. Highly recommended for believers and students of the Bible alike.
February 24, 2023
Steve Gregg does an excellent job presenting the four views on the Book of Revelation held down through church history. It is likely most Christians in America today are only aware of one view, "The Futurist View." Gregg gives an unbiased treaty on each view explaining the strong and weak points of each view.
1. PRETERIST.
MOST PROPHECIES IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION WERE FULFILLED DURING THE TIME OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE.
2. HISTORICIST.
THE PROPHECIES HAVE BEEN FULFILLED THROUGHOUT HISTORY AND ARE STILL BEING FULFILLED TODAY.
3. FUTURIST.
MOST PROPHECIES BEYOND REVELATION 3 ARE YET TO BE FULFILLED.
4. SPIRITUAL (OR SYMBOLIC OR IDEALIST).
MOST PROPHECIES PORTRAY THE ONGOING COSMIC CONFLICT OF SPIRITUAL REALITIES AND MAY HAVE MANY FULFILLMENTS THROUGHOUT HISTORY.
The book of Revelation is a complex book. Because it is part of the Holy Scripture, we can trust that it has value for all Christians. Those who seek to understand it would do well to learn from a variety of sources and familiarize themselves with the strengths and weaknesses of the different views.
1. PRETERIST.
MOST PROPHECIES IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION WERE FULFILLED DURING THE TIME OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE.
2. HISTORICIST.
THE PROPHECIES HAVE BEEN FULFILLED THROUGHOUT HISTORY AND ARE STILL BEING FULFILLED TODAY.
3. FUTURIST.
MOST PROPHECIES BEYOND REVELATION 3 ARE YET TO BE FULFILLED.
4. SPIRITUAL (OR SYMBOLIC OR IDEALIST).
MOST PROPHECIES PORTRAY THE ONGOING COSMIC CONFLICT OF SPIRITUAL REALITIES AND MAY HAVE MANY FULFILLMENTS THROUGHOUT HISTORY.
The book of Revelation is a complex book. Because it is part of the Holy Scripture, we can trust that it has value for all Christians. Those who seek to understand it would do well to learn from a variety of sources and familiarize themselves with the strengths and weaknesses of the different views.
June 30, 2020
Gregg's book is an extremely helpful introduction and overview of 4 primary views on the book of Revelation. In it he covers the Historicist, Preterist, Futurist, and Spiritual readings of the book, and adequately cites and represents each view (except perhaps for the Historicist view which I can easily summarize as "Pope/Catholicism Bad." I would love to hear a more robust defence of this view if one exists.)
Looking back there are a few things I want from this book that I don't think would be fair to ask of it, but here it is anyways; I would love for the author to give clearer and more concrete answers as far as which interpretation is the best argued. I would also like for the author to explore more views/readings, like the the Dramatic view which is mentioned initially but not further explored.
All in all, I highly reccomend this text as an initial forey into Revelation.
Looking back there are a few things I want from this book that I don't think would be fair to ask of it, but here it is anyways; I would love for the author to give clearer and more concrete answers as far as which interpretation is the best argued. I would also like for the author to explore more views/readings, like the the Dramatic view which is mentioned initially but not further explored.
All in all, I highly reccomend this text as an initial forey into Revelation.
August 8, 2020
This book is really helpful - it explains four main perspectives on revelation, just giving you key quotes from different authors in each stream as you go through revelation. It's like a synopsis of 20 different commentaries in one hit - and explains how it can be that someone can read the bible amd conclude that Jesus isn't coming back.
If there is a particular section that you are interested in, you can jump straighht to it and the relevant quotes and summary are all side by side in one place, as with all good commentaries.
It is a very readable book - things are expressed in words, not tables of cross references - which is partly why it's two inches thick! It's worth the time to read over if you're interested in the details of different interpretations. This helps you clarify your own position too.
If there is a particular section that you are interested in, you can jump straighht to it and the relevant quotes and summary are all side by side in one place, as with all good commentaries.
It is a very readable book - things are expressed in words, not tables of cross references - which is partly why it's two inches thick! It's worth the time to read over if you're interested in the details of different interpretations. This helps you clarify your own position too.
July 15, 2023
Finally finished after several years of picking it up and putting it down. Before I read it, I had somewhat of a leaning towards one of the 4 interpretations, but after reading this book I came away with a much less certain, more confused, but also more respectful view of the 4 interpretations...except for the futurist one - that one stood out to me as being ridiculous and sensational. Which unfortunately seems to be the popular view among evangelicals today.
Correct me if I'm wrong but it seems like one could benefit from the Idealist interpretation while also holding one of the other views?
I greatly appreciated this balanced, organized way of reading about the book of Revelation, and even though it took so long for me to finish, I am eager to read it again.
Correct me if I'm wrong but it seems like one could benefit from the Idealist interpretation while also holding one of the other views?
I greatly appreciated this balanced, organized way of reading about the book of Revelation, and even though it took so long for me to finish, I am eager to read it again.
December 23, 2020
Alongside Beale's monumental contribution in the CNTUOT; Gregg's book has been a phenomenal partner in preaching through Revelation. Gregg's respectful take on contrary positions helps the exegete see in short form how each of the major competing views understand each text of scripture. I no way can I fully communicate how useful this has been, not only this year but in past times as I wrestled with competing views of my own to come to my present understanding.
Thank you Steve Gregg for your contribution.
Thank you Steve Gregg for your contribution.
January 27, 2018
The book of Revelation, as well as many parts of the Bible, is beyond our comprehension. Literal, symbolic and just plan crazy interpretations have come out of studying this eschatological book. This book does well to provide multiple viewpoints as well as arguments for those views. It is well written and well organized. While I don't expect to have the answers untill the other side of heaven, this book gave me great good for thought. So, all in all, good stuff!
May 7, 2024
Best End Times Book
This book is amazing. I had no idea that these views even existed
Since Eschatology is not essential either to Salvation nor Sanctification, I suggest that a mature believer can come to this with an open mind..
It certainly set me free from a fatalistic concept that had kept me looking to be taken out of this world; rather than to serve my King and His commands in this world...
This book is amazing. I had no idea that these views even existed
Since Eschatology is not essential either to Salvation nor Sanctification, I suggest that a mature believer can come to this with an open mind..
It certainly set me free from a fatalistic concept that had kept me looking to be taken out of this world; rather than to serve my King and His commands in this world...
February 1, 2021
I technically did not finish this book. It was for my last seminary class on Revelation, also taught by the author of this book. He went into way too much detail for me and I have no desire to officially finish it after the class. However, if you want a verse-by-verse commentary with WAY too much information on a book we know not much about, then it's for you.
December 29, 2021
This commentary contains parallel columns of how the four major positions would exposit the book of Revelation verse by verse. Although the author does not hold the position of many reformed theologians, he does a wonderful job selecting key theologians from each of the positions to reflect an accurate reflection of the way each view approaches a section in the book of Revelation.
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September 25, 2022If you are into this kind of thing (interpretations of Biblical prophecy) then this book is a very nice summary of the main views that have been held by Protestants.
The typesetting (not the author's fault) was pretty bad in the copy I read -- changing "burns" to "bums" and "Second Coming" to "Second Corning" and "modern translations" to "modem translations."
The typesetting (not the author's fault) was pretty bad in the copy I read -- changing "burns" to "bums" and "Second Coming" to "Second Corning" and "modern translations" to "modem translations."
January 3, 2024
If you want to study the Book of Revelation and understand how it has been viewed since it was written, then this is the book for you. I highly recommend doing this with a group so that you can share ideas and discuss.
I was very impressed with the neutrality of the editor/author. He presented a very even-handed overview of the various mainstream interpretations.
I was very impressed with the neutrality of the editor/author. He presented a very even-handed overview of the various mainstream interpretations.
March 14, 2017
I used this book to preach through the entire book of Revelation and to represent each of the four views considered the predominant views when interpreting Revelation. Better used as a commentary (as it was meant to be) rather than reading all of the way through like you would a good fiction.
December 17, 2017
An excellent, thorough, and seemingly objective introduction to the most popular four interpretive views, the three millennial views, as well as the literal, symbolic, and spiritual debate within Revelation
December 10, 2023
The book of Revelation is probably the hardest to understand and scholars disagree. This is a great resource going verse by verse and showing the four primary views of each. It does not go deep on any view but provides a great intro.
January 16, 2025
Great synopsis of the four historic views the church has taken to understand the book of Revelation. A thoughtful reading will lead to a greater appreciation for the varying positions and grace for those who hold a different position.
December 30, 2020
This book provided a reasonably objective comparison of the historical, preterist, futurist, and spiritual (aka idealist) approaches to interpreting the book of revelation, as well as the premillennial, amillennial, and postmillennial interpretations of the final chapters.
March 31, 2021
An excellent overview of the main views. I am pleased that even by the end I was not able to tell what view the author held.
March 15, 2022
Great overview of the four interpretation of the book of Revelation.
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