Revelation Commentaries

 

 

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Revelation Resources
Commentaries, Sermons, Illustrations, Devotionals
See Disclaimer

There is considerable disagreement on how the book of the Revelation should be interpreted. Therefore it is strongly recommended that you consider performing your own inductive study prior to consulting a commentary. The single best inductive study in my opinion is the Precept Ministries International 4 part study on the Revelation (see below ). I would also recommend the Precept inductive study on Daniel (Click Daniel 1-6 or Daniel 7-12) (Click here for links to commentaries on Daniel) because the truths in the book of the Revelation have their foundation in the prophesy in Daniel. To state it another way, a full understanding of the book of the Revelation is impossible without an accurate understanding of the book of Daniel.

Before you consult any commentary, it is important to recognize that there are four schools of interpretation of the Revelation and it is critical to know which view the commentary you are consulting espouses. Even more important is that you have a good foundation from your own inductive study before you consult even the most respected commentary, otherwise you will almost certainly be confused by the wide diversity of interpretations of the same passage! The four views of interpretation are summarized in the following chart (see also Bibliography).
 

Preterist
More detail

Preterist (from Latin praeter meaning "past") holds that through use of symbols and allegory, the Revelation deals with events that were fulfilled in John's time and that it was written primarily to provide hope and comfort to the first century church persecuted by Rome. For example, this view interprets the beasts of (Revelation 13 [note]) as imperial Rome and the imperial priesthood. The preterist view is held by many modern scholars, especially liberals and those who deny that the Revelation predicts specific future events.

Historicist
More detail

Views the Revelation as a symbolic or allegorical prophetic survey of church history from the first century up to the Second Coming of Christ and was the view espoused by most of the "reformers" and thus dominated Protestant though for centuries. This view however has been largely discounted as it does not adequately address the prophesy in the Revelation. The discerning reader needs to be aware that the historicist view is reflected in most of the "older" commentaries (many of which are public domain works easily accessible on the internet) including the works of John Knox, Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Wesley, Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield, C. H. Spurgeon, Matthew Henry, Adam Clarke and Albert Barnes. Unless you understand their historicist approach to prophesy, you may become very confused when reading these older "classic" commentaries. Note that with the exception of Spurgeon, these works are not included in the list of resources. It is also important to realize that many of these "classic" commentaries tend to treat many of the promises to Israel as now having their primary application to the church, and this view is firmly disavowed by this website (see discussion of The Israel of God). An example of a historicist interpretation is the belief that the strong angel of Rev 10 symbolizes the Reformation and that the harlot in Rev 17 represents the Roman Catholic church, an interpretation that the plain reading of the text simply does not allow.

Idealist
More detail

Maintains that Revelation is not predictive prophecy, but a symbolic portrait of the cosmic conflict between the forces of good and evil. In this view the Revelation becomes merely a collection of stories designed to teach spiritual truth. Some refer to this method of interpretation as "Spiritual".

Futurist
More detail

A literal reading of prophecy will primarily produce a "futurist" interpretation. Thus futurists interpret Revelation 4-22 as predictive of future end time historical events preceding, during and after the return of Jesus Christ, the establishment of His 1000 year (thus futurist are usually "premillennial". Amillennialists spiritualize the 1000 years and postmillennialists spiritualize the resurrection which precedes it), millennial kingdom on earth, followed by the creation of a new heaven and new earth. Variations of this view were held by the earliest expositors, such as Justin Martyr (d. 164), Irenaeus (d. c. 195), et al. This futurist approach has enjoyed a revival since the 19th century and is widely held among evangelicals today. Note that most of the resource links listed below take a futuristic approach to interpret the Revelation.

Click here for an excellent in depth discussion of the interpretative approaches to the Revelation

The interpretative approach taken by this website regarding Revelation 4-22 is that these passages describe literal people, places and events that will be fulfilled in the future. As someone has well said "If the plain sense makes good sense seek no other sense lest it result in nonsense." Most of the resources on this page are espouse the futuristic view, but this fact does not necessarily mean that we agree with every comment in all of the resources.

The wide divergence of interpretative views makes it imperative that the reader of the Revelation be a "true blue" Berean (Acts 17:11) and perform his or her own inductive study prior to consulting any commentary, tape set, web site or sermon, lest he or she become mired down in confusing rhetoric and specious speculation. The Revelation of Jesus Christ was written to edify, equip, encourage and bless God's children, not to hopelessly confuse or divide them. Maranatha!

Revelation
Precept Ministries International Inductive Study
The first lesson of each study can be downloaded free

Revelation - Pt 1 - Revelation 1-3, 10 lessons  
Revelation - Pt 2
- Revelation 4-22, 12 lessons
Revelation - Pt 3 - Revelation 4-22, 11 lessons
Revelation - Pt 4 - Revelation 4-22, 14 lessons

Revelation of Jesus Christ
Charted Out
Chapter by Chapter

Revelation   4-10
Revelation 11-16
Revelation 17-19
Revelation 20-22

Revelation Lectures
Kay Arthur
(Futuristic View)

Revelation - Part 2
See related topic - Kay Arthur's Lectures on Daniel

Lecture 01 There is No Need to Fear: You Can Know the Things that Will Shortly Come to Pass
Lecture 02 The Testimony of Jesus: Is It Worth Dying For?
Lecture 03 Don't Desert Your Post
Lecture 04 Can You Survive the Difficult Times of the Last Days? Listen...
Lecture 05 Don't Be Afraid: He Is the First and the Last
Lecture 06 Your Kinsman Redeemer is Worthy to Take the Book
Lecture 07 Your Kinsman Redeemer, Part 2
Lecture 08 Watch Out Earth: The Lamb is About to Break the Seals!
Lecture 09 God Can't Be Tied Up in a Neat Little Box
Lecture 10 Some "Givens" in Revelation that Help Unveil the Timing
Lecture 11 Who's Side Are You On? You Can't Have the Best of Both Worlds
Lecture 12 Who's Side Are You On? You Can't Have the Best of Both Worlds, Part 2

Precept Upon Precept
Lectures by Kay Arthur
Revelation - Part 3

Lecture 00 Knowing Revelation Takes Away the Fear
Lecture 01 Knowing Who God Is & Living Accordingly
Lecture 02 Who Do You Bow Down To?
Lecture 03 When Will the Mystery of God be Finished?
Lecture 04 Date Setting and The Return of Christ
Lecture 05 Matthew 24 and the Coming of the Son of Man
Lecture 06 When Does the Tribulation Begin?
Lecture 07 Why Is It So Important to Understand the Jew?
Lecture 08 Is God Finished With the Jews?
Lecture 09 This Land is Your Land...Forever!
Lecture 10 What Happened to the Old Testament Promises Regarding Israel?
Lecture 11 A Prophecy Regarding Israel: The Beginning of the End

Precept Upon Precept
Lectures by Kay Arthur
Revelation - Part 4

Lecture 00 Where are the leaders? The Strong and Courageous? Those valiant for God's absolutes?
Lecture 01 The Lord Jesus Christ is Returning: You Can Count on It!

Lecture 02 Are the Events of Revelation Past? Happening Now? Or Yet Future?
Lecture 03 It's the Last Hour! Don't be Misled by the Devil's Antichrists
Lecture 04 What Will it be Like When the ''Real'' Antichrist Comes?
Lecture 05 When Will the Antichrist rear his Destructive head?
Lecture 06 The Devil's Beauty & Beast
Lecture 07 Who is the Great harlot Babylon?
Lecture 08 The Day of the Lord is Coming
Lecture 09 Where Will the Church be When the Day of the Lord Comes?
Lecture 10 What & When is Armageddon?
Lecture 11 When Jesus Returns to the Earth Where Will the Church Be?
Lecture 12 Where is the Church in the Book of the Revelation?
Lecture 13 Where is the Church in the 1000 Year Reign?
Lecture 14 What Happens When Jesus Christ Comes Back?

Revelation
Summary Charts
Emphasis on the Timing of Events

Four charts
Covering Revelation 4-22

Revelation Bibliography
Categorized by Interpretative Approach --
Adapted from Expositor's Bible Commentary and
Revelation, Four Views : A parallel commentary by S Gregg.
This is list is far from exhaustive.

The listing of a specific resource does not indicate that this website agrees with the interpretative approach taken. Note that it is difficult to "pigeon hole" every author for some express different views on specific prophetic passages. This chart therefore should be used as a general guideline. I have not read every work noted. Therefore if you see a work that appears to be incorrectly "categorized" please email me and it will be researched. Note that the majority of the "free" commentaries on the Web at Studylight, Crosswalk, BlueLetterBible, etc, are NON-FUTURISTIC works (Guzik at Studylight is an exception) and therefore strong caution is advised in consulting these works unless you have taken time to carefully observe and interpret the text yourself. Otherwise you may become very confused about the true interpretation. 

FUTURIST

 

Archer, Gleason

 

Barnhouse, Donald Grey. Revelation: An Expository Commentary Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1971


Barton, B. B., & Osborne, G. R. Revelation. Life application Bible commentary Tyndale House 2000


Chafer, Lewis Sperry.


DeHaan, M. R. (Our Daily Bread. Radio Bible Class).

 

Duck, Daymond R., Revelation God's Word for the Biblically-Inept Series. Lancaster: Starburst Publishers, 1998.


Feinberg, Charles.


Garland, Anthony:
A Testimony of Jesus Christ (Online, free, conservative magnum opus! Also available for purchase) Highly Recommended


Gaebelein, Arno C., The Revelation: An Analysis and Exposition of the Last Book of the Bible: Loizeaux Brothers, 1915


Geisler, Norman.


Guzik, David. Verse by Verse Commentary: Revelation. Enduring Word Media.


Ironside, H. A. Lectures on the Revelation: Neptune, N.J.: Loizeaux Brothers, 1920


Johnson, Alan. Revelation in the Expositor's Bible Commentary.


Kaiser, Walter

 

Keathley, Hampton


Lindsey, Hal. There’s a New World Coming: A Prophetic Odyssey: Eugene, Ore.: Harvest House, 1973


MacArthur, J.
Revelation 1-11 and 12-22. Chicago: Moody Press, 1999


J. Vernon McGee. Thru the Bible With J. Vernon McGee. Thomas Nelson December, 1988.

 

Morris, Henry M. The Revelation Record: A Scientific and Devotional Commentary on the Book of Revelation: Tyndale House, 1983 (Note that this is not Leon Morris who is categorized below!)


Newell, William R. The Book of the Revelation: Chicago: Moody Press,1935 (devotional flavor)


Pentecost, J. Dwight.


Phillips, John. Exploring Revelation. Chicago: Moody Press. 1874


Ribeira (1537-91) Jesuit scholar held almost all events are future and apply to the end times


Ryrie, Charles Caldwell. Revelation: Chicago, Ill.: Moody Press, 1968


Seiss, J. A. The Apocalypse: Lectures on the Book of Revelation: Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1957


Smith, J.B. A Revelation of Jesus Christ . Scottdale, Pa.: Herald, 1961. (also dispensationalist)


Stedman, Ray C. God’s Final Word: Understanding Revelation: Grand Rapids: Discovery House, 1991


Strauss, Lehman. The Book of the Revelation: Neptune, NJ.: Loizeaux Brothers, 1964


Tenney, Merrill C. Interpreting Revelation . Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1957. (also dispensationalist)


Thomas, Robert L. Revelation 1–7: An Exegetical Commentary. Chicago: Moody, 1992.


Thomas, Robert L. Revelation 8–22: An Exegetical Commentary. Chicago: Moody, 1995.


Walvoord, John F. The Revelation of Jesus Christ . Chicago: Moody, 1966.  (also dispensationalist)


Wiersbe, Warren. Be Victorious. Wheaton: Victor Books, 1985.

 

HISTORICIST

 

Barnes, Albert. Revelation in Notes on the New Testament; Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1884–85


Calvin, John


Clarke, Adam. Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Holy Bible: Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1967


Edwards, Jonathan


Elliott, E.B. Horae Apocalypticae . 4 vols. Eng. tr. 3d ed. London: Seeley, Burnside, and Seeley, 1828


Gill, John. Commentary of the Whole Bible.


Henry, Matthew. Acts to Revelation, vol. 6 in Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Old Tappan, N.J.: Fleming H. Revell


Knox, John.


Ladd, George E. A Commentary on the Revelation of John . Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1972. (Historical premillennial, some classify as more futurist, others as preterist-futurist! He is difficult to categorize)


Luther, Martin


Newton, Sir Isaac: The Prophecies of Daniel & the Apocalypse. 1733.


Torrey, R. A. The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge: Old Tappan, NJ.: Fleming H. Revell (Historical premillennialist)


Spurgeon, C H is classified as a Historicist: Keep this in mind when reading his sermons on the Revelation

 

Utley, Bob - Bible Lessons International, Marshall, Texas


Wesley, John


Whitefield, George

 

IDEALIST (SPIRITUAL)

 

Alford, Henry. The Revelation in The Greek Testament, revised by Everett R Harrison (Chicago: Moody Press) 1958.


Calkins, Raymond. The Social Message of the Book of Revelation. New York: Woman's, 1920.


Carrington, Philip. The Meaning of the Revelation . New York: Macmillan, 1931.


Cleveland: Corpus Books, 1968. Rissi, Mathias. Time and History. Richmond: John Knox, 1966.


Hendriksen, W. More Than Conquerors . Grand Rapids: Baker, 1940.


Kiddle, Martin. The Revelation of St. John . MNT. New York: Harper, 1940.


Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. New Testament commentary: Exposition of the Book of Revelation. Baker House. 1953-2001.

 

Lenski, R. C. H. The Interpretation of St. John’s Revelation: Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1943


Milligan, William. The Book of Revelation . ExB. Hodder & Stoughton, 1909.


Minear, Paul S. I Saw a New Earth: An Introduction to the Visions of the Apocalypse. Cleveland: Corpus Books, 1968


Morey, Earl. Notes on Revelation in The Spirit-Filled Life Bible, Jack W. Hayford, Gen. ed: Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991


Rissi, Mathias. Time and History . Richmond: John Knox, 1966.


Vincent, Marvin. Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament. Hendrickson Publishers, 1985


Wilcock, Michael. I Saw Heaven Opened: The Message of Revelation: Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1975


Wilson, Geoffrey B. Revelation: Durham, England: Evangelical Press, 1985

 

PRETERIST

 

Adams, Jay. The Time is at Hand: Phillipsburg, New Jersey: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Co, 1966.


Ashcraft, Morris. Hebrews—Revelation The Broadman Bible Commentary v12: Clifton J. Alien, Gen. ed,  Nashville: Broadman Press, 1972


Barclay, William. The Revelation of John. Philadelphia: Westminister Press, 1976.


Beasley-Murray, G.R. "The Revelation." NBC rev. Edited by D. Guthrie, et al. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1970.


Beckwith, Isbon T. The Apocalypse of John . New York: Macmillan, 1922.


Berkouwer, G. C. The Return of Christ. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1972.

 

Bruce, F. F. "The Revelation to John." In A New Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1969.


Byrum, C. S., Parvin S. Unlocking the Mysteries 150 FAQs About Revelation and the End of the World. Nashville: Abingdon, 1999.


Caird, G.B. The Revelation of St. John the Divine. Harper's New Testament Commentaries . New York: Harper, 1966.


Charles, R.H. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Revelation of St. John . 2 vols. Edinburgh: 1920.


Chilton, David. The Days of Vengeance: An Exposition of the Book of Revelation: Ft. Worth, Tex.: Dominion Press, 1987

 

Ford, J. Massyngberde. Revelation . AB. New York: Doubleday, 1975.


Gentry, Kenneth. The Beast of Revelation (2002), Before Jerusalem Fell (1998).


Glasson, T. F. The Revelation of John. The Cambridge Bible Commentary on the New English Bible . 1965.

 

Hanegraaff, Hank The Apocalypse Code: Find Out What the Bible REALLY Says About the End Times (Note: Unfortunately this author is well known and this book will propagate a teaching which is distinctly opposed to literal, natural, normal interpretation of the Scriptures. E.g., Hanegraaff teaches that Nero was the Beast of Revelation! This book is definitely NOT RECOMMENDED if you REALLY want to understand what God said in the Revelation of Jesus Christ!  - See Well Done Review of this Book by Thomas Ice - e)


Harrington, Wilfred J. The Apocalypse of St. John: A Commentary . London: Geoffrey Chapman, 1969.


Heidt, William G. The Book of the Apocalypse. New Testament Reading Guide . Collegeville, Minn.: Liturgical, 1962.


Morris, Leon. The Revelation of St. John . Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1969 (Also categorized as "Spiritual")


Mounce, Robert H. The Book of Revelation: New International Commentary on the NT: Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1977 (Note: also categorized as preterist-futurist)


Metzger, Bruce. Breaking the Code Understanding the Book of Revelation. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1993.


Pieters, Albertus. Studies in the Revelation of St. John . Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1954.


Sproul, R. C.: Sproul, R. The last days according to Jesus. Grand Rapids: Baker Books. 1998


Summers, Ray. Worthy Is the Lamb. Nashville: Broadman, 1951.


Sweet, J.P.M. Revelation. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1979.


Swete, Henry Barclay. The Apocalypse of St. John. New York: Macmillan, 1906.

  

Tony Garland
(Futuristic View)
A Testimony of Jesus Christ
Verse by verse commentary

This work is
highly recommended as one of the better conservative resources available anywhere.
Also available as a download [click] for
e-Sword or
with
Libronix if you have Libronix Personal Book Builder
It can also be purchased as 1 of 6 commentaries on the
Revelation of Jesus Christ

Revelation 1

Revelation 2

Revelation 3

Revelation 4

Revelation 5

Revelation 6

Revelation 7

Revelation 8

Revelation  9

Revelation 10

Revelation 11

Revelation 12

Revelation 13

Revelation 14

Revelation 15

Revelation 16

Revelation 17

Revelation 18

Revelation 19

Revelation 20

Revelation 21

Revelation 22

Dave Guzik
Notes on Revelation
(Futuristic View)

Revelation 1

Revelation 2

Revelation 3

Revelation 4

Revelation 5

Revelation 6

Revelation  7

Revelation  8

Revelation  9

Revelation 10

Revelation 11

Revelation 12

Revelation 13

Revelation 14

Revelation 15

Revelation 16

Revelation 17

Revelation 18

Revelation 19

Revelation 20

Revelation 21

Revelation 22

--

--

Hampton Keathley III
(Futuristic View)
Commentary on the Revelation

Foundations for the Study of Prophecy (Revelation)

The Introduction Proper (Revelation)

Revelation 1:1-8 The Prologue

Revelation 1:9-20 The Things Past

Revelation 2:1-7 The Message to Ephesus

Revelation 2:8-11 The Message to Smyrna

Revelation 2:12-17 The Message to Pergamum

Revelation 2:18-29 The Message to Thyatira

Revelation 3:1-6 The Message to Sardis

Revelation 3:7-13 The Message to Philadelphia

Revelation 3:14-22 The Message to Laodicea

Revelation 4:1-22:21 Introduction to the Things Predictive

Revelation 5:1-14 Seven Sealed Book and Lion Who was Also Lamb

Revelation 6:1-17 The Six Seals

Revelation 7:1-17 The Redeemed of the Tribulation

Revelation 8:1-13 The First Four Trumpet Judgments

Revelation 9:1-20 The Fifth and Sixth Trumpets, and First Two Woes

Revelation 10:1-11 The Angel and the Little Book

Revelation 11:1-19 The Temple, Two Witnesses, Seventh Trumpet

Revelation 12:1-17 The Angelic Conflict

Revelation 13:1-18 The Beast and the False Prophet

Revelation 14:1-20 Special Announcements

Revelation 15:1-8 Prelude to the Seven Last Plagues

Revelation 16:1-21 The Bowl Judgments

Revelation 17-18 Babylon as Seen in Scripture: An Introduction to Revelation 17-18

Revelation 17:1-18 The Judgment of Religious Babylon

Revelation 18:1-24 Destruction of Commercial Babylon

Revelation 19:1-21 The Second Coming of Christ

Revelation 20:1-15 The Reign of Christ and the Great White Throne

Revelation 21:1-22:5 The Eternal State

Revelation 22:6-21 The Epilogue

Revelation - Appendix 1: Support for Imminency

Revelation - Appendix 2: Nature of Divine Blessings Grace/ Peace

Revelation - Appendix 3: Who Are the Overcomers?

Revelation - Appendix 4: Seven Subtle Snares of Worldliness

Revelation - Appendix 5: The Doctrine of the Tribulation

Revelation - Appendix 6: The Book of Life

Revelation - Appendix 7: Glossary of Prophetical Terms

Illustrations on Revelation
from 10,000 Illustrations
Click Illustrations

 *

John MacArthur
(Futuristic View)
Sermons on Revelation

A Jet Tour Through Revelation

Revelation 1 Christ’s Commitment to His Church

Revelation 1:1 Back to the Future, Part 1

Revelation 1:1-6 Back to the Future, Part 2

Revelation 1:4-17 Christ’s Role in the Church Today

Revelation 1:7-8 The Certainty of the Second Coming

Revelation 1:9-17 The Vision of the Glorified Son, Part 1

Revelation 1:10-20 Christ at Work In His Church

Revelation 1:17-19 The Vision of the Glorified Son, Part 2

Revelation 2-3 Diligence and Decline in the Church

Revelation 2-3 Satan's Plans For The Church

Revelation 2-3 The Danger Facing the Church

Revelation 2-3 The Death of the Loveless Church

Revelation 2-3 The Ministry of Christ to His Church

Revelation 2:1‑7 Ephesus: When Love Grows Cold

Revelation 2:1-7 Rekindling Your Love for Christ

Revelation 2:8-11 Smyrna: The Suffering Church

Revelation 2:12-17 Pergamos: The Church at Satan's Throne

Revelation 2:18-20 Thyatira: The Church That Tolerates Sin, Part 1

Revelation 2:18-29 Thyatira: The Church That Tolerates Sin, Pt. 2

Sardis: The Dead Church (66-11) (Revelation 3:1-6)

Revelation 3:7-11 Divine Blessing for a Faithful Church, Part 1

Revelation 3:7 Philadelphia: The Faithful Church, Part 1