Annotated Bibliography for the Book of Revelation

Kaiser, Walter C., and Moisés Silva. An Introduction to Biblical Hermeneutics: The Search for Meaning. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994.

This atlas provides what is perhaps the best map available of the ancient Roman province of Asia, including the ancient roads.

Deissmann, Adolf. Light from the Ancient East. English edition: London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1922. Reprint: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1978.

Deissmann, though dated, has a good discussion of the archaeological basis for an understanding of 666 based on genatria.

In a masterful and beautifully written volume, Stauffer surveys the nature of the conflict between the Kingdom of God and the kingdoms of men, especially as manifested by the Roman emperors who first confronted Christianity. His technical discussion of 666 (found above under “Special Studies on the Apocalypse”) is here summarized on a more popular level.

Willis, Wendell. Idol Meat at Corinth: The Pauline Argument in 1 Corinthians 8 and 10. Chico, CA: Scholars, 1985.

This is one of the most detailed and helpful treatments of the first-century controversy over the syncretism of Christianity with paganism.

Yamauchi, Edwin A. New Testament Cities in Western Asia Minor. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1980.

This earlier volume is still an excellent and up-to-date resource for the history and archaeology of the Seven Cities of Asia. Yamauchi puts the reader in touch with the important sources for doing additional research.

COMMENTARIES ON THE APOCALYPSE

Aune, David E. Revelation. Word Biblical Commentary. 3 vols. Dallas, TX: Word, 1997.

This is perhaps the most extensive commentary on Revelation in the English language, replete with extensive notes and references. This commentary assumes a knowledge of the original languages. Aune is especially good for historical and cultural background.

Barclay, William. The Revelation of John. Daily Study Bible. 2 vols. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1976.

Barclay is one of the best commentaries on a popular level. He is particularly good for historical and cultural background, as well as word studies of the Greek. Barclay is careful to make practical applications for each section. The entire text is divided into segments that can be read in about 15 minutes each.

Beale, G. K. The Book of Revelation: A Commentary on the Greek Text. The New International Greek Testament Commentary. I. Howard Marshall and Donald A. Hagner, eds. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1999.

Beale holds to what he calls an eclectic interpretation but is primarily idealist. Revelation, he believes, portrays the perennial conflict between good and evil. He tends to agree with the preterists regarding the meaning for the original readers but affirms that they book has a greater meaning for all ages. Amen!

Beasley-Murray, G. R. The Book of Revelation. New Century Bible Commentary. London: Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1974. Reprint: Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1981.

Beasley-Murray emphasizes the meaning for the original readers but also sees Revelation as in some way a prophecy of the end times. Yet Beasley-Murray is much more reserved about this than many are. His commentary is intended for the serious Bible student, but no knowledge of the original languages is necessary.

Beckwith, Ibson T. The Apocalypse of John: Studies in Introduction, with a Critical and Exegetical Commentary. London: Macmillan, 1919. Reprint: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1979.

Beckwith is a detailed treatment of the Greek text with extensive notes and references. The reader needs a knowledge of Hebrew and Greek to use it to its fullest potential. It is also nearly 100 years old, and therefore it lacks information that has only come to light more recently, particularly in the fields of lexicography and archaeology.

Caird, G. B. A Commentary on the Revelation of St. John the Divine. Harper’s New Testament Commentaries. New York: Harper & Row, 1966.

Caird has written an excellent commentary that uses the original languages in a way that makes them accessible to the nonexpert. This is a good resource to find out what is the range of viewpoints on any passage in the Apocalypse. Unfortunately, however, it does not have as many references and notes as Mounce, but it is on about the same level of difficulty.

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

This is another critical commentary on the Greek text, written by an acknowledged expert in apocalyptic literature. Charles will provide you with as much depth as you need. His introduction is extensive, especially his work on Revelation’s use of the Old Testament. This commentary is dated, however, because of all of the archaeology and lexicography that has been done since 1920. If you must study only one critical commentary, Aune is a much more up-to-date choice.

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

Chilton is the most recent of a number of commentaries that interpret Revelation as concerning the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in a.d. 70. Childton is part of the Reconstruction Movement, also know as the Dominion Movement, which appears to be postmillennial is its eschatology.

Düsterdieck, Friedrich. Critical and Exegetical Handbook to the Revelation of John. 6th ed. Henry E. Jacobs, trans. New York: Funk & Wagnalls, 1884. Reprint: Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1983.

Düsterdieck contains much useful information, but everything true about Beckwith applies here as well.

Graham, Billy. Approaching Hoofbeats: The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Waco, TX: Word, 1987.

Graham writes on a popular level, assuming but neither explaining nor defending the dispensational viewpoint.

Gregg, Steve, ed. Revelation: four views: a parallel commentary. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1997.

Gregg provides us with an excellent way to compare these four interpretations of the text, chapter by chapter: preterist, hitoricist, futurist, and spiritual. He quotes a variety of representatives for each view throughout the book. No knowledge of the original languages is necessary. This kind of commentary obviously hits the highlights only. One could wish that Gregg were more careful in identifying his sources.

Hailey, Homer. Revelation: An Introduction and Commentary. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1979.

Hailey is a well-respected Bible preacher and teacher within the Restoration Movement. His commentary is on a popular level, though it is clear he consulted some of the best commentaries available in English. There is no need for Hebrew or Greek to use this volume. Hailey provides a good introduction to the historical background. Hailey provides a good refutation of the destruction of Jerusalem viewpoint (Hailey focuses on Wallace in this regard).

Hendriksen, William. More Than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1940.

This is an excellent popular commentary. Hendriksen is especially good at explain the principle of recapitulation, which is vital to understanding Revelation properly. His interpretation, however, tends to focus on the broad picture. He is not the one to consult when you want specific and detailed information.

King, Max R. The Spirit of Prophecy. [Warren, OH]: Max R. King, 1971.

The first half of this book written by a preacher of the Restoration Movement explains the author’s eschatology. The last half is his commentary on the Book of Revelation, interpreting it as a prediction of the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in a.d. 70. See McGuiggan’s debate with him, listed below, for a detailed refutation of the viewpoint King shares with David Chilton and Foy E. Wallace, Jr., among others.

LaHaye, Tim. Revelation Illustrated and Made Plain. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1973. Revised and republished in 1999 as Revelation Unveiled.

LaHaye is a leading representative of the dispensational point of view whose “Left Behind” series of novels have done much to renew interest in eschatology, though they mislead an uninformed public. See my extensive analysis of his commentaries and the book he recently co-authored with Jerry Jenkins, Are We Living in the End Times?

Lindsey, Hal. There’s a New World Coming: A Prophetic Odyssey. Santa Ana, CA: Vision House, [1973].

Lindsey presents the dispensational point of view on Revelation. He understands the seven churches as symbols, though they should be understood literally, and he takes many of the images in the Apocalypse literally when they are really symbolic. All is presented in a newsy, matter-of-fact manner, as if this were the proven results of biblical scholarship!

Massyngberde-Ford, J. Revelation: Introduction, Translation and Commentary. The Anchor Bible. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1975.

Massynberde-Ford believes that the Apocalypse is a patchwork of editing based on a pre-Christian apocalypse originating from John the Baptizer and his disciples. Her theories have been rejected by virtually all Revelation scholars. The value of the book lies in its fresh, idiomatic paraphrase of the Greek text.

McGuiggan, Jim. The Book of Revelation. W. Monroe, LA: William C. Johnson, [1976].

I owe much to McGuiggan’s refutation of both the dispensational and the destruction of Jerusalem viewpoints. He writes on a popular level, with strong emphasis on practical application. Read this in conjunction with his other books listed below.

Morris, Leon. The Book of Revelation: an Introduction and Commentary. The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1987.

Morris is an excellent scholar who has made particular study of apocalyptic literature (see his other publications under “Special Works on the Apocalypse” and “Studies on Biblical Prophecy”). Despite his depth, he is able to keep his commentary understandable for the non-expert. My two criticisms of his commentary are both due to mandates from the editors of the Tyndale series. His commentary is based on the King James Version, whose translators, unfortunately, only had access to the later manuscripts. The earlier manuscripts differ from the later ones in numerous places, and are often more likely original. Morris is capable of detailed commentaries (see his treatment of Thessalonians and the Fourth Gospel in the New International New Testament Commentary series). But he was forced to keep this one short, which makes it disappointing in places.

Mounce, Robert H. The Book of Revelation. New International New Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1977.

This is one of the best commentaries on Revelation for the non-expert. Even though it is not necessary to know the original languages to use this volume, the scholar can also benefit from its insights and careful notes. If you want more than an overview and do not know the original languages, this one would be hard to beat.

Roberts, J. W. The Revelation of John (The Apocalypse). The Living Word Commentary. Austin, TX: Sweet, 1974.

Roberts was a first-class Greek scholar, and it shows in his excellent commentary, which nevertheless is intended for preachers and teachers of the Restoration Movement. Only the most important sources are mentioned here, however. If you use Roberts, you will often wish he had said more on specific, puzzling passages.

Stuart, Moses. A Commentary on the Apocalypse. 2 vols. Andover, MA: Allen, Morrill & Wardwell, 1845.

Of course, Stuart is out of date, but it was an excellent commentary for its day and still provides many insights. He does assume some knowledge of the original languages. His discussion of the history of the interpretation of 666 is one of the most thorough up to his own day.

Summers, Ray. Worthy is the Lamb: An Interpretation of Revelation. Nashville, TN: Broadman, 1951.

Summers is a good commentary written on a popular level. He has an especially good chapter on interpretive methods for Revelation. He constantly (and correctly) asks, “What would this have meant for the original readers?” Because Summers concentrates on the big picture, he refuses to discuss many of the details.

Sweet, John. Revelation. TPI New Testament Commentaries. London: SCM, 1979.

Sweet’s approach—starting with hermeneutics and seeking to understand Revelation form the viewpoint of the original readers—is very similar to mine. His commentary begins with an excellent synopsis of Revelation, chapter by chapter. No acquaintance with the original languages is needed. You might be disappointed if you want a full discussion of a particular passage, but this commentary is worth reading.

Swete, Henry B. The Apocalypse of St. John. London: Macmillan, 1908. Reprint: Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, n.d.

This is another excellent commentary on the Greek text. Comments on Beckwith, however, would also apply to Swete.

Wallace, Foy E., Jr. The Book of Revelation: Consisting of a Commentary on the Apocalypse of the New Testament. Nashville, TN: F. E. Wallace, 1966.

This famous preacher of the Restoration Movement wrote a large commentary to defend the destruction of Jerusalem interpretation. His point of view experienced a revival in the commentaries of Max R. King and David Chilton.

SPECIAL STUDIES ON THE APOCALYPSE

Aune, David E. “The Influence of the Roman Imperial Court Ceremonial on the Apocalypse of John.” Papers of the Chicago Society of Biblical Research 28 (1983): 5–26.

Gagniers, Jean des, et al. Laodicée du Lycos: Le Nymphée, Campagnes, 1961–1963. Quebec: l’Université Laval, 1969.

This is written entirely in French, but it features excellent maps and diagrams of the archaeological work at Laodicea.

Goulder does an excellent job of show the parallels between Revelation and Ezekiel. Whether Goulder is right about the use of Revelation in a cycle of liturgical readers is another issue that I prefer to ignore as relatively unimportant.

Gundry, a chiliast, presents much that is valuable about the symbolism involved in the New Jerusalem of Rev. 21:1 – 22:5. Unfortunately, however, he advocates taking the opulence of the city literally, suggesting that Christians of the new earth will be fabulously wealthy. If the city is symbolic, so are the precious metals and precious stones—symbolic of the immeasurable spiritual wealth that we have in Christ.

This important work updates the books by William Ramsay on the historical, cultural, and archaeological background for the seven churches of Asia. Hemer attempts to relate all of this background to the text of Rev. 2 and 3. Perhaps he goes too far in places, but his work is helpful nonetheless.

This is a travel guide to the Seven Cities, with good maps, diagrams, and photographs. It also makes some spiritual applications.

This is a good tour guide for Patmos and the Seven Cities. It includes maps, diagrams, and photographs.

This is an excellent and readable short book summarizing Metzger’s understanding of the Apocalypse. I like it so much that I have used it as a supplementary text when I taught Revelation as a university course. In this book, Metzger does not assume that you know Hebrew and Greek.

Moyise devotes a chapter each to Revelation’s use of Ezekiel and Daniel. His conclusion is noteworthy: Revelation employs the imagery and often even the wording of the Hebrew Bible, through it also transforms the meaning behind the images and the words.

Paher argues in favor of an early dating for the writing of Revelation and favors an amillennial, preterist interpretation applied to the destruction of Jerusalem. His forté is in providing historical background.

Pate provides us with a good resource for comparing competing and often contradictory interpretations. Keep hermeneutics in mind as you read this and similar books.

Ramsay was a classical scholar who spent his academic holidays exploring Turkey and Greece to gain insight into the biblical text. His book is good for cultural and geographical background for the Seven Churches, but it is out of date. Much archaeological work on this area has been done since Ramsay’s time. Use this along with Yamauchi and Hemer’s more recent books.

Reader examines the three major lines scholars have followed to explain the meaning of the precious stones listed as part of the foundations of the New Jerusalem. Reader concludes that none of them adequately explains Revelation’s use of the stones, though he does suggest that its connotations must spring from Judaism. His article provides access to the many resources available for a thorough study of this perplexing passage.

Schaff has an excellent discussion of 666.

Stauffer’s suggestion that 666 represents the numerical values of the inscribed abbreviations on a coin of Domitian. Each of the abbreviations in Stauffer’s proposed inscription is attested on surviving coins of Domitian. The required combination of all of them on one coin, however, has not yet been discovered.

This is another tour guide of Patmos, featuring the history, maps, diagrams, and photographs. Stone goes into more depth about Patmos than Meinardes does.

This is an eminently practical series of sermons on the Letters to the Seven Churches. Stott’s modern applications are a model of hermeneutics properly applied.

Thomas shows how taking the Seven Churches of Asia as symbols of seven successive ages of church history has no foundation in the text and flies in the face of what is present in chapters 2–3 and elsewhere.

Thompson takes a highly creative and original approach to the Apocalypse. His work on the history of Domitian’s reign is particularly valuable because it relies less on the contemporary historians Tacitus and Suetonius (biased against Domitian) and more on other evidence, such as inscriptions and official decrees from Domitian’s reign.

Underwood provides us with a good discussion on 666, not as a biblical scholar or theologian but as a mathematician. Underwood also discusses the bar code as well as why the number 666 comes up so often in daily life. All of this and more constitutes his attempt to dispel superstition and quell fears.

Allis has provided an excellent critique of the hermeneutics of dispensationalism, especially its principle of literalness.

This work demonstrates the relatively recent origins of dispensationalism and also clearly exposes its wrong assumptions and hermeneutical weaknesses. See my section on dispensationalism for frequent references to Bass.

Camp takes end-times teachers and various date-setters to task for irresponsibly exploiting latent fears about the future and ill-informed suspicions about hidden conspiracies. Camp is excellent for his historical survey of end-times teachers from World War II to the end of the Cold War.

This is one of the best resources available for studying about the millennium, because you each hear an advocate of each position present his position, and then defend it against the responses of the other participants. The four views are presented by leading advocates of each: historic premillennialism – George Eldon Ladd, dispensational premillennialism – Herman A. Hoyt, postmillennialism – Loraine Boettner, and amillennialism – Anthony A. Hoekema.