Revelation (Book of) - Apocalypse

The last book of the Bible—also known as the Apocalypse—consists of a series of visions given to John while he was an exile on the island of Patmos. It has 22 chapters. "It is a fascinating book that has attracted, through the centuries, a great deal of interest and study, and reflection ans, as we know, also a great deal silliness." What is important as we reflect on, teach and preach the book is to find the truth and blessings in the book and avoid the silliness.

The book of Revelation is popularly thought to be confusing and difficult to understand. The problem has to do, first, with its genre, the particular type of literature it is. The problem, however, is also made worse by all sorts of silly speculations and so-called 'prophetic' preachings that have found a prominent place in the popular press and on the web (esp. in North America). But Revelation was intended as a letter and, therefore, meant to be understood. And preached. Do not be put off by the difficulties. Rather strive all the more to understand it. It will take hard work but God never promised us preachers an easy life.

Media Resources:

Blessed Hope: The Book of Revelation. Dr W Robert Godfrey. Lignier Ministries. This is a series of 24 lectures on the book of Revelation. Video N

The Proclamation Trust has a wonderful treasure trove of expositions given by various—including, very importantly, women— speakers on different occasions. Once the site opens, click on the "All bible books" filter to select 'Revelation.' You may wish to bookmark the page so that you can later locate resources on other subjects as well.

Further Reading & Resources:

Willem Altink, "1 Chronicles 16:8-36 as literary source for Revelation 14:6-7," Andrews University Seminary Studies 22.2 (Summer 1984): 187-196. Pdf N

David E. Aune, "St John's Portrait of the Church in the Apocalypse," The Evangelical Quarterly 38.3 (July-Sept. 1966): 131-149. Pdf N

Richard J. Bauckham, "The Role of the Spirit in the Apocalypse," Evangelical Quarterly 52.2 (Apr.-June. 1980): 66-83. Pdf N

Gregory K. Beale, "The Danielic Background for Revelation 13-18 and 17:9," Tyndale Bulletin 31 (1980): 163-170. Pdf N

George R. Beasley-Murray, "The Second Coming in the Book of Revelation," The Evangelical Quarterly 23.1 (1951): 40-45. Pdf N

G.R. Beasley-Murray, "How Christian is the Book of Revelation?" Robert Banks, ed., Reconciliation and Hope. New Testament Essays on Atonement and Eschatology Presented to L.L. Morris on his 60th Birthday. Carlisle: The Paternoster Press, 1974. pp.275-284. Pdf N

Ralph G. Bowles "Does Revelation 14:11 Teach Eternal Torment? Examining a Proof-text on Hell," The Evangelical Quarterly 73.1 (Jan.-Mar. 2001): 21-36. Pdf N

James L. Boyer, "Are the Seven Letters of Revelation 2-3 Prophetic?" Grace Theological Journal 6.2 (1985) 267-273. Pdf N

R. Alastair Campbell, "Triumph and Delay: the Interpretation of Revelation 19:11-20:10," The Evangelical Quarterly 80.1 (January 2008): 3-12. Pdf N

Gordon Campbell, "How to say what. Story and Interpretation in the Book of Revelation," Irish Biblical Studies 23.3 (July 2001): 111-134. Pdf N

Gordon Campbell, "True and False Proclamation in the Book of Revelation, Part I," Irish Biblical Studies 25.2 (2003): 60-73. Pdf N

Gordon Campbell, "True and False Proclamation in the Book of Revelation, Part II," Irish Biblical Studies 25.3 (2003): 106-120. Pdf N

Gordon Campbell, "Antithetical Feminine-Urban Imagery and a Tale of Two Women-Cities in the Book of Revelation," Tyndale Bulletin 55.1 (2004): 81-108. Pdf N

J. Daryl Charles, "An apocalyptic tribute to the Lamb (Rev 5:1-14)," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 34.4 (Dec. 1991): 461-473. Pdf N

J. Daryl Charles, "Imperial Pretensions and the Throne-Vision of the Lamb: Observations on the Function of Revelation 5," Criswell Theological Review 7.1 (1993) 85-97. Pdf N

Dale Ralph Davis, "Relationship between the seals, trumpets, and bowls in the Book of Revelation," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 16.3 (Summer 1973): 149-158. Pdf N

Matthijs den Dulk, "The Promises to the Conquerors in the Book of Revelation,"Biblica 87 (2006) 516-522. Pdf N

James du Preez, "Mission Perspective in the Book of Revelation," The Evangelical Quarterly 42.3 (July-Sept. 1970): 152-167. Pdf N

J. William Fuller, "'I will not erase his name from the book of life' (Revelation 3:5)," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 26.3 (Sept. 1983): 297-306. Pdf N

Laurie Guy, "Back to the Future: The Millennium and the Exodus in Revelation 20," Evangelical Quarterly 86.3 (July 2014): 227-238. Pdf N

Gale Z. Heide, "What Is New about the New Heaven and the New Earth? A Theology of Creation from Revelation 21 and 2 Peter 3,"Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 40.1 (March 1997): 37-56. Pdf N

Norman Hillyer, "'The Lamb' in the Apocalypse," The Evangelical Quarterly 39.4 (Oct.-Dec. 1967): 228-236. Pdf N

Stephen L. Homcy, "'To Him Who Overcomes': A Fresh Look at What 'Victory' Means for the Believer According to the Book of Revelation," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 38.2 (June 1995): 193-201. Pdf N

Edwin A. Judge, "The Mark of the Beast, Revelation 13:16," Tyndale Bulletin 42.1 (1991): 158-160. Pdf N

Beate Kowalski, "Martyrdom and Resurrection in the Revelation to John," Andrews University Seminary Studies 10.1 (Jan. 1972): 55-64. Pdf N

George Eldon Ladd, "Apocalyptic and New Testament Theology," Robert Banks, ed., Reconciliation and Hope. New Testament Essays on Atonement and Eschatology Presented to L.L. Morris on his 60th Birthday. Carlisle: The Paternoster Press, 1974. pp.285-296. Pdf N

David J. MacLeod, "Heaven's Hallelujah Chorus: An Introduction to the Seven "Last Things"," Bibliotheca Sacra 156 (1999) 72-84. Pdf N

David Mathewson, "A re-examination of the millennium in Rev 20:1-6: consummation and recapitulation," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 44.2 (June 2001): 237-251. Pdf N

Dave Mathewson, "The Destiny of the Nations in Revelation 21:1-22:5: A Reconsideration," Tyndale Bulletin 53.1 (2002): 121-142. Pdf N

David Mathewson, "Assessing Old Testament Allusions in the Book of Revelation," The Evangelical Quarterly 75.4 (Oct.-Dec. 2003): 311-325. Pdf N

Thomas E. McComiskey, "Alteration of OT Imagery in the Book of Revelation: Its Hermeneutical and Theological Significance," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 36.3 (Sept. 1993): 307-316. Pdf N

Stephen L. Homcy, "'To Him Who Overcomes': A Fresh Look at What 'Victory' Means for the Believer According to the Book of Revelation," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 38.2 (June 1995): 193-201. Pdf N

Robert H. Mounce, "Pauline Eschatology and the Apocalypse," Evangelical Quarterly 46.3 (July-Sept. 1974): 164-166. Pdf N

Steve Moyise, "Authorial intention and the book of Revelation," Andrews University Seminary Studies 39.1 (Spring 2001): 35-40. Pdf N

Robert L. Muse, "Revelation 2-3: a critical analysis of seven prophetic messages," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 29.2 (June 1986): 147-161. Pdf N

C.G. Ozanne, "The Language of the Apocalypse," Tyndale Bulletin 16 (1965): 3-9. Pdf N

Sydney H.T. Page, "Revelation 20 and Pauline eschatology," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 23.1 (March 1980): 31-43. Pdf N

David Seal, "Shouting in the Apocalypse: The Influence of First-Century Acclamations on the Praise Utterances in Revelation 4:8 and 11," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 51.2 (June. 2008): 339-352. Pdf N

Christopher R. Smith, "Revelation 1:19: an eschatologically escalated prophetic convention," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 33.4 (Dec. 1990): 461-466. Pdf N

Andrew E. Steinmann, "The tripartite structure of the sixth seal, the sixth trumpet, and the sixth bowl of John's Apocalypse (Rev 6:12-7:17, 9:13-11:14, 16:12-16)," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 35.1 (March 1992): 69-79. Pdf N

R. Paul Stevens, "Poems for People in Distress: The Apocalypse of John and the Contemplative Life," Themelios 18.2 (January 1993): 11-14. Pdf N

Robert L. Thomas, "The spiritual gift of prophecy in Rev 22:18," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 32.2 (June 1989): 201-216. Pdf N

Robert L. Thomas, "The Structure of the Apocalypse: Recapitulation or Progression?" The Master's Seminary Journal 4.1 (Spring 1993): 45-66. Pdf N

Robert L. Thomas, "An Analysis of the Seventh Bowl of the Apocalypse," The Master's Seminary Journal 5.1 (Spring 1994): 73-96. Pdf N

Robert L. Thomas, "The "Comings" of Christ in Revelation 2-3," The Master's Seminary Journal 7.2 (Fall 1996): 153-81. Pdf N

Robert L. Thomas, "The spiritual gift of prophecy in Rev 22:18," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 32.2 (June 1989): 201-216. Pdf N

Robert L. Thomas, "Promises to Israel in the Apocalypse," The Master's Seminary Journal 19.1 (Spring 2008): 29-49. Pdf N

Adylson Valdez, "Number 666 and the Twelve Tribes of Israel," Revista Biblica 68/3-4 (2006) 191-214. Pdf N

Duane Warden, "Imperial persecution and the dating of 1 Peter and Revelation," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 34.2 (June 1991): 203-212. Pdf N

Timothy Wiarda, "Revelation 3:20: Imagery and Literary Context," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 38.2 (June 1995): 203-212. Pdf N

Daniel K.K. Wong, "The Beast from the Sea in Revelation 13," Bibliotheca Sacra 154, (Jul-Sep. 2003): 337-48. Pdf N

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