Product Description

Here is a readable, reliable guide to the book of Revelation that thoughtfully engages the questions people most often ask about this difficult book of the Bible.

Craig Koester provides sound, informed commentary on each section of the book of Revelation, drawing on the best recent scholarship and contemporizing his discussion with references to events like the siege at Waco, the phenomenal sales of the Left Behind series, and the use of Revelation in hymnody and art. Based on two decades of teaching Revelation to seminary students, pastors, and lay groups, this finely tuned discussion strikes an ideal balance between taking the text’s first-century context seriously and making Revelation relevant to twenty-first-century readers.

Notable for its clarity and insight, Revelation and the End of All Things makes an excellent resource for church, group, and personal Bible study.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #21241 in Books
• Published on: 2001-05
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 209 pages

Customer Reviews

A deep book, but at times a difficult premise
I had a hard time with this book. I started out liking it, and I do 'get it', but I cannot agree with the overall conclusion of the book: that the book of revelation is simply a book applicable for any time in history where persecution and compromise are widespread. As I search through several different bibles, look at the world today in light of history, and search my own feelings about what John was actually writing about and to whom, I am struck with the overwhelming conclusion that the revelation was and is anything but a kind of fuzzy, nonspecific book of the bible. Far from it. It takes more than scholarly logic to understand it. It takes faith. Either you 'see the signs of the times' or you have closed your eyes to the obvious. This was one of my main problems with the book.
Nonetheless, if you have the patience, it may be a different perspective worth reading about, if only to see a 'possibly' incorrect interpretation. David W.

Pretty good explanation of this book of The Bible
The author presents the book of revelation in a clear cut and easy to understand manner. Also, it doesn't come across of being biased as some books of theology can be. I would recommend it to anyone interested in the topic.

OK But not the best short summary of Revelation
The introductory material was interesting, but I did not find the actual commentary particularly insightful. The author tends to repeat himself a lot, making the same comment or point numerous times in a chapter and during the book. He also ignores/misses much of the recapitulatory nature of the book. After criticizing dispensational premillenial views (and justly so) in the introduction, he fails to recognize that chapter 20 of Revelation begins a new cycle, taking us back to the first advent of Christ and the binding of Satan. He therefore tacks on the binding of Satan and the start of the millenial period AFTER the return of Christ and the end of history in chapter 19...i.e. he takes a premillenial view. The "great supper of God" in 19:17 is an image of hell. Notice the reference to "the wine press of the fierce wrath of God" in 19:15, which forms a parallel to the reference to hell in 14:19-20. Hence, chapter 20 begins a new cycle and goes back to cover the entire church age. Koester misses this and ends up not offering a particularly coherent or insightful perspective on the millenium, among other things.

Instead of Koester's book, I would recommend More Than Conquerors by William Hendriksen and The Returning King by Vern Poythress as superior short commentaries/guidebooks on Revelation. Both are idealist/amillenial in perspective, they get the structure of Revelation right, and they are more insightful in my opinion. Also excellent is the mid-sized commentary Triumph of the Lamb by Dennis Johnson.