How to read Revelation

The first word of the entire book is "Apocalypse," which means "revelation." This word has come to be not only the title of this particular book but also the name given to an entire genre of literature that was common in Jewish circles a few centuries before the advent of the Christian faith.

Christians adopted this genre for their own literature. The first instance, and the one that gave its name to the entire apocalyptic genre, was the Apocalypse of John. Generally, apocalyptic literature addresses the issue of the suffering of the righteous at the hands of the unrighteous, and it does so by employing highly symbolic language that combines frequent use of metaphor with numbers that are given mysterious meanings.

This book by Justo L. González and Catherine Gunsalus González explains with great clarity the entire historical context and also the exegesis of the Book of Revelation; with great erudition, but in a very clear and pedagogical way, also connecting our circumstances to those of the first century. Injustice and idolatry still roam our society and the face of the earth. For these reasons, it is a great blessing that the Book of Revelation, with its terrifying warnings for those who prefer comfort and success over faithfulness, is part of our New Testament.

Here, two of the most important historians offer readers a highly accessible commentary, perfect for Bible study leaders or personal study.

A study of the Book of Revelation by John, as a guide for Christian faith and practice. It explains the biblical book and explores its meaning for living faithfully today.