“Highly recommended”
Tim Chester has written an excellent basic introduction to Revelation. He takes the view that Revelation is not just about the future, but had an application to John’s readers as well as talking about future events. He follows those who think that Revelation is not a sequential description of events, but views the same events from different angles, as is sometimes done in films: each of the seven seals, trumpets and bowls describe the same events, ending with the final judgement. Even if one takes a different position, there is still much that one can learn from the commentary. Tim explains well the Old Testament background and events in the first century which help explain the imagery. He makes many pastoral applications and exhortations which help us to apply Revelation to our personal lives and to God’s people generally. In particular, he emphasises the importance of our witness in a hostile world. Above all, the book exalts Christ, which was one of John’s key aims in recording his visions. Highly recommended.
