The Returning King: A Guide to the Book of Revelation

Revelation is often noted for being one of the more difficult books of the Bible to absorb because of its profound imagery and symbols. Vern Poythress begins his book `The Returning King' by highlighting to readers that God anticipates our struggle with the text because Revelations is the only book in the whole Bible that begins with a blessing to assist readers with their comprehension of it.Poythress states one of the reasons many people are challenged with the last book of the Bible is because we attempt to over analyze it. He describes Revelation as a `picture' book, not a `puzzle' book, meaning that it's not intended to be shrouded in symbolic mystery; rather it's to elucidate events and truths at the end of history. In fact, Poythress suggests that children should be encouraged to read it because they will likely have an easier time understanding it.Several themes are identified by Poythress in his work. For example, one is the resolution of spiritual warfare between God and Satan. Another is Satan's attempts to counterfeit God's nature in the form of the unholy trinity: The Dragon, The Beast, and the False Prophet. Also, there is God's victory ultimate and final renewal of the world.Poythress offers various theories regarding the historical context of the work. He delivers plain explanations about how the images correlate with events throughout the Bible. Poythress admits that there are parts of Revelations he does not understand; therefore some of his commentary is interpretive. Because interpretation is not the same as an explanation or a translation some may be put off by his conclusions finding them unsubstantiated. Regardless, his commentary is consistently sensible.The book's strength rests in its ability to clarify the meaning of much of the imagery in Revelation and identifying patterns that help make reading the work more comprehensible. Additionally Poythress' writing is very accessible and he efficiently includes a great deal of information in a slim volume.This work is highly recommended to anyone who wishes to enhance their Bible study experience.

Book is perfect for my needs; a basic/layman level introduction to Revelation to work through with my wife in our daily Bible study together, interpreting Revelation from an amillennial/eclectist/inaugurated eschatology perspective. The author’s tone is very kind to other viewpoints and humble with respect to his own conclusions. Incidentally, you can find this book as an electronic book in html format at the author’s Frame/Poythress website; you can also find the author’s Revelation class lecture presentations on the website too, and find his audio course on the Westminster Theological Seminary website under Courses Archive. They complement the book very well, if you want to enrich your reading experience (although it’s optional as the book stands alone very well too). The book is extremely closely aligned, although predating book start by approx. one year, with Greg Beale’s approach in his Greek commentary on Revelation (for which you don’t need Greek to use well, and which is the exhaustive amill standard). Vern Poythress acknowledges the commentary in his introduction.Finally, the seller of the used version I purchased has really excellent customer service; she’s prompt and offered to provide me a credit due to an issue with the order. I’d definitely purchase from her again.

This is a quick read- a summary of Revelation from the A-Mill view. You can find it for free online, FYI

The strength of this book is its focus on celebrating the attributes of God. The author did a very good job bringing out the theme of the book of Revelation, which is that God will win in the end due to His nature, and He's looking out for us.I was also impressed with the quality of analysis that went in to the various outlines provided for the book of Revelation. There are actually three different outlines included. They will help people of any interpretive approach make better sense of the book.Since the author is an Amillennialist, I wish he'd spent more time pitching the theoretical strengths of that system. When, towards the end of the book, the millennium is addressed, it is quickly brushed aside as just another example of how God will win. While this is true in a sense, there was no attempt to refer to the literally hundreds of Old Testament references to it, and how they can be explained as allegories (as opposed to literal fulfillment).His argument that most people get more hung up on the puzzle than the pictures is an excellent one. For that reason, I'd suggest this book to anyone studying the book of Revelation.

This paperback on Revelation brings in a simple and refreshing perspective on Revelation. For example he suggests that children can understand Revelation...that we need to stop 'puzzling' over Revelation and enjoy the Panoramic pictures of this book. His 'down home' encouragement is exactly what this book is when laid side by side with Beale's NIGTC Commentary on Revelation. (The NIGTC is a technically dense work with many many references to all kinds of sources for each verse).Dr. Beale (2004's E.T.S. President) recommends this book as part of his course recommended reading on Revelation at Wheaton. Of the 8 or so books he recommends, this one sports a number of great visual concepts that do empower bible teachers and pastors. As a pastor who is preaching through Revelation from the Greek text, I found his material helpful on the application side of things.For example, on the four major views on Revelation Poythress supplies a great little visual diagram of how the four views look. Just the diagram alone can help many people understand the four different view (Preterist, Futurist, Historical, and Idealist) more than most commentaries would.The weakness is that you will not have comments of substance on every question in Revelation. It's not meant to be an exhaustive commentary on Revelation.Enjoy it. It's well written and worth owning a copy.

Eine super Guide, um die großen Linien der Offenbarung zu verstehenAbsolut empfehlenswert!

Chi vuole studiare con serietà il libro dell'Apocalisse, il lavoro di Poythress è prezioso e un testo di fondamentale importanza. Il libro dell'Apocalisse celebra, infatti, il trionfo di Cristo Dio e della Sua opera. Obiettivo raggiunto dall'Autore, è quello di sottolineare che nel cuore della storia vi è Dio.