Reading Revelation

Title: Reading Revelation

Author:  C. Marvin Pate

Publisher: Kregel
Available:  Now
Source:  Publisher

About the Book:
The study of Revelation has customarily fallen into four major-and essentially conflicting-hermeneutical approaches: preterist (past), historicist, futurist, and idealist (spiritual). Reading Revelation compares these four major approaches to Revelation by laying out the different interpretive translations provided by each school of thought in parallel columns and--in order to provide a standard of reference--includes a fifth column presenting the Greek text and a literal word-for-word translation.


My Take:
With the end of the world right on our doorsteps (well...at least to the Mayan believers out there), this book has come along at the right time.  Actually, it is more of a comparison look at four of the more popular views on Revelation, and tries to make it more explanatory for the average person.  I really liked the literal word for word translation since I don't speak Greek and sometimes our newer versions of the Bible are a bit different from the actual Greek word.  This book could be used as a study guide into Revelation, but make sure you have your most favorite version of the Bible handy.  I have used it in my Jr. High Sunday School class, there have been a lot of questions lately about Revelation and this seemed to go hand in hand with our current study guide on Revelation.   
If you know the differences in the four approaches to Revelation this book will help you in better understanding Revelation.  If you are less than familiar on Revelation and even less on the different approaches, use this as a supplement to a more intense study of Revelation.  It definitely has major advantages in having all the views side by side.  
I do like this author's way of teaching, that I will be looking into some of his other books as well.  




About the Author:
C. Marvin Pate is professor of biblical studies at Ouachita Baptist University, Arkadelphia, Arkansas. He is the author and editor of numerous works related to eschatology and Revelation, including Four Views of Revelation, The Apocalypse: A Historical Novel, Doomsday Delusions, and The End of the Age Has Come: The Theology of Paul. He is a coeditor of the Dictionary of Biblical Prophecy.