Understanding Revelation: A Guide to the End-Times. By Ken Allen
This book is an excellent introduction and guide to those wanting to study the book of Revelation.
The subject matter ensures it is not a light read, but the style helps. Using clear simple concise language, the author describes, explains and illustrates the various imagery, concepts, and ideas.
It helps to have an open bible close to hand. There are many references to other books in the bible, which illustrate or explain the Revelation passages. I feel I learnt as much about the rest of the bible as I did about Revelation, and have come to see Revelation as continuing the bible story, rather than a book set apart.
A significant proportion of the book is comprised by the introduction. It is here that many of the key themes are introduced. Such a broad sweep of ideas can make it feel as if you have read a whole book in the introduction alone.
The book includes the complete text of Revelation, translated by the author from the Greek. This is a literal translation, with precise but unfamiliar grammatical construction, a helpful addition to more readable translations.
The author never sits on the fence, saying “some people think this, other people think that” Instead he presents a complete credible picture of how sometimes apparently contradictory passages may add up to a single coherent whole.
In doing this he does not claim to be right, but recognises that all commentaries are written by men with imperfect understanding, encouraging us to read widely, read Revelation itself repeatedly, and ask God for understanding.
Before reading the book, I understood the second coming as a single event, but here the end times are presented as a series of episodes in which many prophesies, that we have yet seen only partially fulfilled, reach their complete and perfect fulfilment.
I found reading the book very faith affirming. Between reading sessions I found my heart full of praise, being more aware of the purposes and sovereignty of God as they are affirmed in the pages.
Alongside the explanations there are quiet observations about belief attitudes and practice prevalent in the church today. The language is not hard hitting but some of the observations can be quite telling.
If you find the Book of Revelation to be a mystery, this book may help turn it into the revelation it was always meant to be.
The book is available to buy on Amazon UK or Amazon.com
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