A Bible Handbook to Revelation [Hardcover]

Mal Couch (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2001

(Foreword by John F. Walvoord) Leading evangelical educators discuss the text of Revelation and the issues that most interest twenty-first-century readers and students. Includes a verse-by-verse explanation and background analysis. (20040603)

Editorial Reviews

Review

. . . a wonderful reference tool to understanding the final book of the Bible. (Baptist Bulletin )

From the Back Cover

As the climactic book of the New Testament, Revelation takes its readers through the pangs and throes of the world's death and then ushers them into the brilliance of the new and eternal state to come. Revelation is one of the Bible's "bookends," finishing with a triumphal sweep what Genesis begins. Yet because of its pictorial language and the complexity of its message, Revelation is often overlooked by believers convinced it's too difficult to understand.

In this theological and textual guide to the book of Revelation, leading evangelical educators combine their efforts to examine the issues that most interest and sometimes trouble twenty-first century readers. With verse-by-verse explanations and background analysis, this handbook is a tremendous aid to understanding the scope of God's inspired Revelation.

Topics covered include a comparison of the ways the Book of Revelation has been interpreted throughout history as well as an understanding of the book's structure. Other articles probe the book's views of the persons of the Trinity, the church, humanity, angels, salvation, and judgment.

Mal Couch, general editor, is founder and president of Tyndale Theological Seminary and Biblical Institute in Fort Worth, Texas. He previously taught at Philadelphia College of the Bible, Moody Bible Institute, and Dallas Theological Seminary.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 328 pages
• Publisher: Kregel Academic & Professional (June 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0825423589
• ISBN-13: 978-0825423581
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,218,501 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Annoyingly Helpful..., September 8, 2006

By 

Encompassed Runner (Florida, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Bible Handbook to Revelation (Hardcover)

Written from a dispensationalist point of view, the majority of this Revelation handbook (Parts I and II) is topical, while the final 1/3 is described as "Part III: A Verse-By-Verse Background to the Book of Revelation," although it would be more accurately described as "selected verse-by-selected verse," since some verses aren't even cited, much less analyzed. "Part I: Introduction to the Book of Revelation" is fascinating and examines such matters as how Revelation's been viewed through history (and why)--initially as premillenialist then amillenialist for centuries and now with the return to literal interpretation, premillenialism's return. "Part II: The Theology of the Book of Revelation" consists of 11 chapters, each devoted to a particular theological subdivision (bibliology, ecclesiology, etc) and it's manifestations in Revelation. While these theologically thematic chapters are interesting, they can be a bit confusing for someone not already possessing a good grip on the structure and events of Revelation, because unlike the typical commentary approach, which for even the beginner is easy to follow because of the verse-by-verse structure, the thematic approach makes all sorts of references to verses and citations sometimes skipping chapters, something that can be a bit more difficult for the reader, though the motivated student could still manage by frequent reference to the cited verses in context. Part III's so-called verse-by-verse guide gives mostly superficial, but sometimes helpful, observations, word study insights and so on, but not on all verses. Also, since many of the verses are only quoted in part or not at all, it helps to have an open Bible along when reading this part.

It's not quite clear who wrote what in this book. Mal Couch is the general editor and wrote 11 of the 16 chapters of Parts I and II, with the other 5 chapters being attributed to Larry Crutchfield, Robert Lightner, Harold Foos, and Russell Penney. However, on the "Contributors" page Todd Virnoche is also mentioned, yet what he contributed is not indicated. And no one at all is named as the author of the 22 chapters of Part III. Another peeve is that there is just a random feel about this book, no sense of mission--the Preface does not address why the book chose to approach Revelation in this hybrid thematic/pseudo-verse-by-verse approach, what is it's intended contribution to the study of Revelation. And by offering no Conclusion whatsoever, the book misses another oportunity to bring it all together. One final annoyance is that the pages of my copy became detached from the spine. Yet despite these expressed reservations, viewing Revelation thematically does provide different perspectives on Revelation that might not be so easily observed by the standard verse-by-verse approach, so overall the book is a helpful addition to the field.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Increase Your Knowledge of the Book of Revelation, September 23, 2008

By 

Max's Dad "Max's Dad" (WV) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Bible Handbook to Revelation (Hardcover)

I rated it five stars, mainly because I have read over fifty books on prophecy and some ground work needed to be had in order to rate this five stars. This book takes you farther than your normal prophecy book, but it is very easily understood and will enhance your thirst of prophecy and enlighted you more when its information is assembledd with what you already know and have studied.