Customer Reviews

The Days of Vengeance: An Exposition of the Book of Revelation

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

One cannot interpret the Book of Revelation without using the rest of the Bible. Now all books on Revelation claim to use the Bible, but as a norm they prooftext the Bible rather than present a contextually consistent, fully Bible-interpreted presentation of the scripture all in line with one another. Chilton has done about as good a job as any human can do, short of just handing someone a Bible. This book is contextually consistent and historically consistent from beginning to end. This book also contains some interesting appendices which are challenging. The one on Zionism is extremely biblical, regardless that some would call it anti-semitic. If this particular appendix is anti-semitic, then so is Romans and Galatians and Hebrews, and so is Jesus and Paul. On the other hand, Chilton is a Tylerite and so holds to what would be termed a restoration of theocracy in the world (or just short of it), with which I disagree. This is found in another appendix but doesn't influence the commentary as a whole. The book is definitely Reformed in its theology, but Reformed des not equal postmillennial. Chilton is postmillennial and thus believes, in contrast to ALL other views of eschatology, that God wins, the Gospel succeeds, the promises to Abraham will be fulfilled, and the Church will be victorious. Chilton has produced the "long version" of Mathison's Postmillennialism: An Eschatology of Hope." To be honest, I believe one would be hard pressed to refute Chilton's book without resorting back to selective prooftexting (the flawed Bible interpretation method of choice among most today). The book is covenantally based, but then, so is the Bible. The entire history of redemption to the end of the world is based on the covenant of God, especially seen in the promise to Abraham. God promised that every nation, tribe, tongue, people, and family would eventually be blessed by having the same faith in the Gospel as Abraham, and that this would be on earth (obviously, saving faith doesn't exist after the world is destroyed). Chilton proves from contextual use of Scripture that postmillennialism is, in fact, the only eschatological view that has existed in the entire history of the world that fits Scripture. The Old Testament is clear on this (read the Psalms and Isaiah 40 - 66). The New Testament is just as obvious. Well, many won't like this book because it lacks the sensationalism of premillennial views (look at the popularity of the "Left Behind" series). But then again, if one thinks that the saving of souls is truly sensational, then they might be willing to give up newspaper and evening news theology with its far-out ideas and come to something far more Biblically sensational: The saving of sinners. Chilton has set the standard. I know that no premillennial theologian will ever come close to refuting this book, because premillennialism is based on prooftexting the Bible plus the addition of politics and other things that will support their view. Postmillennialism is just based on the Bible; it needs nothing but the Bible. Postmillennialism is the only eschatological view that is Sola Scriptura. Chilton gets 5 stars for a great book and 5 more for setting an unsurpassable standard.

In the last year, as I continued to study the dispensational, pretribulational, premillenial viewpoint, a good thought came to my mind...actually several thoughts did. #1 What culture was Revelation written to? #2 Why should I think Jesus was referring to some future temple when one was still standing as He gave the Olivet Discourse? #3 Why should I believe that a tribulation is still future for me? #4 Why should I believe in a pre-tribulation rapture if (a) there is not a future tribulation (b) there is no specific text that lays out undisputably a pre-trib rapture (c) there is no real difference between God's work among His people, whether Jew or Greek, slave or free?

As I studied this commentary, these questions and many more were answered and I was rescued from the defeatology that I had been taught all of my life within the Baptist tradition. I now celebrate the victory on the cross as the greatest military victory of all time and live in His authority on this earth as His servant.

I was so thrilled to see such insightful use of the Bible to interpret this book, much of the Baptist teaching I had heard on the book seemed to try and interpret it without the use of the rest of the Bible outside of Daniel, Matthew 24, and Thessalonians.

I was also stunned by his knowledge of the culture of that day and how it applied to what John was writing about. It was far more in-depth than any of the Baptist teaching I had received that uses today as the frame of reference for the book to the exclusion of those to whom the book was written.

Be prepared to change your eschatological view when you read this book. If you read it with a closed mind...it is your loss...don't blame the author. Please don't allow the prejudice of what you have been taught in the past prevent you from enjoying this book. I had to take a piece of humble pie with this book as my eschatological world was rocked and I discovered that I had been tragically wrong about this book. It's not a mystery book, but as its title states, it is the Revelation of Jesus Christ. It WAS meant to be UNDERSTOOD.

Praise glory and honer to His name for all ages.

In Christ,

Mark

I was asked? to read this book in my eschatology course in seminary. Everyone in our class was shocked by this book. It is simply the best explanation and commentary of Revelation you will ever read. WARNING: it may change your eschatology forever to the preterist viewpoint. I was particularly fascinated with the explanation of the mystery of the 144,000, the 12 tribes of Israel, the purpose of the ORDER of these tribes, why DAN may have been omitted, etc. But double warning: this isn't a book you can scan through in 2 hours. Any layperson advanced in biblical studies will appreciate this book. Or seminary students. Others might want to try Paradise Restored first, another book by David Chilton that precedes the writing of this book. Take the challenge all of you who are firmly entrenched in dispensational premillienism (the rapture, etc.)--this book will show you how unbiblical and weak this "new theology" really is.

David Chilton's "Days of Vengence" is simply one of the most intricate and facinating commentaries on Revelation that I have ever read. Chilton does this by asking simple questions that many commentators who believe in fantastic future calamities involving new world orders and such seem unwilling to even acknowledge: who was the letter written to? what was the purpose of the letter? what did the author mean when he said that the things happening in the letter would happen soon? what do all the allusions to the Old Testament mean? Once someone asks these questions and looks seriously for the answers than the dispensational position concerning a "pre-tribulation" rapture seems less and less plausible.

The book itself sets a standard for in-depth analysis. Chilton convincingly shows that the symbols and Old Testament allusions are placed with great care by St. John and shows how all of the symbols place themselves within the flow of salvation history. I was personally stunned by the richness with which he describes God's covenant with Israel, the "covenant lawsuit" structure of Revelation and the inaguration of the new covenant.

The slight flaws of the book were the relatively few places in the book in which Chilton's Calvinist presuppositions drive his conclusions. For instance when speaking of the possibility of being erased from the Book of Life, Chilton launches into a brief and very misguided defense of the docrine of Perseverence of the Saints. The author also takes a needless detour bashing those who defend free-will by taking a tangent from one of the numerous verses that show God's soveriengty over human history in Revelation and then comparing it to some tract that he found in which the tract's author presents a position of borderline Pelagianism. This is, at best, bad straw man argumentation. I think it is excusable because the purpose of the book wasn't a defense of Calvinism, but in exposition of Revelation. These minor details stick out only because they break with the overall work's dedication to sound and detailed exposition of the letter and the Bible itself. In other words, they are not reflective of the work as a whole.

If you want to read the book for free, the Institute for Christian Economics has this book and numerous others at their website:
http://www.freebooks.com/sidefrm2.htm

Chilton is a scholar as well as a great writer. Extrabiblical proof is not the foundation being used to support his exposition of a very difficult book (many historic scholars of scripture never attempted to explain this book). Chilton uses a biblical hermeneutic in which the bible really is interpreting itself-- God's Word is soley sufficient to clearly explain the book of Revelations. In addition, it has challenged me to fully explore the intricacies of the Old Testament-- especially the liturgical and priestly aspects. Finally, after years of reading speculative commentary on the book of Revelations and "end times" dogma, I was refreshed and had my hope restored for quality Christian scholarship.

Chilton provided an essential work when he wrote this commentary on the Book of Revelation. It is NOT as easy read. It took me a couple of months to work through it. I repeat, it is not an easy read, but it is without question a rewarding one. After reading this book, I wondered how anyone could understand Revelation without reading it.

Chirstian readers who have assumed that they have a confident grasp of God's actions in Human History will be challenged as never before to in most cases rethink the assumptions which buttress their understanding of things eschatological. This book is especially challenging to the pessimistic school of the Christian Church which sees the redemption of the world through God's saving action in Jesus Christ as somehow derailed, with the devil in full attack mode and increasing his victories over the Church. But for those Christians who sense a huge note of optimism and victory in God's Salvation in Christ, Chilton's work will strike a resonant chord as none has before.

I was positively floored by this book. As a die-hard Scofield/Ryrie/Lindsey futurist, I never even heard of the eschatological beliefs presented in this book. I was just amazed at Chilton's skill in breaking down the book of Revelation and getting me to think just maybe I have been wrong--maybe. But I sure am doing some heavy thinking-and studying of God's Word. Chilton emphasizes some of the preterist-type viewpoints in his commentary, like that much of what I have always literally believed would happen in the "end times" is actually Old Testament Symbolism--and he makes some very outstanding arguments!! I was shook to the core after reading this book and have began researching other books along this line. I am "almost persuaded", but 33 years on the other side won't disappear overnight. Wow, but what a fascinating read regardless!! Recommended!

It has always amused me how new Christians, when they start reading the Bible want to start at the end rather than the beginning. It is not really too surprising though when you read the flurry of "prophecy" books that have all kinds of fanciful idea and concepts that seem to interact with our modern day. Most modern readers of Revelation think that the book's meaning becomes more clear as the events written about draw nearer, but if that is your hermeneutic going in, you can really make the book fit any of the days modern headlines, with just a small amount of creativity.

Chilton takes a novel approach, he actually reads the Book of Revelation as though it were part of the Bible. He points out that the author of Revelation assumed a certain amount of Biblical familiarity. In "Days of Vengeance", Chilton does not wow us with Black Helicopters, and Nuclear Bombs, but with the ideas of covenant, worship, and fulfillment of Christ's mandate.

Admittedly, some of what Chilton talks about in this book will offend a lot of peoples religious sensitivities. If you have tried to read the Book of Revelation through the newspaper headlines than I challenge you to read this book. The problem with Revelation is not that it's author could not describe 21st century events, it is that we 21st century people don't understand 1st century events.

It is my opinion that this is the best commentary on the Book of Revelation, and when Dispensationalism is dead and gone, people will still be studying what Chilton had to say.

Mr. Chilton has written a thorough, yet easily understood, critique of the Book of Revelation. Growing up as a believer in modern dispensationalism, I believed, unquestioningly, that the Anti-Christ, a rebuilt Temple, Mark of the Beast by computer chip/UPC code(to name a few misconceived notions)were all in the Book of Revelation. They are not. Mr. Chilton opened my eyes to the symbolism, types, and shadows dealing with eschatology, that are scattered throughout scripture which point to the culmination in the final book of the Bible. I have learned so much more about scripture in general that I never noticed before. What "lense" we view scripture through will cause us to see, or not see, certain truths. That is why James 3:1 has such a stern warning to teachers, because they affect how we view Biblical truth. Mr.Chilton's book is the best book I have ever read on eschatology. It's fascinating, easy to comprehend, and helps us as Christians to have a more proactive, positive, and powerful vision of our future in Christ, instead of the latest newspaper headline that fits into an ever changing eschatological view point which leads to pessimism, doubt about God's word, and a fatalism that leaves most Chrsitians impotent, and irrelavant. Buy this book, it will change your view of what Christianity is all about.