Revelation (IVP New Testament Commentary Series) [Hardcover]

J. Ramsey Michaels (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 22, 1997 | Series: IVP New Testament Commentary (Book 20)

Interpretations of the book of Revelation are numerous and varied. The preterist view focuses on first-century social analysis of John's environment. The church-historical view sees the Revelation as a prophetic survey of the history of the church. The futurist view sees the book as a precise prediction of unfolding events in the yet-to-come end of the world. The trouble with all three, argues J. Ramsey Michaels, is that they make the Revelation of John irrelevant to Christians throughout much of history. Failing to take seriously what John saw, such interpreters do not comprehend the value of the Revelation to Christians in any age. Michaels strives to recapture the Revelation as a prophetic letter of testimony, a testimony as relevant to today's church as it was to John's as it faces evil and looks for the victory of the Lamb.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

J. Ramsey Michaels (Th.D., Harvard) is retired after many years of teaching at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and Southwest Missouri State University. He teaches occasionally as an adjunct professor at Bangor Theological Seminary, Portland, Maine and as a visiting professor at Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 265 pages
• Publisher: IVP Academic (September 22, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0830818200
• ISBN-13: 978-0830818204
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,243,510 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Useful for the pastor, December 2, 2000

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rossuk (London, UK) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Revelation (IVP New Testament Commentary Series) (Hardcover)

Retired seminary professor Michaels has written a sound commentary, as you would expect coming from IVP. He has the advantage of having taught Revelation over many years in seminary, college, and church; the result is a mature reflective commentary. The commentary is not over technical, or large, there are useful footnotes as required and he comments on a passage rather than verse by verse. His writing style is a bit like D M Lloyd Jones so he is not a quick skim. It is meant to be read as a book and not dipped into. The text of Revelation is in italics and appears in small sections or individual words as he discusses a passage. The commentary could do with more detail, but as he says "writing a book, like making fine sculpture, is about knowing what to leave out" and this is a commentary that needs to be savored not gulped. The commentary would be useful to the pastor having the time to study and digest the passages, especially for those who have not preached beyond Rev 3. At the time Revelation was written the greatest danger to the church was complacency just as it is today.

I found his transformation of the seven trumpets to the two witnesses to be interesting; the first being unsuccessful while the second successful in achieving repentance among some of the earth's inhabitants.

Worth getting for the pastor and the scholar, but not my first choice for the student, try Osborne, Mounce, Krodel or Ladd.

3.0 out of 5 stars Very introductory, still not to bad., June 9, 2011

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Zachary Jacob Games "ZJG" (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Revelation (IVP New Testament Commentary Series) (Hardcover)

Michael's is probably now best well known for his behemoth work on John in the NICNT, but this short (only 265 pages, on revelation?), commentary on Revelation is worth a read and having on the shelf. I would recommend it to more lay people than scholars, as I am partial to David Aune's very scholarly 3 volume set in the Word series. Michaels gives just intro material here and I think one would need something more to supplement (Aune). However, IVP publishing is a great publisher, so it can be trusted. Overall, 3 out of 5 stars.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Revelation Revealed, February 24, 2006

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A. Raymond Randall Jr. "Ray Randall, Echievem... (Essex, MA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Revelation (IVP New Testament Commentary Series) (Hardcover)

Michael's commentary deciphers the challenging text of The Book of Revelation. His work is not exhaustive, nor should it be given the purpose of the IVP Commentary Series. His comments elucidate the difficult without confusing the reader. Scriptural continuity is maintained while conservative textual elaboration is affirmed.

We use this commentary for a small men's group discussion. When stumped or for simple clarification, we refer to Revelation by J. Ramsey Michaels.