Revelation: Four Views: A Parallel Commentary

By: Steve Gregg

Book Overview

How can we understand the book of Revelation and its many interpretations? Four Views of Revelation: A Parallel Commentary covers the traditional views in an even-handed fashion. Four parallel columns present the information you need on these key views, and inform you about outstanding commentators on the book of Revelation. No other book gives such extensive coverage of how the church has understood Revelation over the centuries...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1401676219
• ISBN13: 9781401676216
• Release Date: July 2013
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson
• Length: 608 Pages
• Weight: 1.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.0" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Good basis for study

The author, as many have pointed out, is well-balanced in his presentation of the major views. He presents them from the adherents' perspective without unnecessary commentary. Since the 4 views are broad categories, variations among proponents are pointed out when necessary. I do believe the author has been successful in his efforts to provide the reader with a framework in which to make up their own mind. Though Gregg provides commentary and points out weaknesses; he doesn't reach (or preach) any conclusions. In my own experience, I avoided study of the more esoteric Bible books, but Four Views did an excellent job of making Revelation approachable without dumbing down the subject. When reading Four Views, one can see where all (or most) interpretations share common ground thereby providing the reader a basis to understanding the imagery. From there, one can work up to a more detailed espousal of a doctrine or (in my case) hybrid of doctrines. Gregg provides a strong enough framework of the four interpretive approaches for a detailed study of eschatology without being dense. I personally started to reread the book and create flashcards to map out the various passages and interpretations. You don't NEED to, but as I said, the book provides a solid framework for further studies. The lay reader will be interested to note that many of the great Church luminaries such as Luther, Finney, Calvin, Wesley, Augustine, Origen, Hus, Spurgeon, Edwards, and others did not share our prevailing modern view. For the narrow dogmatist, maybe that fact alone will encourage them to explore other views. My only complaint is that the binding on the book isn't the best. The book receives heavy use, as well as sharing among friends but won't hold up well to constant, ongoing treatment. That's a shame since most readers will read it thoroughly flipping around frequently and use it as a reference once completed. Don't let this stop you from buying it though. If you are interested in beginning Revelation study, this is the best place I've encountered.

Truly a Unique and Special Commentary

It appears that this is the only work that Gregg has written. While initially I wondered why this is so, I then considered the effort this must have entailed. Gregg's treatment of each of the four positions is balanced and helpful. The method he chooses, rather than simply explaining each of the views, is to simply quote scholars who hold the respective views. When there is room for debate within a particular view, he lays out as many interpretations as is reasonably necessary to understand the position fully. Furthermore, he does not have an agenda in this commentary, he simply provides the arguments (as well as pointing out weaknesses) for each of the positions. This is such a great tool because I can simply turn to the passage and understand each of the four predominant interpretations (as well as variations within those four interpretations). While I try to avoid giving out five stars on these reviews, simply to avoid conveying the appearance of perfection, I cannot find a reason not to give 5 stars. This commentary of Revelation is perhaps the only one out there that does the following: 1) gives great arguments for all major positions 2) quotes from a wide variety of the leading proponents of each the positions, 3) avoids bias or random conjecture of his own which would blemish the work 4) leaves a reader with a balanced perspective from which to make his own decision on how to interpret Revelation. Because any student of eschatology should embrace understanding the objections to his own position, as well as the arguments for others, this book is a must have. For those who have not studied Revelation at all, or are perhaps overly entrenched into a particular view, this book will bring balance. I highly recommend such an outstading work.

The impossible, accomplished!

I did not think it could be done. How could anyone write, presenting varying views that are opposed to each other and remain unbiased? Steve Gregg has done just that. I became a Christian reading a famous book about revelation written from the dispensational perspective. I became so well versed in this view that I could teach the book of Revelation without notes. After attending a Bible College that was exclusively dispensational, a pastor who embraced the historic premillennial view challenged me to learn about other views on the subject. I resisted, like the know-it-all 26 year old I was at the time, but I did follow my pastor's advice and began reading. I have since evolved through historic premillennialism and am now a humble amillennialist. (I say humble because I know that better men than me have differing opinions on eschatology.) When I read Steve Gregg's masterpiece, I was stunned to see that he faithfully and charitably presented an unbiased look at the varying views of Revelation. THIS IS A MUST READ for any and all students of eschatology-especially those who are unread in views other than their own. BRAVO!

Fair & Balanced with all 4 views, The Introduction = A++++++

After acquiring 40-50 books on Revelation for helping me prepare an "advanced" study, at the conclusion of the study I got rid of all of the books except 5. Gregg's 4 View Parallel Commentary was one of them. It is exquisite. It completely out classes Pate's book (Four Views on the Book of Revelation) and the Broadman Press book (Revelation: Three Viewpoints) Pate's book is MUCH MORE AFFORDABLE and it is the book that I recommended to my class, but only due to cost. "The Introduction" alone in Gregg's book is definately worth the price of the book. The way to best judge if a "comparison" book has been well done is to hear positive comments from each side represented concerning their position. I have heard nothing but good words concerning Gregg's book, regardless of what view taken by the person commenting. Premillennialists, Postmillennialists and Amillennialists alike sing the praises of this book. Whether a Preterist, Futurist, Spirtualist or Historist, I believe that you will feel fairly represented. Steve Gregg has done a real service to those beginning to dig deep in Revelation. I will draw attention to one "weakness". In the Preterist world there are 2 very different groups. 1- believes that the focus of Revelation is the Desctuction of Jerusalem, 2- believes that the focus of Revelation is the Fall of the Roman Empire. Since Gregg couldn't really use both views to represent the Preterist position, he had to choose one or the other and he chose #1. Just be aware that not all Preterists believe that Revelation is focused on the Destruction of Jerusalem. If you don't have Gregg's book and you are either in the beginning stages of doing a deep study of Revelation or about to do a "re-examination study" of Revelation, then BUY THIS BOOK! You will be blessed. God bless. Mike

Nothing else quite like it

This is a terrific book! The author has researched a vast array of commentaries and commentators on the book of Revelation and given us a summary of four different ways of interpreting the book, straight from the mouths of proponents of the various views. It is obvious that in such a work he cannot be exhaustive. Furthermore, he doesn't really try to prove any one position but simply tries to let the advocates of the various positions state their views. As a pastor I find this book valuable. Although I obviously have more time to study the bible than most I don't have all the time in the world. I don't have the time to wade through a dozen or more commentaries in preparing to teach on the book of Revelation. However, I have the responsibility to teach accurately and to fairly represent different views which are found within Christendom. This is where the book shows its greatest strength. Full time scholars will wade through all of the commentaries, but pastors and bible teachers whose time is more limited can turn to this book as a reference on the differing views. One of the things you will find is that there are four broad categories of approach to the book of Revelation - the historicist, preterist, futurist and idealist. And you will also find that within those categories there are differing angles which are taken on particular passages. This could be discouraging to some because it may make you come away thinking that the task of understanding the book of Revelation is hopeless. On the other hand, maybe God has a purpose in this confusion. I believe it was Pascal who said something along the lines of this - God did not give us the bible to tickle our intellects but to tranform our our lives. I probably butchered the quote, but the point is that maybe God gave us Revelation in the form it is in to help us understand His greatness and our smallness. Maybe the book of Revelation has received so many different interpretations because God doesn't want us to figure it out or become experts, He wants to humble us and reduce us to awe and wonder at His power which is so richly displayed in the book of Revelation. All of this is not to say that we can or should be agnostic when it comes to interpreting the book of Revelation. I have a definite opinion on the book and am prepared to argue it. However, this book has tempered my argumentative spirit. It has helped me to see where those I disagree with are coming from and shown me where those opponents have pointed out legitimate weaknesses in my own position. Most importantly though, it helps me embrace those brothers I disagree with as we eagerly await the return of Christ.