Revelation for Everyone: 20th Anniversary Edition with Study Guide (The New Testament for Everyone)

NT Wright continues to be a leading New Testament scholar among Christians. In the New Testament for Everyone series, he shows that he can adroitly write for "everyone." This book introduces readers to the often misunderstood and off-putting Revelation. Wright usually approaches each chapter as a whole unit -- although sometimes he focuses on partial chapters at a time. He does not treat the text of Revelatin verse-by-verse as many commentaries do for their subject. He looks at the themes, messages, context, symbols and connection of Revelation to the rest of the New Testament and Bible. This is a book that would be great for Bible studies. The leader would probably want to use a more detailed thorough commentary in addition to this one. Wright sets Revelation in the general context of Biblical Theology that emphasizes the Kingdom of God that has been inaugurated on earth in Jesus Christ and will be fully consummated when he returns to make all things new. Wright completely rejects notions of rapture, a seven year dispensation, a literal millenium, and generally the literal interpretation of the numbers and apocalyptic visions of the book. I think Wright's view of Revelation is in line with historic and apostolic teaching of the church. This book is a good corrective to those misled by the "Left Behind" series and the dispensationalist scheme taught by many in the West. Wright looks at how Revelation spoke to the 1st Century church to whom it was written. He also looks at how it speaks to us today. I encourage readers not to be turned off if this seems not to agree with what you have previously been taught. Wright, altough certainly not perfect in his interpretation, offers a faithful interpretation.

Tom Wright (aka N T Wright) is the most insightful and unique conservative scholar to come along in some time. He has shared with us his great gift of, not only his theology, but his whimsical writing, anecdotes, story telling and of course the most important of all correct interpretation of the text itself. Wright is not only a theologian, but is as much a historian. I recommend the entire everyone series from him. You will not regret buying these easy to read, entertaining, and remarkably insightful books. In his long awaited commentary on Revelation, N. T. Wright does not disappoint. Wright tackles the difficult imagery of this book and is able to bring clarity and understanding to everyone who cares to read and understand the book of Revelation. Wright gives this book back to the Church in a sense. This book has been stolen by extreme preterists and dispensationalists and either relegated to the past or put off to sometime in the future. Wright shows that this is a book that has relevance for today. He recognizes the first century audience to whom John writes and keeps them in mind throughout the book. He does a good job of recognizing the OT allusions in Revelation and is able to work through the complexities of thought and keep it simple at the same time. I will not spoil the book with details of Wright's views, but I do recommend this book. You will not be disappointed.

Practical, readable book for those of any intellectual level who are confused about the symbols, animals and other metaphors in the Book of Revelation. Tom Wright comes down with a pretty Orthodox Christian view of the Book of Revelation without going off the edge on "last days" predictions. Ret. Rev. David Coffin

Full disclosure - I hold Dr. Wright in the highest esteem as both a brilliant scholar and humble minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ. His vast body of work has been life-changing for me. He easily could have lived a more comfortable life by leveraging his great intellect in law, science or any number of fields. Instead, he has mixed his deep scholarship with a life dedicated to tending to the flock of "regular people" in the local church and students on college campuses. The "for everyone" series is a great gift to the Body of Christ; honestly, because most of what he has written in the past is "NOT for everyone" - it's just too complex for the average reader and so is reserved for a smaller group of New Testament scholars. We should all be very grateful he's now translated and commented on every verse in the New Testament through the "for everyone" series - plus the newly released "Kingdom New Testament" translation (no commentary there). I first learned of Dr. Wright in the late 90's from a friend who recommended his work as a follow up to my reading Dallas Willard's classic "Divine Conspiracy". Willard's book opened my eyes to a more expansive understanding of the "Kingdom of God", but Dr. Wright takes the quantum leap to a whole new level. Beyond "heaven when you die", he helps us shift our sights to the reality that we will be coming back to rule and reign with Christ for eternity (a two stage process he calls, "life after life after death - more on that in his book "Surprised by Hope). Everything we do in this life will count for the "age to come", so that "our labor is not in vain" (1 Cor 15:58). The book of Revelation is a complex symbolic picture of the future. It took someone with Dr. Wright's expertise and panoramic understanding of scripture (not many qualify) to boil Revelation down to its essence and serve it to us in a way that allows us to see a victorious future. I'm not critical of other attempts to interpret Revelation (i.e. "Left Behind") - everyone is trying their best - but I am grateful to have a new lens to look through, written in plain English, that has really helped answer so many questions about the most difficult book in the bible.

Won't match everyone's theology but is a great exposition of Wright's view and a welcome interpretation to the Book of Revelation.

Just what I needed to understand Revelation-clearly and simply written-superb. I would recommend N.T. Wright to anyone who wants to know Scripture more deeply.

Doing Revelation with a high school small group that I lead. This book has been incredible helpful for understanding how to approach each chapter and the book of Revelation itself. Would recommend for anyone who is also struggling to navigate understanding the text of the end times!

If it is the hardest to understand it is also the book most worth understanding. Tom Wright summarizes the book in one sentence. "This book in fact offers one of the clearest and sharpest visions of God's ultimate purpose for the whole creation, and of the way in which the powerful forces of evil, at work in a thousand ways but not least in idolatrous and tyrannous political systems, can be and are being overthrown through the victory of Jesus the Messiah and the consequent costly victory of his followers." And then he summarizes its relevance in the next sentence. "The world we live in today is no less complex and dangerous than the world of the late first century when this book was written, and we owe it to ourselves to get our heads and or hearts around John's glorious pictures as we attempt to be faithful witnesses to God's love in a world of violence, hatred and suspicion." Revelation is worth reading...and this small commentary will help you read it with understanding and prayerful passion! Amen! Come Lord Jesus!

Very readable, clear, and biblically and historically accurate. 'Breaks open' this complex book of the bible so the average reader can grasp it's message.