About the Book:
The book introduces Christians to the book of Revelation through a thematic study of one of its key themes: victory. Running counter to Revelation s prevailing interpretation, it proposes that Christians, represented by the audience in the Seven Churches, have been in tribulation since the first century and that Revelation was written to help Christians be victorious over the challenges of life. Each chapter opens with an account of martyrdom. The final account tells the story of the three believers in Malatya, Turkey, who were brutally killed in 2007. The book is dedicated to the three. The volume also features a new translation of Revelation by the author, a scholar who has worked on Revelation for over two decades and who lives in the land of the Seven Churches Turkey."
About the Author:
Mark Wilson (D.Litt. et Phil., South Africa) is the founder and director of the Asia Minor Research Center in Antalya, Turkey, a country in which he and his wife Dindy have lived since 2004. He is Visiting Professor of Early Christianity at Regent University, Associate Professor Extraordinary of New Testament at Stellenbosch University, and Research Fellow in Biblical Archaeology at the University of South Africa. He serves as the English editor of the Turkish archaeological journals Adalya and Anmed and also blogs online for the Bible History Daily. He is the author and editor of numerous books, articles, and reviews including the "Acts" section for the forthcoming ESV Archaeology Study Bible. He has been married to Dindy for forty years; they have four adult children, four granddaughters, and four grandsons.
My Review:
Revelation to me has been a very hard book to understand, so when I hear of a guide that has been written I usually jump at the chance to read it. To have a further understanding of the Lord's coming has been on my mind a lot lately because of recent events happening in the world. As a Christian it is very hard to hear about turmoil in the middle east and other such places and not feel like we are on the verge of Jesus' return. The author offers us his interpretation of Revelation and while he did explain some things to me that I had not realized, we must remember that this is still "his interpretation".
Many of the items and situations listed in Revelation baffle my mind because of the symbolic nature they introduce and I feel like that could be said for many people out there reading the Bible. You try to decipher within yourself is this really going to happen as stated or will there really be someone on a white horse? So even though some of the items contained therein are troubling most of it is just not hitting home as it should. We especially as believers should understand it completely, so we are aware of what is happening in the world around us.
The author states that the purpose of Revelation was not to decipher the words in Revelation compared to current events but to prepare for the Lord's coming. In other words to better prepare ourselves for His return. But as a Christian human being it is really hard not to compare the two. Furthermore, this author I believe is describing post-millennialist thinking&beliefs and these go against what I believe. I am a pre-millennialist, I believe that a rapture will take place BEFORE the tribulation. This book while thorough was extremely hard for me to review based on this fact alone.
The author has provided a somewhat thorough, well researched view on the very trying visions that John encountered. We still have not completely understood Revelation and I am not sure we ever will. The author's remarks interwoven with history, and scripture have left me somewhat more confused probably based on the fact that we believe differently. I am also one that believes in its literal interpretation which I'm not sure the author does. He is well researched and I will give my review rating based on that.
**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from Cross Focused Reviews.
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