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Rating: 
Summary: The Book of Revelation Made Slightly Less Difficult
Review: A few years ago I heard a speaker who began his talk by saying that he loved the book of Revelation because it was so simple and clear and it so neatly summed up the teaching of the Bible. I laughed because everyone knows that the book of Revelation is anything but simple and clear. He said he was serious and he mentioned that he had studied Revelation under Vern Poythress at Westminster Seminary and he had made it seem clear and simple. At the time this book had not been published but I was able to get some tapes by Poythress, and they taught what is written in this book. When the book came out I got it right away and I have to say that I was not disappointed in the tapes or in this book. Poythress writes like a kindly, wise elder. I say he is kind because, though he takes a position on the interpretation of the book, he is gracious to those who disagree with him. One of the things I particularly liked about this book is his discussion of how to outline the book. He listed a few different ways that this could be outlined, but rather than attacking various positions he affirmed that the existence of these differing views should cause us to marvel at the greatness of God in the book. These things show that the book of Revelation is like a giant tapestry, with many colors and patterns weaving in and out. The book is so rich that one can never tire of admiring the beauties of God in it. As to his position, Poythress says that the book follows the pattern of recapitulation - it describes the same historical events over and over again using different metaphors and pictures. So, rather than being a straight chronological description of the end time, the book of Revelation describes the second coming, and the events surrounding it, several times. Poythress shows that the book of Revelation is actually comprised of several cycles of judgment. He gives the tools for understanding how to identify these cycles and in doing so makes Revelation slightly less difficult. This is the place to start in understanding the book of Revelation.
Rating:
Summary: The Book of Revelation Made Slightly Less Difficult
Review: A few years ago I heard a speaker who began his talk by saying that he loved the book of Revelation because it was so simple and clear and it so neatly summed up the teaching of the Bible. I laughed because everyone knows that the book of Revelation is anything but simple and clear. He said he was serious and he mentioned that he had studied Revelation under Vern Poythress at Westminster Seminary and he had made it seem clear and simple. At the time this book had not been published but I was able to get some tapes by Poythress, and they taught what is written in this book. When the book came out I got it right away and I have to say that I was not disappointed in the tapes or in this book. Poythress writes like a kindly, wise elder. I say he is kind because, though he takes a position on the interpretation of the book, he is gracious to those who disagree with him. One of the things I particularly liked about this book is his discussion of how to outline the book. He listed a few different ways that this could be outlined, but rather than attacking various positions he affirmed that the existence of these differing views should cause us to marvel at the greatness of God in the book. These things show that the book of Revelation is like a giant tapestry, with many colors and patterns weaving in and out. The book is so rich that one can never tire of admiring the beauties of God in it. As to his position, Poythress says that the book follows the pattern of recapitulation - it describes the same historical events over and over again using different metaphors and pictures. So, rather than being a straight chronological description of the end time, the book of Revelation describes the second coming, and the events surrounding it, several times. Poythress shows that the book of Revelation is actually comprised of several cycles of judgment. He gives the tools for understanding how to identify these cycles and in doing so makes Revelation slightly less difficult. This is the place to start in understanding the book of Revelation.
Rating:
Summary: Great Introduction to Revelation
Review: The Returning King is a great introduction the book of Revelation. The first 50 pages or so contain high level discussions on the various views of Revelation (idealist, futurist, preterist, historicist) as well as other controversial aspects such as the millennium (premil, postmil, amil). This survey of all the major viewpoints alone is worth the price of the book. The rest of book is a high level discussion of the text. Poythress takes an idealist, amil view but provides a very fair discussion of all the other viewpoints. It was written as an introduction and is very successful as such. It is not a thorough commentary of Revelation. If you have never studied Revelation this is a great place to start.
Rating:
Summary: Concise Conservative Amil Overview of Revelation
Review: Written by a first class scholar on biblical interpretation, The Returning King gives us more vintage Poythress. After many years of teaching this book for students at Westminster Theological Seminary (I was one of them), we now get the benefits in a form we can use in our own ministries and teaching! This book is a great, practical, and well-written introduction to the consecutive chapters of Revelation, suitable for pastors who want the basic themes, a Sunday School class, or college & seminary students. You will be able to grasp the main themes and contrasts and develop a sane appreciation for Revelation from a humble teacher who can appreciate other perspectives, yet still convince you of the value of his own interpretation. Of particular interest are Poythress's insights on how the dragon, beast, false prophet and harlot counterfeit & image the Trinity and the church respectively. This book will stimulate you to read and appreciate Revelation as a "picture book," not a confusing puzzle book. For a detailed verse by verse view in the same interpretive framework (recapitulationist/multiple fulfillment view of Revelation) see G.K. Beale's NIGTC The Book of Revelation at a thorough 1245 pages--a commentary which Poythress recommends in The Returning King.
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