Bibliography for Revelation

Vern S. Poythress, 2025

key:
1	Required purchase.
2	Recommended purchase.
3	Of general interest for students. Buy selectively.
4	More specialized. The well-equiped pastor’s library will have them.
5	Necessary for advanced study. Be aware of them, but buy only as you have need.
6	For laypeople.

I.	Commentaries
5Aune, David E. Revelation. Dallas, TX: Word Books, 1997-. Vol. 1. BS 2825.3 .A96 1997.
*2Beale, Gregory K. The Book of Revelation: A Commentary on the Greek Text. NIGTC. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans; Carlisle: Paternoster Press, 1999. Greek text. Idealist amil. Ref. BS 2825.3 .B398 1999.
3Beale, Gregory K., and David Campbell. Revelation: A Shorter Commentary. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2015. An abridgment of the 1999 commentary. 
*3Beasley-Murray, George Raymond. Revelation. NCB. Greenwood, SC: Attic Press, 1974. English text. Preterist and futurist. Ref. BS 2825.3 .B42 1978
4Beckwith, Isbon Thaddeus. The Apocalypse of John: Studies in Introduction, with a Critical and Exegetical Commentary. New York: Macmillan, 1919. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1967. Greek text. 416pp. of introduction. Preterist.
4Beeke, Joel R. Revelation. Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage Books, 2016. Lectio continua expository commentary on the New Testament. Idealist, amil. BS 2825.53 .B44 2016.
4Boesak, Allan A. Comfort and Protest: Reflections on the Apocalypse of John of Patmos. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1987. A commentary with sensitivity for political oppression, arising out of the black church of South Africa. BS 2825.2 .B64 1987.
6Brooks, Richard. The Lamb is All the Glory. Welwyn: Evangelical Press, 1986. English text. Popular. Idealist amil. BS 2825.3 .B76 1986
*4Caird, George Bradford. A Commentary on the Revelation of St. John the Divine. HNTC. New York: Harper, 1966. English text. Ref. BS 2825.3 .C357
5Charles, Robert Henry. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Revelation of St. John with Introduction. Notes and Indices. 2 vols. ICC. Edinburgh: Clark, 1920. Greek text. Much valuable data here on apocalyptic literature. Conclusions are not reliable. Ref. BS 2825.3 .C437 1920 v.1,2
4Chilton, David. The Days of Vengeance: An Exposition of the Book of Revelation. Ft. Worth: Dominion, 1986. English text. Postmil. Preterist. The best representative of the view that Babylon=Jerusalem.
6Colclasure, Chuck. The Overcomers: Discovering Hope in the Book of Revelation. 2d edn. Nashville: Nelson, 2020. Idealist. Amil. Down-to-earth language, vigorous application and illustration. Excellent as a popular exposition.
5Fanning, Buist M. Revelation: Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2020. Futurist premil.
5Greijdanus, S. De Openbaring des Heeren aan Johannes: Voor de gemeente uitgelegd. Doesburg: J.C. van Schenk Brill, c. 1908. Dutch text. Idealist. Amil.
*6Guthrie, Nancy. Blessed: Experiencing the Promise of the Book of Revelation. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2022. Idealist. Amil.
4,6Hendriksen, William. More than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1961. English text. Idealist. Amil.
5Hengstenberg, E. W. The Revelation of St. John, Expounded for Those Who Search the Scriptures. 2 vols. Reprint. Cherry Hill, NJ: Mack, 1972. English text.
5Hoeksema, Herman. Behold, He Cometh! An Exposition of the Book of Revelation. Grand Rapids: Reformed Free Publishing Association, 1969. English text. Idealist and futurist.
5Hughes, Philip Edgcumbe. The Book of Revelation: A Commentary. Grand Rapids:Eerdmans, 1990. Idealist. Amil. Positive exposition without much interaction with other positions. BS 2825.3 .H85 1990.
5Johnson, Dennis E. Triumph of the Lamb: A Commentary on Revelation. Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed, 2001. Idealist. Amil.
*4Ladd, George Eldon. A Commentary on the Revelation of John. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1972. English text. (Preterist) and futurist. Premil. Ref. BS 2825.3 .L28
6Leithart, Peter J. Revelation 1-11. 2d volume: Revelation 12-22. London: Bloomsbury T & T Clark, 2018. Preterist (Jerusalem) postmil.
6Metzger, Bruce M. Breaking the Code: Understanding the Book of Revelation. Nashville: Abingdon, 1993. Preterist, and some degree of idealist. Amil. BS 2825.2 .M49 1993.
*4Morris, Leon. The Revelation of ST. John: An Introduction and Commentary. TNTC. London: Tyndale, 1969. English text. Preterist and (futurist). Amil. Ref. BS 2825.3 .M67
*4Mounce, Robert H. The Book of Revelation. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1977. NIC. English text. Futurist. Premil. Ref. BS 2825.3 .M69
6Mounce, Robert H. What Are We Waiting For? Commentary on Revelation. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1992. Popular-level, with more attention to application. English text. Futurist. Premil.
6Peterson, Eugene H. Reversed Thunder: The Revelation of John and the Praying Imagination. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1988. Some neoorthodox tendency. But the person with good sense can find helpful pastoral, thematic meditation focusing on the implications of Revelation for Christian imagination, prayer, and practical living. BS 2825.2 .P48 1991.
*1,6Poythress, Vern S. The Returning King: A Guide to the Book of Revelation. Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed, 2000.
4Rushdoony, Rousas John. Thy Kingdom Come, Studies in Daniel and Revelation. Nutley, NJ: Presbyterian & Reformed, 1971. English text. Idealist. Postmil.
*3Schreiner, Thomas R. "Revelation." In Hebrews-Revelation: The ESV Expository Commentary. Ed. Iain M. Duguid et al. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2018. Idealist and mildly amil.
*3,4Swete, Henry Barclay. The Apocalypse of St. John: The Greek Text with Introduction, Notes and Indices. 3rd ed. London: Macmillan, 1908. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1951, 1968. Greek text. Preterist and idealist. An excellent commentary for cross references. Ref. BS 2825.3 .S596 1977
5Walvoord, John F. The Revelation of Jesus Christ. Chicago: Moody, 1966. English text. Futurist. Dispensational premil.
2,6Wilcock, Michael. I Saw Heaven Opened: The Message of Revelation. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1975. English text. Idealist. Amil.
5Witherington, Ben, III. Revelation. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003. BS 2825.53 .W58 2003. Preterist; premil.
II.	Apocalyptic
5Charles, Robert Henry. The Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament in English . . . Vol. II Pseudepigrapha. Oxford: Clarendon, 1913. Now superseded by Charlesworth.
4Charlesworth, James H. Ed. The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha. Volume I. Apocalyptic Literature and Testaments. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1983. Ref. BS 1830 .A3 1983 v.1
5Collins, John J., ed. “Apocalypse: The Morphology of a Genre,” Semeia 14 (1979).
5Hennecke, E. New Testament Apocrypha. Vol. II. London: SCM, 1965. Pp. 579-803. Christian primary sources.
5Hewitt, C. M. Kempton. “Guidelines to the Interpretation of Daniel and Revelation,” Dreams, Visions & Oracles, ed. Carl E. Armerding and W. Ward Gasque. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1977. Pp. 101-16. Pointing out some difficulties of interpreting apocalyptic literature.
4Morris, Leon L. Apocalyptic. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1972. A very good introduction to apocalyptic. BS 646 .M67
5Patte, Daniel. Early Jewish Hermeneutic in Palestine. Missoula, MT: Scholars, 1975. Pp. 129-208.
5Russell, David S. The Method and Message of Jewish Apocalyptic, 200 B.C.-A.D. 100. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1964.
III.	Thematic and Hermeneutical Studies
4Bauckham, Richard. The Climax of Prophecy: Studies on the Book of Revelation. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1993. BS 2825.5 .B38 1993.
4Bauckham, Richard. The Theology of the Book of Revelation. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993. The best short thematic study that I know of. BS 2825.2 .B387 1993.
5Beale, Gregory K. The Book of Revelation: A Commentary on the Greek Text. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans; Carlisle: Paternoster, 1999. 37-69.
5Beale, Gregory K. John’s Use of the Old Testament in Revelation. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1998.
3Carson, D. A., and Moo, Douglas J. An Introduction to the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2005. Pp. 697-725.
5Collins, Adela Yarbro. The Combat Myth in the Book of Revelation. Missoula, MT: Scholars, 1976. Stimulating discussions on the structure of Revelation (pp. 5-55) and on combat motifs. BS 2825.2 .C58 1976
5deSilva, David A. “The Social Setting of the Revelation to John: Conflicts within, Fears without,” Westminster Theological Journal 54 (1992) 273-302.
5Dumbrell, William J. The End of the Beginning: Revelation 21-22 and the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1985. BS 2825.2 .D85 1985
5Ellul, Jacques. Apocalypse: The Book of Revelation. New York: Seabury, 1977. Analyzing the overarching structures and purposes of Revelation. Stimulating but erratic and Barthian in theology.
5Ezell, Douglas. Revelations on Revelation: New Sounds from Old Symbols. Waco: Word, 1977. Idealist. Good on apocalyptic background of certain themes.
5Fiorenza, Elizabeth Schüssler. The Book of Revelation: Justice and Judgment. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1985. Pp. 181-203, on “Visionary Rhetoric and Social-Political Situation,” is stimulating in considering the hortatory aspect of Revelation. Modernist. BS 2825.2 .F52 1984.
5Gentry, Kenneth L., Jr. Before Jerusalem Fell: Dating the Book of Revelation. Fort Worth: Dominion Press, 1989. An argument for a pre-A.D. 70 dating of Revelation. Originally a Th.D. dissertation. Preterist postmil. BS 2825.2 .G43 1989.
2,6Goldsworthy, Graeme. The Lamb and the Lion: The Gospel in Revelation. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1985. An excellent lay-level thematic introduction to Revelation using the entrance point of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Idealist. BS 2825.2 .G642
5Guthrie, Donald. The Relevance of John’s Apocalypse. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans; Exeter: Paternoster, 1987. BS 2825.2 .G87 1987
5Hemer, Colin J. The Letters to the Seven Churches of Asia in Their Local Setting. Sheffield: JSOT, 1986. An update and expansion of Ramsay’s work on historical background. BS 2825.3 .H453 1986
6Jenkins, Ferrell. The Old Testament in the Book of Revelation. Marion, IN: Cogdill Foundation Publications, 1972.
5Kline, Meredith G. “The Covenant of the Seventieth Week,” The Law and the Prophets. Ed. John H. Skilton. Philadelphia: Presbyterian and Reformed, 1974. Pp. 452-469.
2Kline, Meredith G. Images of the Spirit. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1980. See especially pp. 13-56.
5Longman, Tremper, III. “The Divine Warrior: The New Testament Use of an Old Testament Motif,” WTJ 44 (1982) 290-307.
5McComiskey, Thomas E. “Alteration of OT Imagery in the Book of Revelation: Its Hermeneutical and Theological Significance,” JETS 36/3 (1993) 307-316.
5Minear, Paul S. I Saw a New Earth: An Introduction to the Visions of the Apocalypse. Contains a careful literary analysis and an extensive bibliography.
5Minear, Paul S. “The Cosmology of the Apocalypse,” Current Issues in New Testament Interpretation, ed. William Klassen and Graydon F. Snyder. New York: Harper, 1962. Pp. 23-37.
5Moyise, Steve. The Old Testament in the Book of Revelation. Sheffield: Sheffiled Academic Press, 1995. BS 2825.2 .M694 1995.
5Poythress, Vern S. “Counterfeiting in the Book of Revelation as a Perspective on Non-Christian Culture,” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 40/3 (1997) 411-418.
5Poythress, Vern S. “Genre and Hermeneutics in Rev 20:1-6,” JETS 36 no. 1 (1993) 41-54.
5Poythress, Vern S. “Hermeneutical Factors in Determining the Beginning of the Seventy Weeks (Daniel 9:25),” Trinity Journal 6 NS (1985) 131-149.
2Poythress, Vern S. Theophany: A Biblical Theology of God's Appearing. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2018.
5Prévost, Jean-Pierre. How to Read the Apocalypse. New York: Crossroad, 1993. Preterist, historical-critical, written for a lay audience. It is sympathetic with John’s main themes. BS 2825.2 .P72513 1993.
5Ramsay, William M. The Letters of the Seven Churches of Asia. New York: Armstrong, 1905. Historical archaeological study.
5Rissi, Mathias. The Future of the World: An Exegetical Study of Revelation 19.11-22.15. Naperville, IL: Alec R. Allenson, 1972.
5Rissi, Mathias. Time and History: A Study on the Revelation. Richmond: John Knox, 1966.
3Ryken, Leland. “Revelation.” In A Complete Literary Guide to the Bible. Ed. Leland Ryken and Tremper Longman, III. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1993. Pp. 458-69. An excellent introduction to reading Revelation with literary sensitivity.
5Schreiner, Thomas R. The Joy of Hearing: A Theology of the Book of Revelation. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2021.
3,6Strand, Kenneth A. Interpreting the Book of Revelation: Hermeneutical Guidelines, with Brief Introduction to Literary Analysis. Worthington, OH: Ann Arbor, 1976. No bibliography. A good hermeneutical introduction that doesn’t beg too many questions.
5Tenney, Merrill C. Interpreting Revelation. Grand Rapids: Eermans, 1957. English text. Futurist. Premil.
5Terrien, Samuel L. The Elusive Presence: Toward a New Biblical  Theology. New York: Harper, 1978. Biblical theology of theophany and divine presence by a modernist.
5Thompson, Leonard L. The Book of Revelation: Apocalypse and Empire. New York/Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1990. Focuses on the setting of Revelation and very general aspects of its use of language and genre. Modernist and sociological. BS 2825.2 .T46 1990
5Voorwinde, Stephen. “Worship, the Key to the Book of Revelation?” Vox Reformata 63 (1998) 3-35.
5Waal, Cornelis van der. Openbaring van Jezus Christus: Inleiding en vertaling. Groningen: Vuurbaak, 1961. Preterist.
IV.	The Millennium
5Bietenhard, Hans, “The Millennial Hope in the Early Church,” SJT 6 (1953) 12-30.
5Boettner, Loraine. The Millennium. Philadelphia: Presbyterian and Reformed, 1957. An introduction to four views. Slanted towards postmillennialism, against dispensationalism.
4Clouse, Robert G., ed. The Meaning of the Millennium: Four Views. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1977. George Ladd, Herman Hoyt, Loraine Boettner, Anthony Hoekema. Each gives a response to the others’ views as well as his own presentation. BT 891 .M4
5Currell, R. G., and Hurlbut, E. P. The Ruler of the Kings on the Earth. Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed, 1983.
5Deere, Jack S. “Premillennialism in Revelation 20:4-6,” BibSac 135 (1978) 58-73.
3Erickson, Millard J. Contemporary Options in Eschatology: A Study of the Millennium. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1977. A fairly unbiased survey of millennial and tribulational options. But Erickson’s premillennialism is evident in his neglect of texts causing difficulty to premil interpretation.
5Gaffin, Richard B. “Theonomy and Eschatology: Reflections on Postmillennialism.” In Theonomy: A Reformed Critique. Ed. William S. Barker and W. Robert Godfrey. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1990. Pp. 197-224. Tension between postmillennialism and semirealized eschatology.
5Gaffin, Richard B. “The Usefulness of the Cross,” WTJ 41 no. 2 (1978-79) 228-46, especially 244-46. Some new thoughts regarding triumphalism.
5Gundry, Stanley N. “Hermeneutics or Zeitgeist as the Determining Factor in the History of Eschatologies?” JETS 20 (1977) 45-55.
5Hill, Charles. Regnum Caelorum: Patterns of Future Hope in Early Christianity. Oxford: Clarendon, 1992. The second century shows a mixture of premil and amil views.
4Hoekema, Anthony. The Bible and the Future. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1979.
4Hughes, Philip Edgcumbe. “The First Resurrection: Another Interpretation,” WTJ 39/2 (1976-77) 315-18. Amil.
3Kline, Meredith G. “The First Resurrection,” WTJ 37/2 (1974-75) 366-75. Idealist. Amil.
4Kline, Meredith G. “The First Resurrection: A Reaffirmation,” WTJ 39/1 (1976-77) 110-19.
4Kline, Meredith G. “Har Magedon: The End of the Millennium,” JETS 39/2 (1996) 207-222.
4Mathewson, Dave, “A Re-examination of the Millennium in Rev 20:1-6: Consummation and Recapitulation,” JETS 44/2 (2001) 237-251.
4Michaels, J. Ramsey. “The First Resurrection: A Response,” WTJ 39/1 (1976-77) 100-109. Premil.
4Poythress, Vern S. “Genre and Hermeneutics in Rev 20:1-6,” JETS 36/1 (19930 41-54.
4Poythress, Vern S. “2 Thessalonians 1 Supports Amillennialism,” JETS 37/4 (1994) 529-38.
4Reiter, Richard R., Paul D. Feinberg, Gleason L. Archer, and Douglas J. Moo. The Rapture: Pre-, Mid-, or Post-Tribulational? Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1984. Premil. BT 887 .R37 1984.
4White, R. Fowler. “On the Hermeneutics and Interpretation of Revelation 20:1-3: A Preconsummationalist Perspective,” JETS 42/1 (1999) 53-66.
4White, R. Fowler. “Making Sense of Rev 20:1-10? Harold Hoehner Versus Recapitulation,” JETS 37/4 (1994) 539-552.
4White, R. Fowler. “Reexamining the Evidence for Recapitulation in Rev 20:1-10,” WTJ 51/2 (1989) 319-344.