In the Book of Revelation, John records his vision of the risen Lord, and writes an urgent message for the churches to hear and heed. The initial verses of the book indicate that Revelation combines the features of three genres—apocalypse, prophecy, and epistle.
The book’s visions present a divine perspective on what is true, good, and lasting. It exposes the false and fleeting values of the world (“Babylon”) and helps believers to reorient their lives and perspectives on God’s enduring kingdom. Revelation’s potent and prophetic pictures aren’t riddles to be solved but reliable revelation to be heard, and warnings to be heeded. Through his vision, John summons believers to worship Christ, to hold fast to God’s Word, to resist moral compromise, spiritual complacency, and false teaching, and to wait with endurance for the coming of King Jesus.
Introductory Commentaries
For Sunday school teachers and small group leaders without advanced training
Revelation
Leon L. Morris
Tyndale New Testament Commentaries
IVP, 2009
Even though Morris’s commentary is older, it’s still a solid resource on the Apocalypse. He takes an irenic approach to the book that will help everyday readers discern the book’s meaning and intent.
The Returning King: A Guide to the Book of Revelation
Vern S. Poythress
P&R Publishing, 2000
A clear and accessible exposition that helps readers see Revelation as a “picture book, not a puzzle book.” While Poythress does tackle key details, he doesn’t allow them to cloud Revelation’s overall message.
Revelation
Brian J. Tabb
TGC Bible Commentary
The Gospel Coalition, 2023
After a brief introduction, Tabb expounds on each of the book’s major sections. He concludes his commentary with several helpful tables that will be useful for Sunday school teachers.
Preaching Commentaries
For pastors and Bible teachers preparing to proclaim the Word
Revelation: A Shorter Commentary
G. K. Beale with David H. Campbell
Eerdmans, 2015
An accessible volume that distills the grammatical analysis and exegesis from Beale’s longer, 1300-page NIGTC volume (see below). A helpful commentary for both preachers and students.
Revelation
Joel R. Beeke
Lectio Continua Expository Commentary
Reformation Heritage, 2016
Beeke’s commentary is structured as a series of 36 sermons that show how the Book of Revelation consists in seven cycles that describe God’s work in heaven and on earth from the crucifixion to his return in judgment. Beeke shows how each cycle encourages the church in its last-days trials.
Revelation: The Spirit Speaks to the Churches
James M. Hamilton Jr.
Preaching the Word
Crossway, 2012
A trusted Baptist scholar who combines idealism and premillennialism with humility in his convictions. Reviewers note that he often sounds amillennial until he comes to Revelation 20 where he opts for a temporal and premillennial reading.
Triumph of the Lamb: A Commentary on Revelation
Dennis E. Johnson
P&R Publishing, 2001
Carson says, “The strength of this work is the way it takes some of the best material on the interpretation of apocalyptic generally, and Revelation in particular, and presents it in a palatable, readable form.” Johnson is a trusted Presbyterian scholar, and he writes here in a way that makes the perplexing images in Revelation understandable, helping teachers share the treasures of this book with their people.
The Book of Revelation
Robert H. Mounce
New International Commentary on the New Testament
Eerdmans, 1997
Carson praises this commentary as “a learned and well-written work that not only explains the text satisfactorily in most instances but also introduces the student to the best of the secondary literature.” In this way, it has similar strengths to Koester (below) but requires less knowledge of Greek.
Scholarly Commentaries
For pastors and theologians proficient in biblical Greek
The Book of Revelation
G. K. Beale
New International Greek Testament Commentary
Eerdmans, 1998
Tabb says, “Though it has been in print for over two decades, Beale’s massive NIGTC commentary remains an outstanding go-to resource for all students of Revelation.” This commentary’s dense prose provides both detailed analysis of the Greek and solid theological reflections. Beale gives special attention—both in his 178-page introduction and throughout the text—to ways Old Testament images help us understand John’s symbolic language.
Revelation: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary
Craig R. Koester
Anchor Yale Bible Commentaries
Yale University Press, 2015
A masterfully written and meticulously researched commentary from a critical perspective. Koester situates the Apocalypse in its late first century context. Koestner denies apostolic authorship of the book, but his thorough commentary is still a valuable guide for serious students of Revelation.
A Commentary on the Revelation of John
George Eldon Ladd
Eerdmans Classic Biblical Commentaries
Eerdmans, 2018
The classic exposition of Revelation from a historic premillennial perspective. Blending a preterist and futurist approach, Ladd gives a scholarly and comprehensive interpretation of the book in the language of the lay person.
Revelation
Thomas R. Schreiner
Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament
Baker Academic, 2023
Schreiner’s exegetical work is always careful and pastoral. This volume is “substantial enough for serious exegesis but short enough for the busy pastor to read” (Preface). His book includes a substantial introduction that covers authorship, date, genre, structure, and Revelation’s use of the Old Testament. He adopts a unique reading of Revelation 20 he calls “new-creation millennialism.”