Revelation : an introduction and commentary / Ian Paul.

Approaching Revelation -- Who was John? -- The date of Revelation -- The social and historical context -- Did John actually have a vision? -- What kind of text is Revelation? -- Reading Revelation's imagery -- Revelation's use of numbers -- Revelation's use of the Old Testament -- The structure of Revelation -- Revelation's main theological themes -- Approaches to its interpretation -- Analysis -- Commentary.

The Book of Revelation is a remarkable text. A fascinating piece of Scripture as well as an extraordinary piece of literature, its interpretation has affected our theology, art and worship, and even international politics. Yet it is widely neglected in the church and almost entirely avoided from the pulpit. In this Tyndale Commentary, Ian Paul takes a disciplined approach to the text, paying careful attention to the ways that John draws from the Old Testament. Additionally, Paul examines how the original audience would have heard this message from John, and then draws helpful comments for contemporary reflection. The Tyndale Commentaries are designed to help the reader of the Bible understand what the text says and what it means. The Introduction to each book gives a concise but thorough treatment of its authorship, date, original setting, and purpose. Following a structural Analysis, the Commentary takes the book section by section, drawing out its main themes, and also comments on individual verses and problems of interpretation. Additional Notes provide fuller discussion of particular difficulties. --! From publisher's description.