Although it might have been popularized a little for the common man before publication, this was originally Ferrell Jenkins's Masters Thesis. In it he does a thorough job of showing us that any interpretation of this sometimes enigmatic book cannot be correct if one does not understand the Old Testament. Revelation contains, the author tells us, 348 quotations or allusions to the Old Testament taken from 24 books in that collection. How can anyone even hope to understand it if he does not realize this and begin by understanding those passages first?
He then proves the apocalyptic nature of Revelation based upon the apocalyptic books in the Old Testament. After that he discusses the books that John's book refers to most often and how the figures in them were used and understood in their time. Then we see the description of Christ taken from Revelation chapter one and where those come from—the Old Testament! This moves us straight into the titles of Deity in the Old Testament and how they are all used of Jesus in Revelation. Finally we go through the imagery in the Old Testament that is used in Revelation, leading us to the inescapable conclusion that anyone who tries to interpret Revelation without knowing their Old Testament will more than likely get it completely wrong. And right there is the reason the world today comes up with so many fanciful or even absurd ideas when they talk about it.
This book will not completely cover a study of Revelation—see a previous book review on The Lamb, the Woman, and the Dragon by Albertus Pieters for that—but it is an excellent place to start.
The Old Testament in the Book of Revelation seems to be out of print. First, try calling the Florida College bookstore and see if they have any at all or any access to one, and at least give them a reason to think about a reprint from Florida College Press. You can also go online to used book sites. Be careful, though. Because it is out of print, many are charging in excess of $50 for a book of less than 150 pages. I did find a few on Goodreads for under $5.00. Also, there seem to be two different covers out there, one with a tree stump sprouting new growth and another with a menorah on the front. They are both the same book.
Dene Ward
He then proves the apocalyptic nature of Revelation based upon the apocalyptic books in the Old Testament. After that he discusses the books that John's book refers to most often and how the figures in them were used and understood in their time. Then we see the description of Christ taken from Revelation chapter one and where those come from—the Old Testament! This moves us straight into the titles of Deity in the Old Testament and how they are all used of Jesus in Revelation. Finally we go through the imagery in the Old Testament that is used in Revelation, leading us to the inescapable conclusion that anyone who tries to interpret Revelation without knowing their Old Testament will more than likely get it completely wrong. And right there is the reason the world today comes up with so many fanciful or even absurd ideas when they talk about it.
This book will not completely cover a study of Revelation—see a previous book review on The Lamb, the Woman, and the Dragon by Albertus Pieters for that—but it is an excellent place to start.
The Old Testament in the Book of Revelation seems to be out of print. First, try calling the Florida College bookstore and see if they have any at all or any access to one, and at least give them a reason to think about a reprint from Florida College Press. You can also go online to used book sites. Be careful, though. Because it is out of print, many are charging in excess of $50 for a book of less than 150 pages. I did find a few on Goodreads for under $5.00. Also, there seem to be two different covers out there, one with a tree stump sprouting new growth and another with a menorah on the front. They are both the same book.
Dene Ward
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