Eight Messages (A Book Review)

Caleb Stevenson's commentary on the letters to the Seven Churches of Revelation is not what modern readers will be prepared to read. First off, he covers eight churches, the eighth one being the modern church of America. Unlike the many commentaries that attempt to explain the letters wholly on a 22nd century understanding, he takes you back to the mindset of the 1st century church.

In today's modern World, everyone wants to know how the Book of Revelation will impact their life as we head into what could possibly be the last days before Christ returns. True, many early Christians thought they too were in the last days, but history proves they were not. It goes without saying that when John received his visions that the One, Jesus, Who gave the visions, knew the end was thousands of year in the future. Thus it makes no sense to believe that the intended readers of the letters were expected to believe the messages were for those thousands of years in the future.

In this, the author does an admirable job of avoiding the urge to insert today's understanding into a message that was clearly written in a similar manner as the ancient books of the Old Testament prophetical books were written. Truth is, the book of Revelation alludes to the Old Testament more times than any other book of the New Testament. As such one must look at the imagery and warnings in much the same way as the early Christians did with the books of the prophets.

This does not mean there are no warnings for Christians to take heed to in the present 22nd Century, but to force everything in the book of Revelation into being significant to today's World will only cloud your ability to understand the importance it held for the recipients of the early church. Especially when one takes into consideration the letters to the seven churches.

I appreciate the way Caleb stayed within the parameters he set up for himself by avoiding the usual hyperbole of apocalyptic explanations for things that can be properly explained by using images and understanding of John's original audience. The author also closes each chapter with questions that will make you reflect upon information you read.

This is not a book for babes, i.e. young born again Christians. Since young Christians have a difficult enough time trying to make sense of the milk offered in the Gospels. One needs to have a good grasp of the Scriptures to truly enjoy this book. If, for no other reason than the many examples Caleb uses to explain the cryptic messages weaved into the letters.