Revelation

Summary

Revelation is one of the most preached books in modern conversation, and one of the least preached books in modern pulpits. Part of the reason is fear. The imagery is intense, the interpretive options are many, and the history of speculation is discouraging. A technical commentary, if it is to serve the church, must bring us back to the text, to the original audience, and to the pastoral purpose of the visions. Grant R. Osborne offers that kind of help. He treats Revelation as a book meant to strengthen suffering believers, not as a puzzle meant to entertain curious minds.

Osborne is careful with genre. He keeps reminding us that we are reading apocalyptic prophecy presented in letter form. That matters for how we read symbols, how we handle Old Testament echoes, and how we distinguish between the main theological message and the details that invite restraint. We are repeatedly pushed back into the first century setting, where the church faced pressure to accommodate, to worship the beastly powers of the age, and to soften its confession. Osborne aims to show how Revelation calls the church to patient endurance, faithful witness, and uncompromised worship.

For preaching, that emphasis is crucial. Revelation is not written to produce timelines, but to produce faithful saints. It is a book that lifts our eyes to the throne, to the Lamb, and to the certainty of final judgment and new creation. Osborne helps us hear that message in the flow of the text.

Strengths

First, Osborne is strong on structure. Revelation can feel like a series of disconnected scenes, but he helps us see the literary patterns and the repeated cycles. That helps us avoid the common mistake of flattening everything into a strict chronological chart. Whether we agree with every structural proposal, the commentary pushes us to read units as units, and to see how the book builds its case through repeated portrayals of judgment, perseverance, and victory.

Second, the attention to Old Testament background is a major asset. Revelation is saturated with Scripture. Even where John is not directly quoting, he is drawing on images, themes, and patterns that belong to the whole canon. Osborne helps us trace those connections without turning the commentary into a separate Old Testament study. He often shows how an image is functioning, and why it would have been meaningful to the churches addressed in ch.2 and ch.3. That is vital for faithful exegesis, and it is vital for faithful application.

Third, he is alert to pastoral tone. Revelation contains warnings that are meant to pierce. It also contains promises meant to comfort. Osborne helps us keep those together. When the book warns compromised churches, it does so to call them back to repentance and life. When it comforts pressured churches, it does so to anchor them in the reign of God. That balance helps pastors preach Revelation without becoming either sensational or tame.

Fourth, Osborne usually models interpretive restraint. Where the text is clear, he speaks clearly. Where the text invites multiple plausible readings, he often lays out options and argues for a view without pretending that every detail is settled. That is a helpful posture in a book where certainty can easily become arrogance.

Limitations

The main limitation is the unavoidable complexity of the subject matter. Even a good commentary cannot remove all difficulty, and in places the discussion of options can feel heavy. Some pastors will want a more direct bridge to homiletical outlines, while others will be grateful for the deeper work. We should also note that readers from strongly defined interpretive camps may not be satisfied by a more measured approach. Osborne’s strength is often his refusal to turn the book into a single issue manifesto.

There are also moments where the density of detail can slow the reader down. That is not a flaw, but it does mean we should plan our study time. Revelation rewards slow reading, and this commentary assumes we are willing to do that work.

How We Would Use It

We would use this commentary to anchor our preaching in the text and its purpose. When preparing sermons, we would first outline the passage, note repeated phrases and images, and then consult Osborne to test our reading, especially around Old Testament background and the likely function of symbols. We would also use him to help us keep application tethered to the original pastoral aim. Revelation calls the church to worship the true King, to refuse idolatry, and to endure with hope. It is easy to drift into curiosity. Osborne helps pull us back to courage and holiness.

We would also use this in teaching settings where people have been shaped by speculation. It can help recalibrate expectations. The book is not given to satisfy every question about the future. It is given to strengthen the church in the present by showing the end with certainty. The Lamb reigns, the powers will fall, and the saints will be kept.

Closing Recommendation

This is a substantial, careful guide to a difficult book. It is best used with patience, humility, and a constant return to the pastoral purpose of Revelation. We commend it to those who want to preach and teach the book as Scripture, with reverence for its imagery and confidence in its message of the reigning Christ.