Best Commentaries on Revelation

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”