Philip Wren’s Revelations of Jesus Christ may be unique in the way it takes us through the Book of Revelation. Subtitled ‘A devotional study’, it centres around how the Hebrew names of God relate to the various ways in which Jesus is presented in Revelation. Whilst this approach might strike readers as unorthodox, there is a beauty and simplicity in it. It unifies Wren’s writing and, more importantly, harmonises with Revelation’s core message: our need to worship the risen Lord as he truly is, particularly in the face of persecution.

The author believes that this focus should be a corrective, both to those who fear engaging with Revelation and to those who overly obsess about the details of its interpretation. His preface sets out this goal with a quote from Abraham Joshua Heschel:

The Greeks learned in order to comprehend.
The Hebrews learned in order to revere.
The modern man learns in order to use.

Wren’s ‘Hebraic’ approach also involves seeking to understand Scripture from a biblically Jewish perspective – an essential requirement for unlocking many aspects of Revelation. This includes, for example, exploring how the spiritual typology of the Levitical religious festivals relates to the Lord’s first and second comings and why the Greek concept of the immortality of the soul can confuse our understanding concerning the future punishment of the unrighteous.

Wren also contributes regularly to Sword Magazine (another publication with a Hebraic focus), runs a website focusing on biblical prophecy and is a respected Bible teacher.

Wren’s approach centres around how the Hebrew names of God relate to the ways in which Jesus is presented in Revelation.

Balanced and Focused

The book is written in a pacy and easy-to-read style, with each chapter short and to the point. Wren is evidently a strong biblical scholar, consistently interpreting the Revelation narrative with reference to the wider teaching of Scripture and keeping the focus on the big picture throughout.

His presentation is also well balanced. For example, he suggests that the biblical ‘beasts’ could have multiple fulfilments in both empires and individuals. Furthermore, the author is keenly aware of the spiritual messages at the heart of the book, such as the contrast between the ministry of the Holy Spirit and that of the ‘false prophet’.

He is equally willing to tackle the more challenging passages, offering his personal interpretation based on well-reasoned arguments and Scripture references, but without being dogmatic. Nor does the author shy away from Revelation’s presentation of Jesus returning in wrath and judgment, despite the risk of offending modern sensibilities within some parts of the Christian community.

Matters of Interpretation

Regarding interpretation, in some ways Wren’s thinking aligns with more recent trends among eschatology students. For example, he agrees with Joel Richardson’s case for the Anti-Christ’s empire being Islamic and believes the ‘great whore’ encompasses far more than just Roman Catholicism.

Given Revelation’s emphasis on persecution, the author’s understanding that the ‘Lord’s Day’ of John’s vision refers to the annual veneration of Caesar seems appropriate, as does his ‘pre-wrath’ view of the Rapture and perspective on the protected Jewish remnant during the latter part of the Anti-Christ’s rule. Wren does have an unorthodox take on the identity of the Anti-Christ, but wisely unpacks his reasoning in an appendix to avoid unnecessary distraction.

Wren’s presentation is well balanced and the author shows keen awareness of the spiritual messages at the heart of Revelation.

Richness of Jesus’ Character

Regarding the book’s structure, the author works roughly (but not strictly) sequentially through Revelation, introducing each chapter with a name of God most relevant to the passage under consideration and demonstrating how it applies specifically to Jesus. 21 chapters illustrate the richness of the Lord’s character in this way, affirming Jesus’ identity as the God of the Tanach (Old Testament). Wren devotes one solitary but striking chapter to Lucifer and the Anti-Christ, reminding us that he represents the great deception.

The book concludes with three appendices - the aforementioned on Anti-Christ, an analysis of the symbolism of the number seven in Revelation and a discussion of the biblical meaning of ‘eternal life’. The latter is another Hebraic corrective to false church teaching - in this case on the separation of body and spirit, another concept imported from Greek philosophy.

Welcome Contribution

Revelations of Jesus Christ is a useful and welcome contribution in an age when many are either inclined to ignore Revelation as too incomprehensible or to get distracted from its core message by regarding it as a puzzle to be solved.

Philip Wren is biblically ‘on message’ by drawing our attention back to Jesus, our total dependency on him in times of persecution and our need to better understand the signs of his return. With its devotional focus on the Lord, the book is therefore especially worth considering as a basis for group study, particularly in churches which are usually wary of Revelation and its message.

‘Revelations of Jesus Christ from the Book of Revelation: A devotional study’ (163pp) is available from the publisher for £9.