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Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture
Revelation
In this addition to the well-received Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture (CCSS), seasoned New Testament scholar and popular speaker Peter Williamson interprets Revelation from within the living tradition of the Church for pastoral ministers, lay readers, and students alike. The seventeen-volume CCSS series, which will cover the entire New Testament, relates Scripture to Christian life today, is faithfully Catholic, and is supplemented by features designed to help readers understand the Bible more deeply and use it more effectively in teaching, preaching, evangelization, and other forms of ministry. Drawn from the best of contemporary scholarship, series volumes are keyed to the liturgical year and include an index of pastoral subjects.
384 pages, Paperback
First published November 18, 2014
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About the author
Peter S. Williamson
9 books5 followersPeter S. Williamson (STD, Pontifical Gregorian University) holds the Adam Cardinal Maida Chair in Sacred Scripture at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, Michigan. He is the author of several books, including Ephesians in the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 1, 2016
I've been toodling along in William Barclay's 2-vol. commentary on The Revelation and suddenly hit that wall.
You know.
That "this is by a Protestant but I just got to a lot of Marian stuff" wall. A woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of 12 stars on her head who is having a baby. And a dragon is trying to eat the baby. That part.
I yield to no one in my admiration of Barclay's grounding in ancient information. For example, I was already prepped for the dragon and the stars as part of other ancient religious systems. But he does have a real disinclination to attribute much to Our Lady. Up to and including the virgin birth.
Not that they may talk about Mary more than Barclay does. I don't know, that's why I picked up the book for comparison ... but this was the excuse I needed to pounce on this tasty book from my favorite commentary source.
FINAL
This was simply superb. I not only appreciated the scriptural commentary but the sections for application to my own life. Contrary to what one might expect, there is plenty to apply to life in Revelation. Also, the translation used is NABRE (New American, revised) but the author often compares and contrasts with other translations so that we get the full range of possibilities for meanings. This often gives us much more to ponder than we might expect.
You know.
That "this is by a Protestant but I just got to a lot of Marian stuff" wall. A woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of 12 stars on her head who is having a baby. And a dragon is trying to eat the baby. That part.
I yield to no one in my admiration of Barclay's grounding in ancient information. For example, I was already prepped for the dragon and the stars as part of other ancient religious systems. But he does have a real disinclination to attribute much to Our Lady. Up to and including the virgin birth.
Not that they may talk about Mary more than Barclay does. I don't know, that's why I picked up the book for comparison ... but this was the excuse I needed to pounce on this tasty book from my favorite commentary source.
FINAL
This was simply superb. I not only appreciated the scriptural commentary but the sections for application to my own life. Contrary to what one might expect, there is plenty to apply to life in Revelation. Also, the translation used is NABRE (New American, revised) but the author often compares and contrasts with other translations so that we get the full range of possibilities for meanings. This often gives us much more to ponder than we might expect.
June 14, 2018
This is really a wonderful commentary on the book of revelation. The side notes are really helpful. I really love this series of Catholic Commentary. I mostly refer to these commentaries for my studies and other lectures. Highly recommended to anyone who needs to have a Catholic view of Revelation.
August 30, 2023
The Book of Revelation is the final chapter of the bible. It is a relatively lengthy book. Shorter than the Gospels and Acts, it is nevertheless longer than every other document in the New Testament. It is also full of prophecies, monsters and apocalyptic import. Lengthy and mysterious it is not one of the most popular books of the bible. So a commentary to help readers engage with the document is very helpful.
Following the usual pattern of commentaries the book goes through the text chapter by chapter and line by line, flagging up links with other parts of the bible and setting it all into its historical context. One of the questions posed by Revelation is whether, and to what extent, the book is referring to contemporary history, or is it describing future events that cannot yet be known.
The author steers a middle course between those extremes. On the one hand there are obvious historical allusions. Revelation itself refers to contemporary opponents (the Nicolaitians) and the number of the beast, 666, is explained as referring to the emperor Nero. Yet the book is clearly also looking to the end of history, where the New Jerusalem will appear.
One of the points made clearly by the book is that readers who try to find a description of the end of the world miss the point of the book. The book is offering readers a choice between two lifestyles. They can ally with the slain Lamb of Christ, or they can ally with Satan the Beast and his false emissaries. The vivid imagery just sets those choices into various contexts, so that people are properly informed about the implications and consequences of their choices. Yet it is the choice itself which is the important focus of the book.
Where I think the book could have been a little clearer was in pressing points of consistency. We hear at the beginning of the book about various people who are being (or are going to be) punished for their sins. Yet when we get to the first four seals releasing the horses of the apocalypse (chp.8, 41%) the author tells us that that should not be interpreted as a divine punishment. Really? If some ills sent by God are punishments, and other’s aren’t, then would those ills which are not punishments just make God seem sadistic? Or is there something else going on? There were some issues here that needed more unpacking and explaining.
I was also expecting a little more information about the historical context of Revelation. The book was used and abused so much by the Montanist heretics of the Second Century that it left a stain on the book’s reputation. That was so much the case that it took longer for the book to be recognised as canonical, and to this very day, many Eastern Churches do not include readings from it in their public services. Given those facts, it would have been interesting to get a sense of which bits of Revelation were being misused by the Montanists.
Towards the end of the book the author started to include more references and quotes from the fathers and the Great Patristic commentaries. Tertullian, Irenaeus and Andrew of Caesarea are probed on the identity of Babylon (78%). There is also an informative use of Augustine, Peter Olivi and others to probe the meaning of the thousand year reign (ie millennialism). I would have welcomed hearing more from the fathers, especially in the first half of the book.
Overall, an informative book, accessible to readers of any background.
Following the usual pattern of commentaries the book goes through the text chapter by chapter and line by line, flagging up links with other parts of the bible and setting it all into its historical context. One of the questions posed by Revelation is whether, and to what extent, the book is referring to contemporary history, or is it describing future events that cannot yet be known.
The author steers a middle course between those extremes. On the one hand there are obvious historical allusions. Revelation itself refers to contemporary opponents (the Nicolaitians) and the number of the beast, 666, is explained as referring to the emperor Nero. Yet the book is clearly also looking to the end of history, where the New Jerusalem will appear.
One of the points made clearly by the book is that readers who try to find a description of the end of the world miss the point of the book. The book is offering readers a choice between two lifestyles. They can ally with the slain Lamb of Christ, or they can ally with Satan the Beast and his false emissaries. The vivid imagery just sets those choices into various contexts, so that people are properly informed about the implications and consequences of their choices. Yet it is the choice itself which is the important focus of the book.
Where I think the book could have been a little clearer was in pressing points of consistency. We hear at the beginning of the book about various people who are being (or are going to be) punished for their sins. Yet when we get to the first four seals releasing the horses of the apocalypse (chp.8, 41%) the author tells us that that should not be interpreted as a divine punishment. Really? If some ills sent by God are punishments, and other’s aren’t, then would those ills which are not punishments just make God seem sadistic? Or is there something else going on? There were some issues here that needed more unpacking and explaining.
I was also expecting a little more information about the historical context of Revelation. The book was used and abused so much by the Montanist heretics of the Second Century that it left a stain on the book’s reputation. That was so much the case that it took longer for the book to be recognised as canonical, and to this very day, many Eastern Churches do not include readings from it in their public services. Given those facts, it would have been interesting to get a sense of which bits of Revelation were being misused by the Montanists.
Towards the end of the book the author started to include more references and quotes from the fathers and the Great Patristic commentaries. Tertullian, Irenaeus and Andrew of Caesarea are probed on the identity of Babylon (78%). There is also an informative use of Augustine, Peter Olivi and others to probe the meaning of the thousand year reign (ie millennialism). I would have welcomed hearing more from the fathers, especially in the first half of the book.
Overall, an informative book, accessible to readers of any background.
Read
January 12, 2022I'm finally done with this book! A few important lessons stood out as I have worked my way towards the last page and chapter:
1. This is not merely a horrific vision of what would happen at the end of time. That is only a part of it. What this book is really all about is a message of hope of the life of the world to come ultimately fulfilled in the wedding feast of the Lamb and His bride, of Christ and His Church, the people of God.
2. The book is a moral exhortation of the faithful to stand firm and steadfast in the midst of persecution and suffering. As the author says, at the Crucifixion, Satan has been defeated but not yet eliminated. There is still a remnant of influence left in this world and its total eradication would only take place at the end of time.
3. Lastly, and I find this very pressing and urgent, is that this is also a warning for those who will continue to persist in sin. As mentioned in the 1st number, this is not a horrific event that will take place soon. Rather, those visions that you see in this book is a call to repentance. That God allows such things to happen in order to bring about the conversion of those who are wicked and sinful that ultimately would also share in life in the New Jerusalem.
That's my 3 cents for this book. It strengthened my faith and gave me a deeper understanding of the life of the world to come. Those who are faithful to the Lamb need not to fear His return, rather it is what they all hope for. Thus, the ending of this book "Come, Lord Jesus."
"Behold I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the prophetic message of this book." -Rev 22:7
1. This is not merely a horrific vision of what would happen at the end of time. That is only a part of it. What this book is really all about is a message of hope of the life of the world to come ultimately fulfilled in the wedding feast of the Lamb and His bride, of Christ and His Church, the people of God.
2. The book is a moral exhortation of the faithful to stand firm and steadfast in the midst of persecution and suffering. As the author says, at the Crucifixion, Satan has been defeated but not yet eliminated. There is still a remnant of influence left in this world and its total eradication would only take place at the end of time.
3. Lastly, and I find this very pressing and urgent, is that this is also a warning for those who will continue to persist in sin. As mentioned in the 1st number, this is not a horrific event that will take place soon. Rather, those visions that you see in this book is a call to repentance. That God allows such things to happen in order to bring about the conversion of those who are wicked and sinful that ultimately would also share in life in the New Jerusalem.
That's my 3 cents for this book. It strengthened my faith and gave me a deeper understanding of the life of the world to come. Those who are faithful to the Lamb need not to fear His return, rather it is what they all hope for. Thus, the ending of this book "Come, Lord Jesus."
"Behold I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the prophetic message of this book." -Rev 22:7
January 1, 2022
Another masterpiece from the CCSS collection. A must-have for Catholics, or anyone, interested in untangling the mystery that is the ultimate book of the Bible. The author carefully and deliberately goes through John's Apocalypse, virtually verse-by-verse, providing interesting commentary and competing understandings of this challenging read. Like all books in the series, the sidebars and "Reflection and Application" sections dotted throughout only serve to enhance the text.
I have the entire series and have read several of the volumes. One of my primary go-to commentaries when studying or writing about Scripture. I hope and pray they will see clear to diving into the even more ambitious task of working through the Old Testament.
This series is a treasure that every serious Catholic should own (all Christians would benefit, though).
I have the entire series and have read several of the volumes. One of my primary go-to commentaries when studying or writing about Scripture. I hope and pray they will see clear to diving into the even more ambitious task of working through the Old Testament.
This series is a treasure that every serious Catholic should own (all Christians would benefit, though).
July 13, 2018
Great analysis of symbolism
Author explained everything well. Well researched, lots of footnotes. Would recommend to anyone that has a basic understanding of Catholicism or Christianity.
Author explained everything well. Well researched, lots of footnotes. Would recommend to anyone that has a basic understanding of Catholicism or Christianity.
June 8, 2019
I learned a lot
I've read a lot of other commentaries and this one wasn't as scary as the others. I have more hope of seeing my Jesus in my lifetime and I'm looking forward to worshiping Him forever.
I've read a lot of other commentaries and this one wasn't as scary as the others. I have more hope of seeing my Jesus in my lifetime and I'm looking forward to worshiping Him forever.
July 10, 2021
A really excellent book
I have always avoided reading the book of Revelation as it seemed too difficult o understand.
This wonderful book however explains the prophet's visions with great clarity, and is a great achievement
Strongly recommended
I have always avoided reading the book of Revelation as it seemed too difficult o understand.
This wonderful book however explains the prophet's visions with great clarity, and is a great achievement
Strongly recommended
June 26, 2020
This is superb - lucid and level-headed, with a good balance of scholarly commentary and faithful reflection.
April 13, 2021
The best Revelation commentary I have read. Definitely recommend it.
November 1, 2023
Excellent in all respects with insight on how as Catholics we should interpret the Book of Revelation.
June 22, 2025
Well-written and thoughtful introduction to the Book of Revelation.
May 3, 2015
A judicious, well-balanced commentary.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews