A verse-by-verse study of the biblical book of Revelation—without the scary undertones.
The book of Revelation has widely been associated with the last days of the world, complete with monsters, bizarre imagery and hair-raising prophecy. But in this concise, well-written study, Snider reveals the true nature of Revelation—a message of hope for God’s people. Snider breaks down Revelation verse by verse, offering commentary couched in solid, biblical evidence as well as incorporating conclusions drawn by noted theologians. From the Seven Seals and the Trumpet Judgments to the Beast and the False Prophet, Snider unwraps the myth and hysteria our culture has attached to each prophecy and the author explains these elements in simple, easy-to-understand terms and nonthreatening language. Footnotes on each page as well as a comprehensive bibliography and index assist in further study. From the beginning, Snider makes it clear that this is a Christian study not for scholars but for the average believer and nonbeliever alike. His prose is entertaining and conversational and thankfully lacks boring academic language. What truly sets this study apart from others in the field is the compassion that Snider infuses into each page. He seeks to restore Revelation back to the Apostle John’s intended purpose instead of the terrifying tome overzealous believers have turned it into. But it is Snider’s unshakeable faith in Jesus Christ that is at the heart of this study. He takes the time to reveal why he is a believer, and his reasons address some of the more common objections to Christianity. Snider doesn’t wish to shroud any of the prophecies of Revelation but instead wants them to be understood just as Jesus Christ is to be believed. After reading this study, readers will undoubtedly be filled more with peace than with anxiety for the coming End Days.
Pub Date: Oct. 4, 2011
ISBN: 978-1449725341
Page Count: 329
Publisher: WestBow/Thomas Nelson
Review Posted Online: Jan. 9, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2012
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.
A compendium of charts, time lines, lists and illustrations to accompany study of the Bible.
This visually appealing resource provides a wide array of illustrative and textually concise references, beginning with three sets of charts covering the Bible as a whole, the Old Testament and the New Testament. These charts cover such topics as biblical weights and measures, feasts and holidays and the 12 disciples. Most of the charts use a variety of illustrative techniques to convey lessons and provide visual interest. A worthwhile example is “How We Got the Bible,” which provides a time line of translation history, comparisons of canons among faiths and portraits of important figures in biblical translation, such as Jerome and John Wycliffe. The book then presents a section of maps, followed by diagrams to conceptualize such structures as Noah’s Ark and Solomon’s Temple. Finally, a section on Christianity, cults and other religions describes key aspects of history and doctrine for certain Christian sects and other faith traditions. Overall, the authors take a traditionalist, conservative approach. For instance, they list Moses as the author of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) without making mention of claims to the contrary. When comparing various Christian sects and world religions, the emphasis is on doctrine and orthodox theology. Some chapters, however, may not completely align with the needs of Catholic and Orthodox churches. But the authors’ leanings are muted enough and do not detract from the work’s usefulness. As a resource, it’s well organized, inviting and visually stimulating. Even the most seasoned reader will learn something while browsing.
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005
ISBN: 978-1-5963-6022-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A very welcome instance of philosophy that can help readers live a good life.
A teacher and scholar of Buddhism offers a formally varied account of the available rewards of solitude.
“As Mother Ayahuasca takes me in her arms, I realize that last night I vomited up my attachment to Buddhism. In passing out, I died. In coming to, I was, so to speak, reborn. I no longer have to fight these battles, I repeat to myself. I am no longer a combatant in the dharma wars. It feels as if the course of my life has shifted onto another vector, like a train shunted off its familiar track onto a new trajectory.” Readers of Batchelor’s previous books (Secular Buddhism: Imagining the Dharma in an Uncertain World, 2017, etc.) will recognize in this passage the culmination of his decadeslong shift away from the religious commitments of Buddhism toward an ecumenical and homegrown philosophy of life. Writing in a variety of modes—memoir, history, collage, essay, biography, and meditation instruction—the author doesn’t argue for his approach to solitude as much as offer it for contemplation. Essentially, Batchelor implies that if you read what Buddha said here and what Montaigne said there, and if you consider something the author has noticed, and if you reflect on your own experience, you have the possibility to improve the quality of your life. For introspective readers, it’s easy to hear in this approach a direct response to Pascal’s claim that “all of humanity's problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone.” Batchelor wants to relieve us of this inability by offering his example of how to do just that. “Solitude is an art. Mental training is needed to refine and stabilize it,” he writes. “When you practice solitude, you dedicate yourself to the care of the soul.” Whatever a soul is, the author goes a long way toward soothing it.
A very welcome instance of philosophy that can help readers live a good life.Pub Date: Feb. 18, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-300-25093-0
Page Count: 200
Publisher: Yale Univ.
Review Posted Online: Nov. 24, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2019
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