Followers of Maurice A. Williams might feel they already are familiar with Revelation: Mature Look: but it should be mentioned that despite its having a similar title as the book that appeared earlier, this represents a complete rewrite of the 1988 original. Readers should be cautioned to be sure they have the September, 2018 revised edition, which substantially updates and revises the earlier treatise.
The scholarly review of Christian interpretations of the Book of Revelation are outlined in an introduction which clarifies this survey's focus: "I wanted to put forth my conviction that Revelation was directed to the people who heard it preached, as well as a prophecy to later people about the end times. That would make my interpretation preterist in contrast to the futurist interpretations so popular in the United States. I think it makes more sense that the preaching of John would have warned the Judean people that their rejection of the Messiah would trigger God's rejection of them and their nation's demise as well as a warning to future generations what will happen to them if they also reject the Messiah when he returns."
As basic Christian concepts of the past are today refuted worldwide, Williams makes some important points about Biblical teachings and their foundations: "I do not argue that the Bible is literally true in every statement in the Bible because statements are easily twisted by people arguing against the Bible. Instead, I am convinced that the Catholic Church is the one founded by Jesus Christ, and he sent the Holy Spirit to preserve his church from error. I listen to his church. Christ never told his apostles to write about his teaching: he told them to preach. Preaching by word of mouth would have reached the common person of that time because very few people in the first century knew how to read and write."
These statements, as set forth in his Introduction, clarify Williams' underlying beliefs, focus, and contentions, setting the stage for the interpretation of end times which follows. Discussions tackle the role of Lucifer in not just end times but everyday events, providing a step-by-step interpretation that takes passages from Revelations (such as 'Rev. 6: 11-17 Great Day of Wrath has Come.') and interprets them with an eye to explaining not just the message, but its delivery, impact, and choices in presentation: "The vision of the ancient one has been interpreted in this chapter and the preceding chapter. He is surrounded by twenty-four kings and four living beings that appear to have unlimited power. This vision represents God. It uses symbols people can understand, similar to the way a molecule of water is represented by symbols. It shows the three persons in the one God and some activity of the three persons. And it uses symbols the Judean people should have understood, since many of the symbols had already been used in previous revelations."
Where other Biblical analyses of Revelations focus on interpreting Biblical content almost as a stand-alone separate from choices in description and delivery, Revelation: Mature Look continues the dialogue to explain symbolism, divine nature, preludes to Christ's ministry, and comparisons between real-world events and visions as provided in Revelations.
In each chapter, Williams demonstrates an attention to not just spiritual messages and interpretations, but how they were and are delivered to and perceived by Christians past and present. His personal dilemmas in working out God's message and how the world responds to it are another strong feature of an interpretation which goes beyond individual belief to probe the history, psychology, and spiritual base of mankind and its relationship to God, Christ, and Biblical messages as a whole.
References to Church history and in God's plan of salvation for the human race are backed by footnoted references, Biblical passages, and discussions of the author's study not just of the Bible, but of history.
The result will prove especially satisfying to Christian thinkers and scholars seeking a multifaceted blend of historical and spiritual inspection and the author's own admonitions and cautions based on the lasting impact of the lessons and predictions in Revelations: "You probably don't realize it, but the Catholic Church now emphasizes Divine Mercy. If Jesus Christ is going to return soon for the final judgement, you should take advantage of his generous offer. Just throw yourself onto God's Divine Mercy and choose submission to Christ, and Christ will do the rest and take you into his heavenly kingdom just like he took the good thief when he said: today you will be with me in paradise."
Return to Previous Page