Revelation

The return of Christ has been called our "blessed hope." In mysterious detail, the book of Revelation prepares the way for that final event. For hundreds of years, that element of mystery has commissioned many on a quest for understanding.

As we join in that pursuit, history provides us a significant advantage. We live closer to the fulfillment of the Revelation than all the interpreters who lived before us. In this privileged position, we build upon what has been previously revealed, while reassessing what has been adjusted by history.

The study of the Revelation has resulted in a presentation of diversity. Different ideas, possibilities, and interpretations threaten to confuse the student who innocently hungers to understand the images in this book. This commentary hopes to help sort out the probable from the possible. At junctions of diverse interpretation, the strengths and weaknesses of each major theory are introduced and explained. The reader is then encouraged to develop his or her own opinion based on their assessment of the details. We can only know the sure outcome of the Revelation on the day of its fulfillment-until then, we see through a glass darkly.

David Sell is the President Emeritus of Northern California Bible College, now named Global Christian University. He has played a vital part in the development of this college since its inception in 1971, having been a graduate, served as a faculty member, Registrar, Academic Dean, President, and now President Emeritus. He holds two Bachelor's degrees, one from Northern Calif. Bible College and the other from San Jose State University. He later received his Master's degree from San Jose State University. From 1987-2006, he served as the founding pastor of Pleasanton Community Church and continues to teach for Global Christian University during his retirement. Pastor Sell has written over twenty Bible college courses but specializes in matters of the end times. He has conducted end-time conferences in Nigeria, Kenya, Scotland, Ireland, Indonesia, Ukraine, the Philippines, Trinidad, and the United States. He also teaches the online "End-time Essentials" course for the International School of Ministry with campuses in 150 countries. David Sell currently lives in Redlands, California, with his wife, Debbie; they have been married for 54 years and have two daughters and five grandchildren.