We applaud Rossing’s suggestion that the book of Revelation be read aloud in circles or Bible study groups. This could be helpful to women who are auditory learners.

At a recent meeting, the members of the Voices of Orthodox Women (VOW) Board of Directors could not endorse the 2010-2011 Horizons Bible Study, “Journeys Through Revelation: Apocalyptic Hope for Today,” despite several good aspects of the study.

Horizons is a magazine published by Presbyterian Women, the national women’s organization of the Presbyterian Church (USA), for the women of the denomination.

Flaws in the Study:

1. The study’s apparent view of the authority of Scripture.
“Though we are still able to find God’s word in this portion of Scripture, we can be sure that John’s practice of threatening violence” is not praiseworthy.

2. The study’s apparent political agenda
“We can challenge ourselves to see the injustice of global economic inequality today in light of the seven seals of Revelation.”

3. The study’s apparent non-Reformed viewpoints
“John wants to wake us all up to be faithful to the vision of God and the Lamb, so that our names will be written in God’s book of life, so that we can enter as citizens into the holy city”

There is also a somewhat uncharitable attitude toward Christians who believe in the Rapture, or who hold the Church’s traditional stance that the John who wrote Revelation is the Apostle John. Salvation does not hinge on these beliefs, and Christians of good will may differ on them.

Read More: http://www.layman.org/Resources/BookReviews.aspx?article=27672

[Editor’s note: the original URL (link) referenced in this article is no longer valid, so the link has been removed.]