Rating: 
Summary: A MUST for every Christian alive today!
Review: This book will completely open your eyes on the book of Revelation, every verse is explained in detail, everything that is going to take place that Jesus Christ has revealed in Revelation is throughly explained in this book. I HIGHLY recommend it for any Christian who is alive today.
Rating: 
Summary: Good presentation of Dispensationalism, but little else...
Review: This book, insofar as accomplishes what it set out to accomplish (outlining the Book of Revelation from a dispensationalist perspective), does a reasonable job. However, I cannot give it any more than 2 stars due to the fact that I found the scholarship practiced during it writing to be appallingly poor. Therefore, my following critique will not be concerned so much with his interpretation of Scripture than with his competency as a researcher. There are plenty of good critiques of the Dispensationalist system of theology out there, and I would have little to add to them. I will recommend a few at the end of this review. On that note, let us examine the question of scholarship in more depth, starting with his treatise on the dating of the book of Revelation. On page 28, he makes a number of inexcusable factual blunders, and even a few blatant misstatements of fact. The paragraph in question: "It is difficult to understand why anyone would question the A.D. 95 date for the writing of Revelation when it was so readily accepted by the early church. No other date was offered for almost 4 centuries, and even then it was not taken seriously. Irenaeus, a disciple of Polycarp (who was a disciple of the Apostle John) wrote Against Heresies around A.D. 180. He is accepted by all scholars as a reliable authority on the first 150 years of Christianity. He wrote that John received the book of Revelation on the Isle of Patmos "towards the end of Domitians reign."1 And it is a known fact of history that Domitian was murdered in the year 96. Moreover, he was famous for banishing people to Patmos and other Greek islands. Irenaeus' statement was accepted as accurate by such early church fathers as Clement, Victorinus, Tertullian, Jerome, Eusebius, and others. The fact that he was only one generation removed from the Apostle John has traditionally carried great weight with historians." (LaHaye, Revelation Unveiled, Page 28) I honestly shook my head in disbelief when I read this passage. When I looked up his citation of Irenaeus, I shook my head even more. Now, it is not my place to judge a person's honesty, but as soon as I read this, I immediately had serious doubts whether Tim LaHaye actually read Against Heresies. First of all, he only quotes a mere six words, which he could have easily lifted from another source. Indeed, the footnote does not quote Irenaeus, but rather pages 750-751 of Volume II of Philip Schaff's 8 Volume History of the Christian Church (which oddly is missing from this book's Bibliography). Seeing that I own that set, I looked it up. The quote was not there (I have scanned the two pages from Schaff's History of the Christian Church that LaHaye lists in his footnote (750 and 751), and will e-mail them to you upon request for verification). So in any case, we are left with a secondary source footnote that when checked does not even say what LaHaye claims it does. Perhaps Irenaeus really did say that, but at this point I have no proof. Irenaeus' book, Against Heresies, is rather long, and I haven't read it for about 2 years. But more importantly is that if he had actually read Against Heresies, he would hardly be advocating it as a reliable source on anything except the dating of the book of Revelation (assuming that that quote is actually there). The reason is that it condemns - in harsh words sometimes - views that deviate from what would today be considered to be distinctly Catholic Doctrine - Real Presence in the Eucharist, Baptismal regeneration, Sacramentalism, the Mass, the Primacy of Rome, etc. In other words, though it was written against the Gnostics, Orthodoxy at the time was Catholicism, and the Heresies that Irenaeus writes about derivatively condemn many of the beliefs of LaHaye himself, and Protestantism at large. But oh how I wish that Protestants would take his advice and read Against Heresies! Don't believe me? Consider the following quote and ask yourself if LaHaye would have promoted this work had he read the following passage: "But since it would be too long to enumerate in such a volume as this the succession of all the churches, we shall confound all those who, in whatever manner, whether through self-satisfaction or vainglory, or through blindness and wicked opinion, assemble other than where it is proper, by pointing out here the successions of the bishops of the greatest and most ancient church known to all, founded and organized at Rome by the two most glorious apostles, Peter and Paul, that church which has the tradition and the faith which comes down to us after having been announced to men by the apostles. With that church, because of its superior origin, all the churches must agree, that is, all the faithful in the whole world, and it is in her that the faithful everywhere have maintained the apostolic tradition" (Against Heresies 3:3:2) Further scrutiny of this passage reveals even more errors. Notice that he says, while speaking of Irenaeus' writing, that "Irenaeus' statement was accepted as accurate by such early church fathers as Clement, Victorinus, Tertullian, Jerome, Eusebius, and others." Fact: Irenaeus, by LaHaye's own admission, wrote Against Heresies around the year A.D.180. Fact: Clement was martyred under the persecution of Domitian, sometime in the late 1st century. Clement could not in his lifetime have accepted a statement allegedly made by Irenaeus some 85 years after his death! In fact, if LaHaye's dating of Revelation is correct, it is questionable if Clement even knew of its existence, since he died at about the same time as its composition. I had the opportunity to ask Mr LaHaye's colleague Thomas Ice about this, and his reply was that Tim must have been referring to Clement of Alexandria. While this is at least chronologically possible, the view also negated, in the writings of Clement of Alexandria's himself. In Miscellanies 7:17, we read, "For the revelations of our Lord at His advent, beginning with Augustus and Tiberius, was completed in the middle of the times of Tiberius. And that of the apostles, embracing the ministry of Paul, ends with Nero." So, Clement of Rome was silent on the point because he was not even alive yet when Iraneaus wrote Against Heresies, and Clement of Alexandria clearly supports the Nero-era dating of the book. Another area where LaHaye's wide practice of pseudo-scholarship is evident is his treatment of Catholicism. From reading his sources (which consist of exactly two sensationalistic books, Lorraine Boettner's Roman Catholicism and Alexander Hislop's The Two Babylons), it is clear that LaHaye has never studied Catholicism much outside of what he was taught at Bob Jones University. On page 266, he presents Hislop's The Two Babylon's as a book which was "to my knowledge never refuted." Well it's obvious that LaHaye didn't look very hard. Karl Keating deals with it extensively in his book, 'Catholicism and Fundamentalism', and Ralph Woodrow - who himself published a book entirely based on Hislop's thesis earlier in his career, has recanted his errors and written an entire book which is nothing but a refutation of Hislop called 'The Babylon Connection?' Among the absurd claims made by LaHaye through Hislop is that celibacy has no warrant in Scripture, and that nuns are just an imitation of Roman vestial virgins (p. 269). LaHaye's practice of poor scholarship continues (virginity is not and has never been a requirement for entering a convent, and celibacy is absolutely promoted as an ideal in Scripture (i.e. 1 Corinthians 7:6-9, 7:27-38, Matthew 19:10-12)). I could go on, but won't in the interest of space. One final point: as almost all sensationalistic Anti-Catholic works, LaHaye accepts Boettner's list of "Catholic Inventions" at face value and reproduces them here. I will give him credit for actually citing it though, for few authors do. Catholic Answers has a tract called "Catholic Inventions" which thoroughly answer this. For example, I think most people would agree that the claim that Rome invented the damnable practice of Anointing the Sick in 526 A.D. is just absurd (no, I am not making this up. He actually makes this claim on page 59). Far from being a damnable invention, the practice is a good one invented by God, as described exactly in James 5:14: "Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord." I know that many Protestants have historically had an aversion to the book of James, but come on... People, we as Christians are capable of doing so much better than this. It seems as though Christianity is declining along with the rest of society in our ability to think critically. In Plato's Apology, Socrates defines a fool as someone who, on virtue of being skilled in one thing, thinks himself skilled in everything. Wisdom therefore comes with one's realization of their deficiencies. Timothy LaHaye, no doubt, knows a great deal about dispensationalism. He should not be considered an authority on Patristics and much less on Catholicism.
Rating: 
Summary: Anti-Biblical, Anti-Catholic, Anti-Intellectual
Review: This line from the book perfectly encapsulates Tim Lahaye's bigotry and vacuousness. "[Y]ou may be inclined to think me anti-Catholic, but that isn't exactly true; I am anti-false religion." (pg. 269). Double speak at its finest.
Rating: 
Summary: Anti-Everything with the exception of Baptist
Review: Tim is a very good author and I have read thus far all his books. However I am appalled that an educated man such as he, has not taken the time to review and investigate the Catholic church, instead he has based his belief's on the rumors that I have had to fight all of my life. Once and for all.... Catholic's DO NOT Worship Statues nor do we Worship Mary. God our father is front and center and Jesus is right there with him for as a Catholic we believe in the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. We believe in one God the Father Almighty, who created heaven and Earth and we believe he sent his only son to die for our sins, however, he sent this son by way of a women who was called Mary and whereas the Angel who delivered the message called her, "holy" for what an honor to be chosen to as the mother of the man who will save the World. Mary is acknowledged yes, but not worshiped in the content that you acuse in your book. As for the Saints, excuse me, but if I recall, Baptist, Protestants, etc, ask people to pray for them, thus this is referred to as an intersession, and that is why, Catholics at times may pray to Saints, to intercede on their behalf. It's intened only as a mean for someone to help you out, you know, put in a good word for you to the boss, or may be a cry for help; but always, ALWAYS, we pray to God our father and our Lord Jesus Christ. I really hated you did not do your homework on this, now it leaves me with the impression that unless your Baptist, your not going to heaven, my my.....isn't that just the way Satan wants us to think???????? One more thing Mr. Lahaye, do you know what the word "Catholic" means?? Here is a clue........"Universal.......the Universal Christain Church, the ancient, undivided Church......the church that Jesus spoke to Peter about, "Peter, do you love me?" Build my church. Not the building, but the belief, to spread the gospel to teach the world about Jesus and the love of God. Yes, Mr. Lahaye, we read the Gospel, infact, we read more gospel readings in one service than you probably read in a week and as with all Christains we try very hard to live by these gospels. I am really disappointed that you failed to do your homework, however, I do enjoy the series of Left Behind and with a watchful eye, I will be on the lookout for the book. God Bless!
Rating:
Summary: One of the best Book of Revelation reference guides...
Review: Tim LaHaye's "Revelation Unveiled" is one of the best Book of Revelation commentaries and reference books on the market today. It focuses specifically on the end-times prophecies of the Book of Revelation and offers a more scholarly interpretation of the figurative language and symbolism than you'll find in some of LaHaye's other books, such as "Are We Living In the End Times?" and "Perhaps Today". (Both of which are written in layman's terms and are good books themselves). "Revelation Unveiled" chronologically examines the Bible's most enigmatic book from the Epistles to the Seven Churches on through the Great Tribulation and on to the New Millennium. Along the way, LaHaye dissects specific passages, unraveling some of the difficulty for those of us who lack his thorough theological background. I found this book indispensable to my increased understanding of this last and important book in the Bible. This is a book definitely worth the reader's time and interest. Britt Gillette
Author of "Conquest of Paradise: An End-Times Nano-Thriller"
Rating:
Summary: One of the best Book of Revelation reference guides...
Review: Tim LaHaye's "Revelation Unveiled" is one of the best Book of Revelation commentaries and reference books on the market today. It focuses specifically on the end-times prophecies of the Book of Revelation and offers a more scholarly interpretation of the figurative language and symbolism than you'll find in some of LaHaye's other books, such as "Are We Living In the End Times?" and "Perhaps Today". (Both of which are written in layman's terms and are good books themselves). "Revelation Unveiled" chronologically examines the Bible's most enigmatic book from the Epistles to the Seven Churches on through the Great Tribulation and on to the New Millennium. Along the way, LaHaye dissects specific passages, unraveling some of the difficulty for those of us who lack his thorough theological background. I found this book indispensable to my increased understanding of this last and important book in the Bible. This is a book definitely worth the reader's time and interest. Britt Gillette
Author of "Conquest of Paradise: An End-Times Nano-Thriller"
Rating:
Summary: One of the best Book of Revelation reference guides...
Review: Tim LaHaye's "Revelation Unveiled" is one of the best Book of Revelation commentaries and reference books on the market today. It focuses specifically on the end-times prophecies of the Book of Revelation and offers a more scholarly interpretation of the figurative language and symbolism than you'll find in some of LaHaye's other books, such as "Are We Living In the End Times?" and "Perhaps Today". (Both of which are written in layman's terms and are good books themselves). "Revelation Unveiled" chronologically examines the Bible's most enigmatic book from the Epistles to the Seven Churches on through the Great Tribulation and on to the New Millennium. Along the way, LaHaye dissects specific passages, unraveling some of the difficulty for those of us who lack his thorough theological background. I found this book indispensable to my increased understanding of this last and important book in the Bible. This is a book definitely worth the reader's time and interest. Britt Gillette
Author of "Conquest of Paradise: An End-Times Nano-Thriller"
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing. . .at best
Review: Tim LaHaye, author of the hysterically popular "Left Behind" series presents, in this volume, his view of the "End Times", "Biblical Prophecy", etc. While I don't share his views (in the least) I have no qualms about his right to publish and defend what he believes.
THIS BEING SAID, it is difficult to determine whether this book is supposed to be a treatise on pre-millenial dispensationalism (pre-tribulation version) or a poorly researched, poorly documented anti-Catholic diatribe.
The alert reader of "Left Behind" will notice the inherent anti-Catholicism in those books (despite co-author Jerry Jenkins' protests to the contrary) but it is in this book that the anti-Catholicism comes to the fore.
It grows weary having to demonstrate the historical and factual inaccuracies in the few sources that La Haye uses (Lorraine Boettner, Alexander Hislop, et al) because virtually all anti-Catholic rhetoricians use the same few sources over and over and over again.
This book would have been far more effective if La Haye had chosen to present a theological argument for his position and a theological argument against his position. This could have been done without recourse to hysterical nativism. Then his theories could have been judged on their own merit.
But as it stands, there is little to debate. Most reasonable apologists, upon encountering so much polemic, won't bother to look for the actual theology, and will simply toss the book aside.
Sounds like a good plan to me.
Rating:
Summary: Fine Presentation of Raptured View, Fundamentally Flawed
Review: Tim Lahaye, who is co-author of the popular "Left Behind" serious and cultural critic of secular America, presents the dispensationalists, premillennial-pretribulational view very well. This is the strength of the book, and in rating someone's work it must not be that I must always agree. But that strength alone, can only nerit three stars. He takes the reader from the first to the last chapter of the book of Revelation and this carries the reader along and propbably will have much appeal. He explains the pre-trib view very well. Why only three stars? First, he appeals to certian indivduals as scholars in this field of prophecy like Grant Jeffery, who is not a scholar in this area (just a popularizer) and it is poorly documented. He is further to dogmatic on a subject that is open to much debate. After all, this particular view is very recent in the history of Christianity (about 200 years). Lastly, I think he and others in this camp are wrong and his arguments are much of the same pre-trib rhetoric often espoused by others, just not quite as boistrous. It should be in most Christians household, wethered one believes this view or not, because it can be used as a reference; it is much better than other writers works on this view of end-times (except works of John MacArthur), and the format is easyly used as a quick reference.
Rating:
Summary: Biblically Sound! A Must Read for Any Believer
Review: Tim LaHays' Revelation Unveilved is a valuable source for any Believer's library. LaHaye explains Revelation for the layman, including charts and graphs to allow the reader to see a full picture of what is happening. As for the references to the Catholic Church, they are sad, but true. There are many wonderful Catholics who have been saved through Faith in Jesus Christ, but sadly there are many more who have not. This book provides insight into the history of their church and exposes some of the Pagan roots of the Roman Catholic Church. Every Catholic should read this and take the words of Revelation to Heart. I commend LaHaye for bringing the message of the gospel in almost every chapter of the book, which I believe was LaHaye's purpose for writing it. LaHaye reminds us to be prepared for the Rapture of the Church and to pay heed to our Commission from Jesus to be evangelists to all the Nations. Please read this book and watch and pray! Love in Christ!
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