
Episode #78
Paul E. Kretzmann on the Revelation of St. John
In this episode of Last Christian Ministries , we begin our reading through Paul E. Kretzmann’s commentary on the Revelation of Saint John from The Popular Commentary of the Bible . Kretzmann represents an older Lutheran approach to Revelation that takes seriously the historicist framework found in Luther and maintained by generations of Protestant interpreters. At a time when even many modern amillennial commentaries have moved away from historic interpretations in favor of broad and often vague readings of Revelation, Kretzmann offers something refreshingly clear, sober, and level-headed. He maintains the basic historic framework while refining it and avoiding the sensationalism and speculative date-setting that has sometimes characterized historicist interpretation. His commentary provides a useful example of how Lutherans can read Revelation as a prophecy concerning Christ, His Church, the enemies of the Gospel, and the course of history without losing sight of the central message of the book: Jesus Christ reigns, preserves His Church, judges His enemies, and will finally come again in glory. In this first episode, we read the introduction to the series followed by Kretzmann’s Introduction to the Revelation of St. John . The complete written commentary will also be available on the Last Christian Ministries website, and the audio recordings will be posted on the same pages alongside the text so that listeners can read along as they listen. Scripture is not a puzzle for speculation, but the revelation of Jesus Christ. Let us hear what an older Lutheran commentator has to say about it.






