THE BOOK OF REVELATION - A New Translation (Book Review)

There is not a book in the Bible that captures the imagination of people more than the apocalyptic letter from John to the Seven Churches in Asia written from the Isle of Patmos. Indeed my own interpretation of it has changed significantly over the years so I was very interested to learn that a new translation had been made that tackled it in a new and refreshing way.

The Book of Revelation: A New Translation is a collaboration between writer Michael Straus and artist/illustrator Jennifer May Reiland. What makes this book unique to other offerings before it is that Michael has approached the Greek from a literary perspective. Acknowledging the poetic and symbolic style of the original author, Michael has stuck close to the original Greek but has at the same time broken free from the normal constraints of English grammar and vocabulary, in a sense, using his pen as a paintbrush himself to convey the ideas that John himself expresses difficulty to put into words.

Jennifer’s artwork captures the words in images both vividly and explicitly. The paintings are sexually graphic and caught me off guard, some may find them offensive and inappropriate and it certainly not appropriate for younger readers. But the images do a good job of conveying what is already in the text, it highlights the debauchery, violence and depravity of a world in chaos fearfully awaiting its judgement and the saints who eagerly await redemption. There are modern elements in the paintings as well, one can see smoke pouring out of the Twin Towers in one image, perhaps the most powerful for me though is one of victims of ISIS kneeling with heads bowed and hands tied behind their backs. It really allows the reader to connect on an emotional level to the words that they are reading.

As for the translation itself, there are several aspects that make it unique. The most obvious is that all headings, verses and chapter numbers have been left out. Many phrases and especially the songs recorded in Revelation have also been recorded in various languages including French, Italian, Dutch, Spanish, Greek and Hebrew. Revelation 4:5 for example reads:

Dominus Deus Omnipotens qui erat, et qui est, et qui venturus est.

This requires a certain level of familiarity with the book already to know what is been said (or a mastery of several languages) but again, I think it is a powerful way of conveying the image that a great number of people from a multitude of nations are worshiping God and present or represented throughout the book. In addition to this there are excerpts from musical scores where songs appear and even links to Handel’s Messiah videos where lines from Revelation are relevant to that work.

As far as the translation of specific words goes, there are several interesting choices and phrases throughout. Breaking away from traditional translations the church and Israel are spoken of using feminine language. Revelation 2:9 says, “I know the sacrilege of those contesting for Israel’s heart even as they are worshiping her foe”. Chapter 3:9 is translated as “She who overcomes will be a pillar in the temple of my God”. The pale horse of the apocalypse is also translated as the green horse which is perhaps irrelevant but more consistent with the translation of the Greek word chloros as we see it elsewhere in scripture (Mark 6:39 and Revelation 8:7 for example). Hell is also mentioned a few times which is a bit of a break away from modern translations.

All in all, this is not the easiest or most readable translation out there. A lot of the sentences are extremely long, some of the language is in high English, archaic or not in English at all and can be difficult to follow. I would recommend it as a supplementary book for those who enjoy studying Revelation though, it certainly enhances ones perspective of John’s letter and provokes thought.



Check out these links for more...

The Book of Revelation on Amazon
The Book of Revelation Website
Jennifer May Reiland's Website
Michael Straus Interview


*I received this book free from the author and/or publisher through the Speakeasy blogging book review network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR,Part 255.