Pentecostals love Revelation—although too often merely as a source for dispensational theology. In his revised Ph. D. thesis, Robby Waddell examines John’s understanding of the Spirit in the book of Revelation, a theme pentecostals should value even more!

The methodology of this study involves intertextuality, which approaches “the use of allusions from a literary perspective as opposed to the more traditional historical perspective” (3). In this perspective, not only do earlier texts influence the interpretation of later texts, but later texts also impact earlier writings. “In other words, the interpreter must read in two directions” (3).

As you would expect from a Ph. D. thesis, there is a substantial literature review that focuses on how references to the Spirit have been interpreted by key theologians including R. H. Charles, E. Schweizer, D. Aune, J. Fekkes, F. F. Bruce, R. J. Bauckham, J. C. de Smidt, J. M. Ford, R. L. Jeske, and M. W. Wilson. This survey shows that a consensus on the theme of the Spirit in Revelation has not been reached.

As a pentecostal scholar, Waddell “juxtaposed the experiences of John as a seer, a prophet, and a witness to Jesus with the experiences of contemporary Pentecostalism” (130). This leads him to the core of his work: a detailed exegesis of Revelation 11:1–13. Waddell views this passage as the centre that contains the “essential elements” of Revelation, although 12:1–22:5 “unpack them” (190).

The Spirit functions in Revelation as “the Spirit of Prophecy.” This Spirit reveals the vision of Revelation to John and anoints the church for prophetic faithful witness of Jesus. This detailed, focused study is a significant contribution to our understanding of the Spirit in one of pentecostalism’s most cherished books of scripture.

Waddell, Robby. The Spirit of the Book of Revelation. Deo, 2013. Journal of Pentecostal Theology Supplement Series 30.