Thinning the Veil, Shane J. Wood. IVP Academic (ISBN: 9781514009222) 2025
Summary: An exposition of the Book of Revelation centered on the idea that it is “the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Many readers are mystified by Revelation. They think in reading it, they will find a roadmap of the “End Times.” Yet many are frustrated by the imagery and feel they cannot crack the code. Shane J. Wood contends that the reason for this is that we are using the wrong cipher. He believes the key to understanding the whole book is in the first five words: “the revelation of Jesus Christ.” He believes that for John, John’s readers, and us, heaven is veiled off from us. In John’s encounter with Jesus on the Lord’s day and his subsequent visions, there is a “thinning of the veil” to reveal the presence, grace, power, and triumph of the risen Lord.
The book follows the text of Revelation, although not in a verse by verse fashion unfolding how Jesus reveals himself. First to John in his loneliness on Patmos, he finds in the majestic presence of Jesus that he is not alone (Rev. 1). Then, in the letters to the churches, Jesus reveals himself as intimately acquainted with them, warning, assuring, and vindicating them. But how is this possible? Revelation 4-5 pulls back the veil on the power in heaven’s halls, the holiness of the Triune God. However, this is not confined to heaven. Rather, Revelation 6:1-8:5 reveals the worship of the saints as intimately connected to God’s war against his enemies on earth. Then, Revelation 8:6-11:19 unveils a God who relentlessly pursues the wandering lonely while unveiling hells pursuit of those it would destroy. In the end, it comes down to who you worship.
But up to now, evil cloaks and deceives. In Revelation 12-14, the unveiled Trinity meets and uncloaks the unholy trinity of the serpent, the sea beast, and the land beast. The blood of the lamb on the cross and the cruciform lives of his people defeat evil. Therefore, Revelation 15-16 focuses on seeing things clearly so we can fight effectively without compromise. Revelation 17:1-19:10 reveals the demise of evil in the form of the great prostitute (Rome). The great triumphal procession follows in 19:11-20:15. Wood argues that Satan’s release is not a final challenge but the parading of a defeated foe. Finally Revelation 21-22 reveals the giddy God who has pursued his bride from Eden to the garden city and is now one with his beloved.
In addition to the text, there are several other features I would note that make this great for personal or group study. Firstly, Wood provides a number of photos from the Roman world to help explain the imagery of Revelation. Secondly, each chapter includes Going Deeper, The Text, and The Takeaway reflection questions. And thirdly, these reflection sections include links to videos by Wood that expand on the material.
What a delight to consider God’s pursuit of us in Christ. How encouraging to have the veil drawn back to see God’s zealous love and war on behalf of his own. And how bracing to understand what is the real war and the weapons of our warfare. Henrietta Mears once warned against missing King Jesus in Revelation in our focus on symbols and imagery. Wood’s focus on “the revelation of Jesus Christ” and how he elaborates this reminds us of the same truth. This book is indeed a “thin place” allowing us glimpses of the grace and glory of our King.
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review.