The Book of the Revelation has been the subject of much controversy throughout the ages. The "literal" interpretation of it has often been equated with extremism and was even outlawed during the Middle Ages, yet with the nineteenth century the literalism of the ancient Church Fathers saw a resurgence. Over the past two hundred years, commentators have debated on the meaning of Revelation and names like Hal Lindsey and Tim LaHaye have become household names. Now, for the first time, Dr. Criswell has written a comparative analysis of the various literal (or "premillennial") interpretations. The views of the Church Fathers are compared and contrasted with the views of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The views of Irenaeus, Hippolytus, Victorinus, Ephraem the Syrian, Adso of Montier, Joachim of Floris, Joseph Mede, Isaac Newton, John Nelson Darby, Robert Govett, J.A. Seiss, Walter Scott, Nathaniel West, Samuel Kellogg, Sir Robert Anderson, George Peters, G.H. Lang, Samuel Kellogg, Nathaniel West, E. W. Bullinger, H. A. Ironside, Norman Harrison, Arthur Bloomfield, George Eldon Ladd, Robert Mounce, Hal Lindsey, John Walvoord, Tim LaHaye, Robert Thomas, Marvin Rosenthal and many others are cited. The reader will be able to evaluate the various positions and reach their own conclusions. Nearly 2000 endnotes and over 50 charts and graphs will also help the readers whether they be a student, scholar, or layman.