Come out of Her, My People: The Encouragement and Exhortation of the Book of Revelation Chapters 1–3

The words “Come out of her, My people,” for the title of this book are taken from Revelation 18:4 and are an appeal, as the author explains, for believers today to “disentangle themselves from the allure of the world” (p. 7). As Kessinger points out, believers today, like believers in the first century, face temptations to be disloyal to the Lord. The churches in Revelation 2–3 were in compromising positions that weakened their testimony for the Lord.

After an introduction and three introductory chapters on Patmos and Revelation 1, the early church, and principles of biblical interpretation—in which Kessinger makes it clear he adheres to pretribulational premillennialism—he devotes a chapter to each of the seven churches of Revelation 2–3. In each case he discusses the geographical and historical background of the city (with helpful insights on how this information relates to the letter to the church in that city), an exposition of the passage, and points of application.

This work, carefully researched and with extensive documentation, will be useful to expositors. Not all will agree, however, with Kessinger’s view that those in the Laodicean church were unbelievers (pp. 234–35) and that Revelation 3:20 is an invitation for salvation.