The guide provides a clearly defined study regime for self-motivated study or for group lessons. The study is laid out in a user-friendly way in that each section is summed up and questions are asked of the readers, with space provided to write the answers. This is an invaluable resource for later review. Neufeld provides an easy, very readable prose in which the reader is asked to proceed at her own pace, by setting her own study goals.
The lessons split up the Book of Revelation into clear, logical steps. The series begins with an overview of studying Revelation in which Neufeld explains what is entailed in the study, reading, writing, prayer, prophecy and fulfillment. The author explains how to maximize the benefits from the study in a chapter called "Using This Book." There is then a series of 13 lessons laid out in a logical parallel sequence designed to explain the author's vision of how Revelation works to fulfill prophecy. A number of appendices assists the learner throughout the study, along with a list of resources and an index.
The "Participatory Study" has innovative approaches to Revelation beginning with the way the Bible is broken up for the study. For instance, the study points out the many parallels in Revelation. Some of the ideas dealt with are: the first shock, the second shock, the first interlude, the second interlude and the three series of seven. Neufeld provides an in-depth view of the differing approaches to Revelation from various sources in his Revelation Schools of Interpretation Appendix.
The study encourages students to read different Bible translations to get a variety of takes on Revelation, even before the actual study begins. Students are asked to read differing commentaries on the Book of Revelation as well as the introductory passages from a variety of Bible translations.
On page 8 of the work Neufeld describes the principle used in interpreting prophecies. The "Literal v. Figurative" section of the study lays out methods of interpretation. The basic premise is that if the prophecy is literal then it will be understood as literal. If, on the other hand, it is meant to be figurative, the prophecy is explained in the book.
Reference:
http://books.google.com/books?id=OU5zkc431A4C; A Participatory Study Guide, Neufeld, Henry E.
2005, (Accessed, 6/10/2009).