The Revelation of Jesus Christ:
The Faithful Witness
The Revelation of Jesus Christ: The Faithful Witness provides an in-depth look at the frequently misunderstood final book of the New Testament to 
determine its relevance for present-day Christians. This 23-lesson Catholic Bible study from Turning to God’s Word has recently been updated. It has been granted an imprimatur from the Most Reverend William M. Joensen, PhD., bishop of the Diocese of Des Moines. (The 2013 first edition was granted an imprimatur by the Most Reverend Richard E. Pates, then bishop of the Diocese of Des Moines.) The expanded second edition includes additional commentary, maps, and updated videos. Written by Jennifer McGaw Phelps and Matthew Phelps, the study examines the ways in which our traditional Christian view of heaven has been built on Hebrew apocalyptic visions of the Old Testament prophets and key events in the Old Testament. The Revelation of Jesus Christ: The Faithful Witness also looks at Church teaching about Final Judgment based on the last book of the Bible. The second edition is available for purchase from our website shop.
Check out our online study pages for additional commentary. Additional videos about the role of Old Testament liturgy in the book of Revelation were recorded at our 2017 summer Bible-study retreat and are posted on the online study page for Lesson 1. (Links to video files of all of Matthew’s previous 
conference talks can be found on our TtGW videos page.) Color illustrations by Tami Palladino shed light on meaning behind bizarre and unusual images found in the book of Revelation. Our online glossary for the book of Revelation 
lists every proper noun included in the biblical text, and another online page links to Revised Standard Version (Catholic Edition) cross references in the primary Scripture. There’s also a chapter-by-chapter review. All three can be accessed at the top of every online study page.
Following is a list of all the lessons in The Revelation of Jesus Christ: The Faithful Witness, each linked to its corresponding online study page with access to free video overviews.
Lesson 1 The Ruler of Kings on Earth*
Lesson 2 Behold, I Am Alive for Evermore
Lesson 3 What the Spirit Says to the Churches
Lesson 4 He Who Has an Ear, Let Him Hear
Lesson 5 And Behold, in Heaven an Open Door!
Lesson 6 Who Is Worthy to Open the Scroll?
Lesson 7 And Behold, a White Horse
Lesson 8 Salvation Belongs to Our God
Lesson 9 Silence in Heaven
Lesson 10 So the Four Angels Were Released
Lesson 11 A Mighty Angel Come Down from Heaven
Lesson 12 I Will Grant My Two Witnesses Power
Lesson 13 A Great Sign Appeared in Heaven
Lesson 14 Men Worshiped the Dragon
Lesson 15 On Mount Zion Stood the Lamb
Lesson 16 Seven Angels with Seven Plagues
Lesson 17 Seven Bowls of the Wrath of God
Lesson 18 Mother of Harlots
Lesson 19 Fallen, Fallen Is Babylon the Great!
Lesson 20 The Mighty Voice of a Great Multitude
Lesson 21 This Is the First Resurrection
Lesson 22 I Saw a New Heaven & a New Earth
Lesson 23 And Behold, I Am Coming Soon
*includes a sample lesson
check out all of our in-depth Catholic Bible studies
- You Shall Have No Other Gods: The Book of Exodus (2023)—an extensive look at how the second book of the Old Testament prefigures Christianity. Read the online study page and link to a video related to Lesson 1: The More the People Are Oppressed, the More They Multiply.
- Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume II: Restoration & Redemption (2021) looks at biblical prophecy from the time of the Babylonian Exile through the book of Revelation. Read the online study page and link to a video related to Lesson 1 How the Divided Kingdom Came to an End.
- The Gospel According to John: An Encounter with Grace & Truth (2019 revision)—a study of the life of Jesus Christ presented in the Fourth Gospel. Read the online study page and link to a video related to Lesson 1 In the Beginning Was the Word.
- Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume I: A Kingdom Divided (2018)—a study of biblical prophecy from Creation until the Babylonian Exile. Read the online study page and link to a video related to Lesson 1 The LORD Announces He Is About To Do a New Thing.
- The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King (2017)—a study of the reigns of Saul, David, and Solomon. Read the online study page and link to a video related to Lesson 1 God’s People Ask for a King. The print version of this study is temporarily unavailable; contact us if you’re interested in purchasing a digital version.
- In the Beginning: The Book of Genesis (2016; 2024 revision scheduled)—a study of the first book of the Old Testament. Read the online study page and link to a video related to Lesson 1 And God Said, Let There Be Light.
- Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church—Volume I: Lauds & Vespers (2015)—a study of Psalms prayed for Lauds and Vespers using The Abbey Psalms and Canticles translation prepared by the Benedictine monks at Conception Abbey and published by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Read the online study page related to Lesson 1 Set a Guard on My Mouth. No videos accompany this Bible study. The print version of this study is temporarily unavailable; contact us if you’re interested in purchasing a digital version. Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church—Volume II: Vigils, Day Prayer and Compline is scheduled for publication in late summer of 2025.
- The Letter to the Hebrews: An Explanation of the Mechanism of Our Salvation (2014 revision; digital only)—a study of the Letter to the Hebrews. Read the online study page and link to a video related to Lesson 1 Superior to Angels.
- Scripture & the Rosary: New Testament Mysteries, Old Testament Parallels (2012 revision; digital only)—a study of the biblical foundations of the Rosary in both the Old and New Testaments. This study has been converted to a digital version with the first six lessons available free year-round. The remaining 20 lessons, also free, alternate throughout the year based on the liturgical season (the Joyful Mysteries during Advent and the Christmas season, the Sorrowful Mysteries during Lent, the Glorious Mysteries during the Easter season, and the Luminous Mysteries during Ordinary Time). No videos accompany this Bible study, but the study directory includes links to online study pages for posted lessons.
- Jesus’ Passion: The Story of Redemptive Suffering (2014 revision; digital only)—an in-depth explanation of the biblical accounts of Jesus’ Passion, death, and Resurrection. This Catholic Bible study, which has been granted an imprimatur, is based on Scripture and designed to be used with or without the film The Passion of the Christ. A free digital version of Jesus’ Passion: The Story of Redemptive Suffering is posted each year during Lent, along with related online study pages. No videos accompany this Bible study.