Commentaries on the Book of Revelation

Commentaries on the Book of Revelation are almost thoroughly worthless. 

It's because the Book of Revelation communicates to higher areas of our being, and is meant to. 

So a scholar who picks through it verse by verse who is of the level of being of the average seminary graduate is only going to puzzle picture it along the lines of what others have done, with usually a large dose of concern trolling. 

There is a tradition that there are at least five levels of man. The first three (Man #1, 2, and 3) are the same level only differentiated by a dominant development in either the intellectual, emotional, or physical.

Man #4 is higher because he has a balanced development regarding intellectual, emotional, and physical; and implied in that is he has, as a result, something akin to regeneration and faith. Those are theological words though, and not exactly accurate for what is being described, because regeneration and faith are not tied to such development. They are from God alone, but with that said a Man #4 is a bit more awake, let us say.

Man #5 is a different animal, so to speak. He's like what a Grail knight is to a worldly knight. He's fused into a higher level.

So the tradition is the synoptic Gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke correspond to Man at the level of #1, 2, 3. Whereas the Gospel of John corresponds to Man #4. Then the Book of Revelation corresponds to Man #5. 

Man #5 has access to higher emotional and intellectual capacities to see the Book of Revelation. Remember, these higher capacities have nothing to do with being intelligent or having a high I. Q. as those things are seen at the Man #1, 2, 3 or even #4 level. They are new capacities, even if previously existing but dormant. 

So with commentaries on the Book of Revelation we are reading thoughts of the level of mostly Men #1, 2, and 3; when the Book of Revelation is at the level of Man #5.

That doesn't mean it is useless to read it if we are not at the level of Man #5. The Bible encourages everybody to read the Book of Revelation and states we will be blessed by reading it. 

Yet we shouldn't bring it down to the understanding and perception that is beneath that Man #5 level, which is what available commentaries do. We should read it like a child listening to their father, taking in the higher, visual language purely. Not trying to pin everything down to satisfy lower capacity understanding. There is worth in looking up to a summit even though you can't yet be there. 

John Calvin decided against writing a commentary on the Book of Revelation probably for reasons having something to do with what is written above. 

There's a similar ascent of books in the Old Testament: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon. Song of Solomon representing similar difficulty in commentary as the Book of Revelation. 

I believe whatever your level you will get what you need to have with a childlike (not simplistic) reading of the Book of Revelation. I believe the important thing is to read it though. I.e. take it in. Letting it speak to you without you pulling it down to your level.