Table Of ContentPart 1 - The Preparation of the Prophet: His Past Vision (1:1-20) 1. The Prologue of the Apocalypse A. Prologue (1:1-8) 1. Preface (1:1-3) 2. Address and doxology (1:4-6) 3. Theme (1:7-8) 2. John's Vision of the Glorified Christ B. John's Commission to Write (1:9-20) 1. The first commission to write (1:9-11) 2. The source of the commission (1:12-16) 3. The commission restated and amplified (1:17-20) Part 2- The Preparation of the People: Their Present Condition (2:1-3:22) 3. Church of Loveless Orthodoxy A. The Message to Ephesus (2:1-7) 4. Church of Martyrdom B. The Message to Smyrna (2:8-11) 5. Church of Indiscriminate Tolerance C. The Message to Pergamum (2:12-17) 6. Church of Compromise D. The Message to Thyatira (2:18-29) 7. Church of Complacence E. The Message to Sargis (3:1-6) 8. Church of Promised Deliverance F. The Message to Philadelphia (3:7-13) 9. Church of Lukewarmness G. The Message to Laodicea (3:14-22) Part 3-The Publication of the Prophecy: Its Future Expectation (4:1-22:5) 10. The One Sitting on the Throne A. The Opening of the Seven-sealed Scroll (4:1-8:1) 1. The source of the scroll (4:1-5:14) 2. The one sitting on the throne (4:1-11) 11. The Seven-sealed Scroll of the Lamb b. The seven-sealed scroll of the Lamb (5:1-14) 12. The First Six Seals, "The Beginning of Birth Pains" 2. The opening of the first seal: peaceful conquest (6:1-2) 3. The opening of the second seal: warfare andbloodshed (6:3-4) 4. The opening of the third seal: widespread famine (6:5-6) 5. The opening of the fourth seal: death to a fourthof earth's inhabitants (6:7-8) 6. The opening of the fifth seal: prayers for divine vengeance (6:9-11) 7. The opening of the sixth seal: cosmic and terrestrial disturbances (6:12-17) 13. The Slaves of God 8. The slaves of God (7:1-17) 1. Those on earth: the 144,000 (7:1-8) 2. Those in heaven: the innumerable multitude (7:9-17) Excursus 1: The Chronological Interpretation of Revelation 2-3 Excursus 2: The Imprecatory Prayers of the Apocalypse
SynopsisGet back to the roots on Revelation Written especially for the informed layman, student, and scholar, this commentary seeks to clear the air on confusion surrounding Revelation. The book is interpreted according to a historical and grammatical hermeneutic and propounds a conservative, evangelical theology, but the reader will not get a narrow view on areas of disagreement. This commentary interacts with a range of major views, both evangelical and nonevangelical. It reaffirms the basic framework of eschatology espoused by ancient Christianity, but with added help from centuries of maturing thought and doctrinal progress in the Body of Christ. All exegesis and exposition in this commentary on chapters 1-7 are based on the original language of the text. Translations used are those of the author, and textual criticism and word study are included where appropriate. This in-depth commentary also includes extended excursuses on important topics of theological and historical interest., Get back to the roots on Revelation Through the centuries since its writing, the book of Revelation has captured the fascination of the Christian church. The earliest Christians were unanimous in understanding it along a premillennial view of Jesus' second coming, but other hermeneutical approaches began to emerge in the third century. These clouded, and added complexity to, the task of explaining the book's meaning. For most of the Christian era, consequently, many readers have viewed this last of the NT writings as though it were hopelessly embedded in an aura of deep mystery. An avalanche of interpretive literature has evidenced remarkable interest in the book's contents, but along with the interest has come widespread bewilderment. Written especially for the informed layman, student, and scholar, this commentary seeks to clear the air. The book is interpreted according to a historical and grammatical hermeneutic and propounds a conservative, evangelical theology, but the reader will not get a narrow view on areas of disagreement. This commentary interacts with a range of major views, both evangelical and nonevangelical. It reaffirms the basic framework of eschatology espoused by ancient Christianity, but with added help from centuries of maturing thought and doctrinal progress in the Body of Christ. All exegesis and exposition in this commentary on chapters 1-7 are based on the original language of the text. Translations used are those of the author, and textual criticism and word study are included where appropriate. This in-depth commentary also includes extended excursuses on important topics of theological and historical interest.