Advanced Commentary
Texts -- Revelation 7:2-17 (NET)
Pericope
NET
- Rev 7:1-17 -- The Sealing of the 144,000
Bible Dictionary
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Jesus, The Christ
[nave] JESUS, THE CHRIST. Index of Sub-topics History of; Miscellaneous Facts Concerning; Unclassified Scriptures Relating to; Ascension of; Atonement by; Attributes of; Compassion of; Confessing; Creator; Death of; Design of His...
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Tribe
[ebd] a collection of families descending from one ancestor. The "twelve tribes" of the Hebrews were the twelve collections of families which sprang from the sons of Jacob. In Matt. 24:30 the word has a wider significance. The tri...
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REVELATION OF JOHN
[isbe] REVELATION OF JOHN - I. TITLE AND GENERAL CHARACTER OF BOOK 1. Title 2. Uniqueness and Reality of Visions II. CANONICITY AND AUTHORSHIP 1. Patristic Testimony 2. Testimony of Book Itself 3. Objections to Johannine Authorship...
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Righteous
[nave] RIGHTEOUS. Index of Sub-Topics Miscellany of Minor Sub-Topics; Contrasted with the Wicked; Described; Promises to, Expressed or Implied. Miscellany of Minor Sub-Topics Compared with: The sun, Judg. 5:31; Matt. 13:43; sta...
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Angel
[nave] ANGEL. One of the Holy Trinity Trinitarian authorities interpret the Scriptures cited under this topic as referring to Christ, who according to this view was the divine presence in the wilderness. Called Angel, Acts 7:30, ...
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IMMORTAL; IMMORTALITY
[isbe] IMMORTAL; IMMORTALITY - i-mor'-tal, im-or-tal'-i-ti (athanasia, 1 Cor 15:53; 1 Tim 6:16, aphtharsia, literally, "incorruption," Rom 2:7; 1 Cor 15; 2 Tim 1:10, aphthartos, literally, "incorruptible," Rom 1:23; 1 Cor 15:52; 1 ...
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Throne
[nave] THRONE Of Pharaoh, Gen. 41:40; Ex. 11:5. Of David, 1 Kin. 2:12, 24; Psa. 132:11, 12; Isa. 9:7; Jer. 13:13; 17:25; Luke 1:32. Of Solomon, 1 Kin. 2:19; 2 Chr. 9:17-19. Of ivory, 1 Kin. 10:18-20. Of Solomon, called The Thro...
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Vision
[nave] VISION, a mode of revelation, Num. 12:6; 1 Sam. 3:1; 2 Chr. 26:5; Psa. 89:19; Prov. 29:18; Jer. 14:14; 23:16; Dan. 1:17; Hos. 12:10; Joel 2:28; Obad. 1; Hab. 2:2; Acts 2:17. Of Abraham, concerning his descendants, Gen. 15:1-...
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Israel
[nave] ISRAEL 1. A name given to Jacob, Gen. 32:24-32; 2 Kin. 17:34; Hos. 12:3, 4. 2. A name of the Christ in prophecy, Isa. 49:3. 3. A name given to the descendants of Jacob, a nation. Called also Israelites, and Hebrews, Gen. 4...
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Heaven
[nave] HEAVEN. God's Dwelling Place Deut. 26:15 Zech. 2:13; Isa. 63:15. 1 Kin. 8:30 vs. 39,43,49;; 2 Chr. 6:18, 21, 27, 30, 33, 35, 39; Jer. 23:24. 1 Chr. 16:31; 1 Chr. 21:26 2 Chr. 7:14; Neh. 9:27. 2 Chr. 2:6; 2 Chr. 30:27; Job ...
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Persecution
[nave] PERSECUTION See also Intolerance; Bigotry. Of Jesus Gen. 3:15; Psa. 2:1-5; Psa. 22:1, 2, 6-8, 11-21; Psa. 69:7-9, 20, 21, 26 vs. 1-21.; Psa. 109:25; Isa. 49:7; Isa. 50:6; Isa. 52:14; Isa. 53:2-5, 7-10; Mic. 5:1; Matt. 2:13...
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Seal
[isbe] SEAL - sel (substantive chotham, "seal," "signet," Tabba`ath, "signet-ring"; Aramaic `izqa'; sphragis; verb chatham, (Aramaic chatham); (sphragizo), (katasphragizomai, "to seal"): I. Literal Sense. A seal is an instrument of...
[nave] SEAL 1. A stamp used for signifying documents. Given as a pledge, Gen. 38:18. Engraved, Ex. 28:11, 21, 36; 39:6, 14, 30; 2 Tim. 2:19. Decrees signified by, 1 Kin. 21:8; Esth. 8:8. Documents sealed with: Ahab's letter, 1 K...
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Afflictions and Adversities
[nave] AFFLICTIONS AND ADVERSITIES. List of Sub-Topics Miscellany of Minor Sub-Topics; Unclassified Scriptures Relating to; Benefits of; Benefits of, Illustrated; Consolation in; Deliverance from; Design of; Despondency in; Dispe...
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Lamb of God
[nave] LAMB OF GOD, an appellation of Jesus, John 1:29; Rev. 6:16; 7:9, 10, 14, 17; 12:11; 13:8; 14:1, 4; 15:3; 17:14; 19:7; 21:9, 14, 22, 23, 27; 22:1, 3.
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Praise
[nave] PRAISE Song of Moses, after the passage of the Red Sea, Ex. 15:1-19. Of Miriam, Ex. 15:21. Of Deborah, after defeating the Canaanites, Judg. 5. Of Haah, 1 Sam. 2:1-10. Of David, celebrating his deliverance from the hand ...
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Palm Tree
[ebd] (Heb. tamar), the date-palm characteristic of Palestine. It is described as "flourishing" (Ps. 92:12), tall (Cant. 7:7), "upright" (Jer. 10:5). Its branches are a symbol of victory (Rev. 7:9). "Rising with slender stem 40 or...
[isbe] PALM TREE - pam'-tre (tamar, same as the Aramaic and Ethiopic, but in Arabic = "date"; phoinix (Ex 15:27; Lev 23:40; Nu 33:9; Dt 34:3; Jdg 1:16; 3:13; 2 Ch 28:15; Neh 8:15; Ps 92:12; Song 7:7 f; Joel 1:12); tomer, Deborah "d...
[smith] (Heb. tamar). Under this generic term many species are botanically included; but we have here only to do with the date palm, the Phoenix dactylifera of Linnaeus. While this tree was abundant generally in the Levant, it was re...
[nave] PALM TREE Deborah judged Israel under, Judg. 4:5. Wood of, used in the temple, 1 Kin. 6:29, 32, 35; 2 Chr. 3:5. In the temple seen in the vision of Ezekiel, Ezek. 40:16; 41:18. Branches of, thrown in the way when Jesus ma...
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Reward
[nave] REWARD. A Motive of Faithfulness Ex. 20:6, 12 Eph. 6:1-3. Lev. 25:18, 19; Lev. 26:3-13 vs. 14-39.; Lev. 26:40-45; Deut. 4:40; Deut. 6:3 v. 18.; Deut. 11:13-16, 18-21, 26-29 Deut. 27:12-26; Josh. 8:33. Deut. 15:9-11; Deut. ...
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God
[ebd] (A.S. and Dutch God; Dan. Gud; Ger. Gott), the name of the Divine Being. It is the rendering (1) of the Hebrew 'El, from a word meaning to be strong; (2) of 'Eloah_, plural _'Elohim. The singular form, Eloah, is used only in...
[nave] GOD. List of Sub-Topics Miscellany; Unclassified Scriptures Relating to; Access to; Compassion of; Creator; Creator of Mankind; Eternity of; Faithfulness of; Fatherhood of; Favor of; Foreknowledge of; Glory of; Goodness of...
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COLOR; COLORS
[isbe] COLOR; COLORS - kul'-er, kul'-erz: The word translated "color" in the King James Version is `ayin, which literally means "eye" or "appearance," and has been so translated in the Revised Version (British and American). In the...
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Hunger
[isbe] HUNGER - hun'-ger (ra`abh; limos (subs.), peinao (vb.): (1) The desire for food, a physiological sensation associated with emptiness of the stomach, and dependent on some state of the mucous membrane; (2) starvation as the e...
[nave] HUNGER Of Jesus, Matt. 4:2-4; 21:18; Mark 11:12; Luke 4:2-4; John 4:8. A stimulus to work, Prov. 16:26. No hunger in heaven, Rev. 7:16, 17. See: Famine. Spiritual Prov. 2:3-5; Isa. 55:1, 2; Amos 8:11-13; Matt. 5:6; Luke...
Arts
Hymns
(Note: In "active" or "on" condition, the hymns music will be played automatically when mouse hover on a hymns title)
- 'Ku Berseru, Hai Dunia [KJ.207]
- Aku Gereja, Kau Pun Gereja [KJ.257]
- Angin Ribut Menyerang [KJ.30a] ( Jesus, Lover of My Soul )
- Angin Ribut Menyerang [KJ.30b] ( Jesus, Lover of My Soul )
- Berlaksa-laksa Orang [KJ.270] ( Ten Thousand Times Ten Thousand )
- Di Dalam Kristus Bertemu [KJ.259] ( In Christ There is No East Or West )
- Gapuramu Lapangkanlah [KJ.87]
- Gembalaku Tuhan [KJ.283]
- Hai Jangan Sendirian [KJ.352]
- Hai Musafir, Mau ke Mana [KJ.269]
- Hai Waris Kerajaan [KJ.88]
- Haruskah Hanya Penebus [KJ.430]
- Kabar Yang Indah Benar [KJ.271]
- Kar'na Jemaat di Sorga Mulia [KJ.264] ( For All the Saints )
- Kibarkan Panji RajaMu [KJ.206] ( Fling out the Banner )
- Kota Sion, Kota Allah [KJ.262] ( Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken )
- Kudengar BerkatMu Turun [KJ.235] ( Even Me / Lord, I Hear of Showers of Blessmg )
- Lahir Putera Mulia [KJ.132] ( Puer nobis nascitur / Unto Us a Boy Is Born )
- Mungkinkah Aku pun Serta [KJ.31a]
- Mungkinkah Aku pun Serta [KJ.31b]
- Nyanyian Malaikat Nyaring Bergema [KJ.223] ( Golden Harps Are Sounding )
- O Hari Istirahat [KJ.20] ( O Day of Rest and Gladness )
- Pada Kaki SalibMu [KJ.368]
- S'lamat di Tangan Yesus [KJ.388] ( Safe in the Arms of Jesus )
- Saat Sedih [KJ.186]
- Sang Rajalah Gembalaku [KJ.377]
- Sekawanan yang Esa [KJ.272]
- Sukacita Hatiku [KJ.398]
- Sungguh Kerajaan Allah [KJ.247]
- T'rang Bintang Fajar Berseri [KJ.139]
- Tuhan Allah, NamaMu [KJ.5] ( Grosser Gott, wir loben dich / Holy God, We praise Thy Name / Te Deum laudamus )
- Tuhan Melawat UmatNya [KJ.214]
- Tuhan, Kau Gembala Kami [KJ.407]
- Tuhanku Seg'ra 'kan Kembali Ke Dunia [KJ.277]
- Tuhankulah Gembalaku [KJ.285]
- Ya Tuhan, Kami Puji NamaMu Besar [KJ.7]
- Yang Mahakasih [KJ.381]
- Yerusalem, Mulia dan Kudus [KJ.261]
- Yesus Kristus Memerintah [KJ.220]
- [Rev 7:9] Beautiful Robes
- [Rev 7:9] Come, Let Us Join Our Friends Above
- [Rev 7:9] I Am On My Way To Heaven
- [Rev 7:9] Look For Me!
- [Rev 7:9] Palms Of Glory
- [Rev 7:9] Who The Multitudes Can Number
- [Rev 7:11] Around The Throne Of God
- [Rev 7:11] Father, Before Thy Throne Of Light
- [Rev 7:11] Our Day Of Praise Is Done
- [Rev 7:11] Ye Angels Who Stand Round The Throne
- [Rev 7:13] Around The Throne Of God In Heaven
- [Rev 7:13] How Bright These Glorious Spirits Shine
- [Rev 7:13] Washed In The Blood Of The Lamb
- [Rev 7:13] What Happy Men, Or Angels, These?
- [Rev 7:13] What This Host?
- [Rev 7:13] Who Are These Arrayed In White?
- [Rev 7:13] Who Are These Like Stars Appearing
- [Rev 7:14] Are You Washed In The Blood?
- [Rev 7:14] Behold A Host, Arrayed In White
- [Rev 7:14] Blood-washed Throng, The
- [Rev 7:14] Exalted High At God’s Right Hand
- [Rev 7:14] Hark! The Sound Of Holy Voices
- [Rev 7:14] How Bright These Glorious Spirits Shine
- [Rev 7:14] Lo! Round The Throne A Glorious Band
- [Rev 7:14] Lo! Round The Throne At God’s Right Hand
- [Rev 7:14] There Is Power In The Blood
- [Rev 7:17] All The Way My Savior Leads Me
- [Rev 7:17] At The Breaking Of The Day
- [Rev 7:17] Deem Not That They Are Blest Alone
- [Rev 7:17] Gathering Out Of Tears
- [Rev 7:17] I Love To Sing Of Heaven
- [Rev 7:17] Lost Chord, The
- [Rev 7:17] Loved One, Farewell
- [Rev 7:17] There’ll Be No Sorrow There
- [Rev 7:17] When Gathering Clouds Around I View
Questions
- The concept of the lost tribes of Israel is a misnomer. They may be lost to men, but they have never been lost to God. The Scripture clearly anticipates the regathering of the whole house of Israel from all the tribes. The bo...
- First, just as a beginning, it should be noted that the Israelites were not always commanded to annihilate all their enemies, only certain ones. The reasons will be suggested below. Second, if there is plenty of evidence ...
- Good question! Thanks for passing it along. These are matters over which you can expect disagreement, especially in the scholarly community. First, we know that all scripture is inspired and inerrant (2 Timothy 3:16), ...
- It is my conviction, and that of the others who write for our Foundation, that the Rapture will occur before the Tribulation described in Revelation 6-19. The Rapture is only for the church, the body of Christ. It is describe...
- Those in the Armenian position who, believing that one can lose his salvation, believe Matt. 10:22 teaches that unless one endures to the end he forfeits his salvation. Similarly, those in the Reformed position who, holding t...
- "But the one who endures to the end, he shall be saved" (Matt 24:13). The word "saved" must always be understand in its context. Saved from what and by what means? "Saved" is the Greek sozo which may refer to any kind of ...
- Praying for the dead is not a biblical concept. Our prayers have no bearing on someone once they have died. At that point their eternal future is confirmed. Either they are saved through faith in Christ and are in God's prese...
- I'll give you the basic meaning of each of the words in question, and then point out a couple of hermeneutical issues that might help. (1) "Nation" is the Greek ethnos, which simply means "a race, a people of a particular...
- I've heard and read the same statement a number of times, but have never troubled myself to look up each passage. I'm not surprised that looking up "heaven" and "hell" in a concordance would give you contradictory results. T...
- Here are the passages in the New Testament where the Greek word (noun) for pastor is found: Matt. 9:36; 25:32; 26:31; Mk. 6:34; 14:27; Lk. 2:8, 15, 18, 20; Jn. 10:2, 11f, 14, 16; Eph. 4:11; Heb. 13:20; 1 Pet. 2:25 Here ...
- The Bible does not give us a specific answer to why people are different color, the following information from The Bible Has the Answer by Henry M. Morris and Martin E. Clark will add some insight on this issue. Question:...
- The following material from The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia should be helpful here: III. Significant numbers Numbers are also used with a symbolical or theological significance. One is used to convey th...
- A life without occupation is inconceivable. One of the great equipments for such occupation will be the enjoyment of perpetual youth--implying strength for service. Unquestionably it will be a life of intense activity--a busy...
Sermon Illustrations
Resources/Books
Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)
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The events recorded in Genesis stretch historically from Creation to Joseph's death, a period of at least 2500 years. The first part of the book (ch. 1-11) is not as easy to date precisely as the second part (ch. 12-50). The ...
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Chapter 4 shows the spread of sin from Adam's family to the larger society that his descendants produced. Not only did sin affect everyone, but people became progressively more wicked as time passed. Verses 1-16 show that the...
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"The function of this genealogy is not so much to connect Abraham with the preceding events, as the previous genealogies have done, but to provide the reader with the necessary background for understanding the events in the l...
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Keil and Delitzsch pointed out that ancient Near Easterners offered certain offerings before God incorporated these into the Mosaic Law. Moses previously mentioned burnt offerings in Genesis 12:7; 13:4, 18; 22; 26:25; 33:20; ...
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The emphasis in this section is on God's faithfulness in bringing Israel to its present position (cf. 1:6-4:40). To do this God had provided for the people in the wilderness and had given them victory over some of their enemi...
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Joshua reveals that God hates sin because He loves people. (This is the message statement.) Of course He also hates sin because it offends His holiness. However in Joshua I believe the emphasis is on God's concern for the Isr...
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The Danites' defeat of the inhabitants of Laish appears cruel and unjustified (cf. 9:45-49). The town that seemed so desirable to the spies was really vulnerable and isolated. Its advantages proved to be weaknesses. Since God...
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Nehemiah prayed for four months about conditions in Jerusalem before he spoke to Artaxerxes about them (cf. 1:1; 2:1). Artaxerxes' reign began in the seventh Jewish month, Tishri (late September and early October), of 464 B.C...
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109:21-25 David asked the Lord to deal with him in harmony with His loyal love for the sake of God's reputation. David had sought to follow the Lord faithfully, and God had promised to bless people who did that. However, Davi...
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Isaiah next described the remnant who will stream to Zion praising God at the beginning of Messiah's reign. Notice the many triadic formations in the structure of this chapter, creating a feeling of the completeness of joy. T...
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Isaiah now announced more about the work of the Servant (cf. 42:5-9). He will enable people around the world to return to God, similarly to how the Israelites would return to Jerusalem after the Exile. The response to God's s...
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Light would dawn on Israel, and as a result the Gentiles would seek her out.60:1 God had called Israel to be a light to the nations (43:10), but presently she was darkness (56:9-57:13; 59:1-15a). The Lord had promised that He...
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This pericope concludes the sections on the culmination of Israel's future (65:17-66:24), Israel's future transformation (chs. 56-66), Israel's hope (chs. 40-66), and the whole book, Yahweh's salvation. As 56:1-8, it clarifie...
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25:30 Jeremiah was also to announce that God would prepare to judge all the inhabitants of the earth (v. 29). As a lion announces its intent to attack with a roar, so Yahweh would one day announce His attack on earth dwellers...
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30:4 This oracle concerns all the Israelites, those of both the Northern and Southern Kingdoms.30:5-6 A time of great terror, dread, and unrest was coming. Men would behave as though they were in labor; they would hold themse...
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9:1 In his vision Ezekiel heard the Lord (cf. v. 4) cry out loudly for the executioners (guards), who would punish the people of Jerusalem, to draw near to Him with their weapons in hand. The Lord had predicted that the peopl...
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This well-known apocalyptic vision of the valley of dry bones pictures the manner in which Yahweh would restore His people.473This may be the best known section of the Book of Ezekiel."Few other passages have suffered more fr...
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Instructions (statutes) designed to maintain holiness in the new temple follow. The Lord specified how His people were to construct the new altar to accommodate sacrifices (43:13-17) and how they were to dedicate it (43:18-27...
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7:1 We have already read of two dreams that Nebuchadnezzar had (2:1; 4:5). Now God gave one to Daniel. It too was a vision from God that came to Daniel as he slept."In referring to the experience as a dream' (sing.) Daniel wa...
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Whereas the previous verses have focused on the Antichrist, those in this pericope concern Israel. Here we learn that this "end time"will definitely be a time of intense persecution of Jews. This section constitutes the clima...
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2:10 The earth trembles as this army advances. The heavens also tremble. The sun and the moon grow dark, and the stars fade from view. Cosmic disturbances like these are common in biblical descriptions of Yahweh waging war (c...
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2:28-29 After this, namely, after the deliverance from the northern invader just described, God promised to pour out His Spirit on all mankind without gender, age, class, or position distinction.29In Old Testament times God g...
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Again the writer glorified Yahweh by attributing control of this formidable sea creature to Him (cf. 1:17). The first and the second chapters both close on this note. The Hebrew text says, "The Lord spoke to the fish"(cf. 1:1...
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1:2 Yahweh revealed that He would completely remove everything from the face of the earth (cf. 2 Pet. 3:10-12). This is one of the most explicit announcement of the total devastation of planet Earth in the Old Testament (cf. ...
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1:4 Yahweh announced that He would stretch out His hand in judgment against Judah and the people of Jerusalem. Stretching out the hand is a figure of speech that implies a special work of punishment (cf. Exod. 6:6; Deut. 4:34...
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13:7 Zechariah now returned in a poem to the subject of the Shepherd that he had mentioned in chapter 11. He also returned to the time when Israel would be scattered among the nations because of her rejection of the Good Shep...
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14:16 The remaining former enemies of Israel who would not die would bow to the sovereignty of Yahweh (cf. 8:20-23; Isa. 2:2-4; 45:21-24; 60:4-14; Ezek. 40-48; Phil. 2:10). They would be expected to make annual pilgrimages to...
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Jesus proceeded to elaborate on the dangers the apostles would face and how they should deal with them.In His descriptions of the opposition His disciples would experience, Jesus looked beyond His death to the time of tribula...
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21:8 The people where acknowledging Jesus as a King by spreading their garments on the road before Him (cf. 2 Kings 9:13). Likewise throwing small branches before Him symbolized the same thing (cf. 1 Macc. 13:51; 2 Macc. 10:7...
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Jesus proceeded to give His disciples a general picture of conditions just before He will return to end the present age and inaugurate His kingdom.24:7-8 Wars, famines, and earthquakes will anticipate the end of the present a...
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Having given a general description of conditions preceding His return and the end of the present age, Jesus next described one particular event that would be the greatest sign of all.24:15 "Therefore"or "So"(Gr. oun) ties thi...
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Jesus concluded the Olivet Discourse with further revelation about the judgment that will take place at the end of the present age when He returns. He had referred to it often in the discourse, but now He made it a special su...
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These warnings also occur in other contexts of Jesus' ministry (cf. Matt. 10:17-22; Luke 12:11-12). Jesus evidently voiced them more than once.Mark stressed the idea of persecution by recording the Greek word paradidomithree ...
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These verses do not describe the destruction of Jerusalem but the Tribulation at the end of the present age and the Second Coming that will follow it. The Second Coming is the climax of the Olivet Discourse.32013:24-25 In con...
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21:10-11 Luke's interruption of Jesus' teaching suggests a break of some kind in His thought. It seems clear from what follows, in verse 11 especially, that Jesus now broadened His perspective from the wars that would precede...
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Luke omitted Jesus' warnings about false prophets that Matthew and Mark recorded (Matt. 24:23-28; Mark 13:21-23). Perhaps he did this because he had included similar warnings in his account of Jesus' earlier teachings (17:21-...
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Jesus balanced the need for humility and service with a promise of future reward. Though the Twelve are in view the implication of reward for other faithful disciples is strong. Jesus evidently repeated this promise in differ...
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The importance of this incident in Jesus' ministry is evident from the fact that all four Gospel evangelists recorded it. Matthew and Mark placed this event before Mary's anointing of Jesus in Simon's house (vv. 1-8). However...
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The key to the apostles' successful fulfillment of Jesus' commission was their baptism with and consequent indwelling by the Holy Spirit. Without this divine enablement they would only have been able to follow Jesus' example,...
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Paul was not on trial here. When he had appealed to Caesar (25:11), he had guaranteed that his next trial would be before the emperor. This was just a hearing designed to acquaint Agrippa with Paul's case so Agrippa could giv...
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Paul continued to give reasons why we need not lose heart. The themes of life in the midst of death and glory following as a result of present suffering also continue.What about the believer who dies before he or she has foll...
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In these opening words Paul rebuked his readers for turning away from the gospel that he had preached to them and for turning toward a different "gospel."He accused them of being religious turncoats. He did so to impress them...
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"God's spiritual blessings for believers are based not only on the sovereign election of the Father (vv. 3-6) and the redemptive work of the Son (vv. 7-12), but also on the seal of the Holy Spirit."301:13 In contrast to the J...
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1:4-5 Paul's favorite appellation for the Thessalonians was "brothers."He used it 15 times in this epistle and seven times in 2 Thessalonians. It emphasizes the equality of Christians in the family of God, Jews and Gentiles. ...
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Paul next turned to another subject on which his readers needed instruction in view of their newness in Christ (cf. 3:10). He outlined the immediate hope of his readers. He did this to explain that those of their number who h...
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Paul continued his instruction concerning the events that must precede the beginning of the day of the Lord by stressing the lawlessness of that period. His purpose was to explain more clearly that his readers had not missed ...
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The subject of the Book of Revelation is Jesus Christ (1:1). It is an unveiling ("revelation") of Him. What does this book reveal about Christ? The Book of Revelation is the unveiling of the person of Jesus Christ, the power ...
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I. The preparation of the prophet ch. 1A. The prologue of the book 1:1-81. The preface 1:1-32. The address and doxology 1:4-63. The theme 1:7-8B. The commission of the prophet 1:9-201. The first commission to write 1:9-112. T...
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The Apostle John wrote these opening verses to introduce to his readers the main subject dealt with in this book and his purpose for writing it.1:1 "The revelation of Jesus Christ"is the subject of this book. "Revelation"mean...
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"As is true of NT epistles in general, the address of Revelation contains three elements: the writer, the addressees, and the greeting."181:4 John sent this letter to the seven churches mentioned in chapters 2 and 3, which we...
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John turned to see the person who had given him his commission. These verses describe what he saw.1:12 When John turned to see the person who spoke to him he saw a majestic figure clothed in a long robe standing among seven l...
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John's response to this revelation was similar to Daniel's response to the vision God gave him (cf. Dan. 10:7-9). Jesus then proceeded to give John more information about what He wanted him to do.1:17 This revelation of Jesus...
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Jesus Christ held out blessings for the faithful few in the congregation to stimulate the rest to repent. White garments symbolic of one's works (19:8) are pure and free of defilement (cf. 7:9, 13; 19:14; Matt. 22:11-12). Sar...
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Jesus Christ gave no rebuke to this church, as was true of the church in Smyrna. He gave the Christians five promises instead.1. Their Jewish antagonists would eventually have to acknowledge that the Christians were the true ...
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John recorded the rest of this book to reveal those aspects of the future that God wanted His people to know (cf. 1:19). He revealed the events in chapters 4-18 to enable the readers to understand events leading up to Jesus C...
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Chapters 4 and 5 prepared John, and they prepare the reader, for the outpouring of judgments on the earth that follow. They present the place from which these judgments originate and the Person from whom they come. Before rev...
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"These things"refer to the revelation of the messages to the seven churches (chs. 2-3; cf. 1:19). After John had received these messages, he received a vision of heaven in which Jesus Christ invited him (cf. 1:10, 12-16) to e...
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4:2 As soon as John heard this invitation, he entered another ecstatic state (cf. 1:10). His body remained on the earth, but he saw a throne and someone sitting on it in heaven (cf. Ezek. 11:1, 5). "Throne"occurs 45 times in ...
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4:9 Whenever it is appropriate and possible the four living creatures give praise to eternal God. They glorify and honor Him for His perfections, and they thank Him for His great works, especially His creation (v. 11).4:10 Th...
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John next recorded the revelation of the sealed scroll and its recipient. He did so to continue the revelation of what will be going on in heaven before God pours out the judgments to follow on the earth (chs. 6-18). This cha...
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5:6 As with our dreams, John's vision contained some unusual features. John saw the Messiah as a Lamb.229The Lamb is a symbol of Jesus Christ at His first advent, meek and submissive to a sacrificial death as our substitute (...
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What happened next evidently took place in heaven.6:9 The altar John saw was evidently in heaven (cf. 8:3, 5; 14:18). Earlier John had seen a throneroom in heaven (chs. 4-5), but now he saw a temple. Probably the concepts of ...
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The scene now shifts back to earth."The entire passage in every clause utilizes well known prophetic anticipations of the day of the Lord, and by his use of these images John identifies the day for his readers. One may check ...
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The scene continues to be on earth.7:1 The phrase "after this"(Gr. meta touto) indicates that what follows is a new vision (cf. 4:1). The general chronological progression of the visions suggests that the events John saw now ...
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There are a number of contrasts between the 144,000 and this great multitude. The number of the first group is not only smaller but definite whereas the number of the second group is larger and indefinite. People from the 12 ...
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Chapter 7 introduced additional information between the breaking of the sixth and seventh seals. Now the chronological progression of judgments resumes. The scene John saw continues to be in heaven....
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8:2 John saw someone, perhaps God, give seven trumpets to a group of seven angels standing before the heavenly throne (cf. 1:4; 3:1; 8:6; 15:1). Exactly who these angels were is not clear. Some interpreters have identified th...
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9:1 Again John saw a "star"(cf. 6:13; 8:10), but this time the "star"was an intelligent being. If "fallen"(Gr. peptokota) has theological connotations, the "star"may refer to Satan (vv. 2, 11; cf. 1:20; Job. 38:7; Luke 10:18)...
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9:20 These three severe judgments (fire, smoke, and brimstone, vv. 17-18) will not move the remaining unbelievers as a whole to repent (cf. Exod. 7:13, 23; 8:15, 19, 32; 9:7, 12, 35; 10:20; 11:10)."In all cases in the apocaly...
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John proceeded with his revelation to unfold the future course of events for his readers. We have already seen that God interrupted the sequence of the seven seal judgments with revelation concerning other events happening at...
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10:1 Whereas a few commentators have identified this strong angel as Jesus Christ,341the evidence for his being simply another (Gr. allon, another of the same kind) strong angel seems more convincing (cf. vv. 5-6). Other comm...
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11:1 "And"(Gr. kai) ties this chapter closely to the previous one. John's first prophetic assignment after receiving his fresh commission was to provide this information.Again John became an active participant in his vision (...
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11:7 It is only when they have finished their ministry that God will permit the beast to kill the two witnesses. They will not die prematurely. This is the first of 36 references to "the beast"in Revelation (cf. Dan. 7:21). H...
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John's revelation continued to unfold future events as God revealed these to him in his vision. The scene John saw next was in heaven. The seventh trumpet judgment did not begin immediately (cf. 8:1-5), but John received info...
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This pericope furnishes the plot for the drama that unfolds in the rest of the chapter.12:1 John saw a "sign,"something that signified or represented something else (cf. v. 3; 13:13-14; 15:1; 16:14; 19:29). Usually John used ...
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12:7 Michael the archangel (Jude 9) is the leader of God's angelic army. He is Israel's special patron (Dan. 10:13, 21; 12:1). He evidently holds high rank among unfallen angels as Satan does among the fallen. John saw him en...
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The revelation of Satan's activity, which the song of the martyrs (vv. 10-12) interrupted, now resumes.12:13 Satan will concentrate his vengeance on Israelites during the Great Tribulation, under the sovereign control of God,...
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The notable abilities of the beast are blasphemy against God and deception of people. These activities also marked Antiochus Epiphanes, the prototype of Antichrist (Dan. 7:8, 11, 20, 25; 12:7).13:5 God (cf. 6:4, 8; 7:2; 9:5; ...
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13:9 God and John called on the readers of this book to pay attention. Particularly those living at this time in the future should do so. Note that John made no reference to "the churches"as in similar exhortations in chapter...
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Most interpreters who see the first beast as an individual also see the second beast as one. Others who see the first beast as a power or movement tend to view the second beast similarly. Many of the Reformers identified the ...
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14:1 "And I looked"(Gr. kai eidon) introduces three scenes in chapter 14 (vv. 1, 6, 14), as this phrase did twice in chapter 13 (vv. 1, 11). "Behold"(Gr. idou, cf. v. 14) calls special attention to the greatness of the sight ...
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15:2 John again "saw"(cf. vv. 1, 5) the sea of glass that was similar to crystal (4:6; cf. Exod. 24:10; Ezek. 1:22), though here he wrote that it also had fire in it. The sea most likely represents the holiness and majesty of...
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Further revelation concerning the destruction of Babylon follows in chapters 17 and 18. Both chapters are parenthetic in that they do not advance the revelation chronologically. They give further supplementary information abo...
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17:15 The angel next helped John understand the identity of the waters (v. 1). Water is a common symbol for people in the Old Testament (e.g., Ps. 18:4, 16; 124:4; Isa. 8:7; Jer. 47:2). The harlot exercises a controlling infl...
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This pericope has strong ties to what precedes (16:17-18:24). It is the concluding revelation concerning the fall of Babylon, the latter-day Egypt and Tyre, and Antichrist, the ultimate Pharaoh of the Exodus and King of Tyre....
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20:1 The first word, "And,"supports the idea of chronological sequence. It implies a continuation from what John just revealed (cf. 19:11, 17, 19; 20:4, 11, 12; 21:1, 2, 22). Amillennial interpreters disagree."John says nothi...
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20:11 This "And I saw"introduces something else John saw in this vision (cf. 19:11, 17, 19; 20:1, 4, 12; 21:1, 2). The continuation of chronological progression seems clear from the continued use of "And"to introduce new info...
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21:2 In the same vision, John next saw a city descending out of heaven from God (cf. v. 10; 3:12; Heb. 11:13-16). It was holy in contrast to the former Jerusalem (cf. 11:8; Isa. 52:1; Matt. 4:5; 27:53). As the old Jerusalem w...
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21:11 This city obviously appeared extremely impressive to John. The first and most important characteristic that John noted was its radiant glow. It shone with the splendor of God Himself because He was in it (cf. Exod. 40:3...
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22:6 The angel who had been revealing the new creation to John, one of the angels who had the seven bowls (21:9), continued to speak to him.782He assured John that the things prophesied to happen soon (4:1-22:5), which John h...
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22:12 Jesus Christ repeated His promise to return soon (v. 7, cf. 1:3; 22:20)."Nowhere is a date set, nor was there any definite promise that the consummation would occur within the lifetime of the first century Christians. N...
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Abbott-Smith, George. A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1950.Aldrich, Roy L. "The Divisions of the First Resurrection."Bibliotheca Sacra128:510 (April-June 1971):117-19.Alford, Henry. ...
Expositions Of Holy Scripture (Maclaren)
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The same John, who has preserved Christ's references, gives one of his own in Revelation 7:9, when he shows us the great multitude out of every nation with palms in their hands.' These are not the Gentile emblems of victory, ...
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The Word dwelt among us.'--John 1:14.He that sitteth on the Throne shall dwell among them.'--Rev. 7:15.Behold, the Tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them.' --Rev. 22:3.THE word rendered dwelt,' in these th...
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"Lo. a great multitude stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands."--Rev. 7:9.The Seer is about to disclose the floods of misery which are to fall upon the earth at...