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Foreword
Foreword
The manuscript of this Commentary was completed several years ago, but its publication was unfortunately deferred until the author's health no longer permitted him to see it through the press or even to be consulted in regard to modifications. For this latter reason no change of any kind has been made either in the language or the arrangement of the material. In the bibliography we have added the two recent monumental contributions to the literature on the Book of Revelation, commentaries by I.
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Master-Thoughts upon the Revelation1
Master-Thoughts upon the Revelation1
“ The Book of Revelation is the sum of all prophecy. It carries the devout reader to a height from which he can see the history of God's kingdom from its beginning to its consummation in glory. It is the sublimest book in the Bible, and its study awakens the profoundest worship.” — J. M. Stifler ,—in unpublished Classroom Lectures . “ The Apocalypse constitutes the meridian of Hebrew poetry and art , embracing in its individual forms the most diverse elements.... If the laws of its construction
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Preface
Preface
It is not without considerable hesitation, and a personal sense of the shortcomings of the present work, that it is now given to the public. It necessarily contains much that is already familiar to the reader, and it should be regarded as an effort to present in concise form and in one's own way what has been gathered through many years of patient study, and by constant comparison with the works of the best commentators, together with such thoughts as have come to the Author in the course of his
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1. General Introduction.
1. General Introduction.
The visions of the Apocalypse are generally conceded to belong to the latter part of the first century, and manifestly relate in main portion to the then future, whether near or far, of the church of Christ in the world, for they pertain to a profoundly impressive prophetic experience. The divine path of God's people among the nations is beheld in symbol, type, and figure, ever leading on to victory through Jesus Christ his Son and our Lord; the church and the world are seen engaged in a multifo
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2. The Title.
2. The Title.
That the Author of the Revelation was named John we have no reason to doubt, if we believe the statements of the book itself, for this is distinctly affirmed three different times. 10 He is also further described in one form of the title as “the Divine,” i. e. the one who discoursed about God, or the theologian. This latter designation, though of uncertain origin and date, and omitted by the American Revisers as without sufficient support, is yet undoubtedly as old as the latter part of the thir
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3. The Author.
3. The Author.
The considerations which support the Apostolic Authorship are chiefly the following:—(1) the evidence of early Christian tradition imbedded in history is practically unanimous in its favor, and the book was accepted as the Apostle's without question by the church in Asia where it originated: (2) the internal evidence is to most minds convincing and even decisive, viz. (a) the Author declares himself to be John, and addresses the churches in Asia as their “brother, and partaker in tribulation,” a
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4. The Unity.
4. The Unity.
A modified form of the Apocalyptic-Traditional view, advanced by some late writers, 28 indicates a healthful reaction from the piecemeal theories of the earlier source-criticism, and affords valuable suggestion for further study—whether, indeed, we can follow them or not in finding evidence of the introduction of a limited number of fragments of earlier origin,—viz. that the author drew freely from a mass of apocalyptic ideas and forms, or “apocalyptic conventions” as they have been called, whic
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5. The Date.
5. The Date.
The indications of the Earlier Date that usually obtain are:—(1) the linguistic peculiarities already referred to under the head of Unity, which are considered by many to indicate an earlier period in John's life and thought when he was still Hebraistic in method: (2) the historical allusions in the book that seem to favor the earlier date, and which some have thought are even decisive, viz. (a) the condition of the churches in Asia as set forth in the Seven Epistles, which fairly accords with w
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6. The Place.
6. The Place.
The right of the Book of Revelation to a place in the New Testament Canon is well attested both historically and by internal evidence. The historical evidence is especially complete, and is regarded by some as stronger than that of any other book in the New Testament: 40 the objections have all arisen from the internal evidence, which has been differently estimated by different minds. The Historical Evidence covers the question both of authorship and of canonicity,—for these cannot well be separ
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7. The Canonicity.
7. The Canonicity.
(2) Justin Martyr (circ. A. D. 140) says it was written by “a certain man whose name was John, one of the apostles of Christ” . This testimony is within fifty years of the later date assigned to the book, and seventy-five years of the earlier one, and is therefore of special importance; and there is no hesitancy in affirming that the author was “one of the apostles of Christ” . (3) According to Eusebius, Melito, Bp. of Sardis (circ. A. D. 170), wrote a lost work on “the Revelation of John” ; als
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8. The Form.
8. The Form.
The unique symbolism of these writings constitutes their most striking and characteristic feature; and it is this uniform use of cryptic symbols instead of ordinary figures of speech that invests the Apocalypse of John with its peculiar charm, and at the same time creates the special problems of its interpretation. A symbol may be defined as a conventional objective form chosen to represent something else, often not otherwise capable of portraiture, because of some real or fancied resemblance th
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9. The Theme.
9. The Theme.
The conditions which gave Occasion for this sole Apocalyptic book of the New Testament have left their impress on its form and thought, viz. persecution from without, and trial and distress within the church. These conditions which are subsumed throughout must be clearly recognized in order to interpret the message aright, and to estimate its proper value for the age which first received it. For, whether we accept the earlier or later date of writing, the deadly power of the Roman Empire was bei
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10. The Occasion.
10. The Occasion.
The Purpose of the Apocalypse, as indicated by its introductory words “The Revelation” , is the revealing or unveiling of mystery. In the Christian sense a mystery is a former secret of divine truth that has now been at least partially revealed (Eph. 3:1-11), while an apocalypse is the process of revealing it, and also the revelation itself containing the truth made known. The comprehensive design of the book is to unfold and interpret the divine purpose and method in human history, especially i
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11. The Purpose.
11. The Purpose.
There are two essentially different methods of Interpretation that have been followed in attempting to arrive at the meaning of this manifestly difficult book, which are founded upon different conceptions of its didactic purpose, and proceed upon different lines of inquiry, viz. the Historical, and the Symbolical. The Historical Interpretation regards the book as a prophetic review and forecast of history veiled in symbol, and seeks the meaning and fulfilment of the visions in certain specific h
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12. The Interpretation.
12. The Interpretation.
The Symbolical Interpretation, upon the other hand, regards the book as a prophetic idealization of history , dealing with the general course and outcome of man's life upon the earth, and disclosing under the form of symbols the spiritual and moral forces which give to history its deeper meaning; and seeks the significance and fulfilment of the visions not, therefore, in particular events, but rather in classes of events, not solely at one definite time, but at many different times, finding the
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13. The Outline Analysis.
13. The Outline Analysis.
The elaborate and artistic Literary Structure of the Apocalypse, the numerical symmetry of its parts, the parallelism of its visions, and the recurrent climaxes in its development, together unite to give it a unique place among the writings of Scripture; and a clear perception of these relations becomes a distinct aid to the better understanding of its message, for these belong to it as the outer robes which enfold its inner thought. The predominance of the number seven in the arrangement of its
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14. The Literary Structure.
14. The Literary Structure.
[Transcriber's Note: In the book, the above table had the following text for each of the seven sections; they are laid out here to make it look correct with modern readers.] IV—A Vision of Warfare—the Church-Historic World-Conflict of the Evil against the Just. (Ch. 12:1-14:20) III—A Vision of Threatening—the World's Punishment Threatened. (Ch. 8:2-9:21, and 11:14-19) V—A Vision of Judgment—the World's Judgment Executed. (Ch. 15:1-16:12, and 16:17-21) II—A Vision of Trial—the Church's Trial Fore
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15. The Literature.
15. The Literature.
Finally, with special emphasis it should be said, that it is of prime importance for those who would understand the Apocalypse in its proper relations to Biblical thought, that a careful study should be made of the prophecies of Daniel, Ezekiel, Zechariah, Isaiah, Amos, Joel, and Habakkuk, together with the Book of Psalms, in connection with the Revelation, in order to catch the inner thought of the book; also of some portion of the Apocalyptic literature, particularly the Book of Enoch , 63 the
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I The Prologue
I The Prologue
3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things that are written therein: for the time is at hand. 4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from him who is and who was and who is to come 67 ; and from the seven Spirits that are before his throne; 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loveth us, and loosed 68 us from our si
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I The Prologue, Ch. 1:1-3:22
I The Prologue, Ch. 1:1-3:22
The salutation is an address and greeting of grace and peace to the seven churches in Asia from John, in the name of each person of the triune God, viz:—(1) in the name of the Father, who is designated as “him who is and who was and who is to come” , 306 i. e. whose existence is alike present, past, and future, the Eternal One, and expansion of the sacred name Jehovah, the I AM, or the I WILL BE, of Hebrew historic faith (cf. Ex. 3:14, Am. R. V., marg.); (2) in the name of the Holy Spirit, who i
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II THE MAIN APOCALYPSE, Ch. 4:1-22:5
II THE MAIN APOCALYPSE, Ch. 4:1-22:5
The vision presents the worship of heaven in the forms of earth for our apprehension. The elders (Gr. “presbyters” ) are the ideal representatives of the redeemed church, 370 who are clothed in white raiment and placed round about the throne wearing golden crowns and sitting on lesser thrones reigning with Christ, the fitting tokens of royal dignity and authority, and of their triumphant victory through him who is their Saviour. They are ever active in service, casting their crowns before the th
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III THE EPILOGUE, Ch. 22:6-21
III THE EPILOGUE, Ch. 22:6-21
The form and presence and message of the angel overwhelm John with awe, and he tenders his worship; but the angel, as before (ch. 19:10), acknowledges himself a fellow-servant with John, and bids the Apostle worship God—probably a protest against angel worship which may already have begun. The words of the prophecy are not to be sealed, i. e. they are not to be kept secret, evidently not even their deeper meaning, so far as it was known, was to be veiled in secrecy, but was to be openly communic
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III A Trinal Antithesis of Moral Character
III A Trinal Antithesis of Moral Character
1 Of the Lamb and the Dragon, i. e. of Christ and Satan, or in the Greek Ἀρνίον and δρακων. The same antithesis is implied between the Lamb and the two Beasts to whom the Dragon gives his power, as shown by the Greek names Ἀρνίον and θηρίον. 2 Of the Bride and the Harlot, i. e. of the True Church and the Faithless World, or in the Greek Νύμφη and Πόρνη. A like antithesis also exists between the Woman (cf. ch. 12) and the Harlot, Γυνὴ and Πόρνη. 3 Of Jerusalem and Babylon, i. e. of the Holy City
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IV A Threefold Theocratic Method in Man's Redemptive History
IV A Threefold Theocratic Method in Man's Redemptive History
1 By Moral Conflict—the Evil against the Good; 2 Through Divine Preservation—God Caring for his Own; 3 Unto Christian Triumph—the Victory of the Redeemed. 1 The Preterist, or Contemporaneous-Historical School; 2 The Progressivist, or Continuous-Historical School; 3 The Futurist, or Future-Historical School; 4 The Symbolist, or Spiritual School. The wide diversity of prevailing opinion is well indicated by the existence of four separate schools of interpreters, who represent as many different vie
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II The Seven Shibboleths of Interpreters
II The Seven Shibboleths of Interpreters
These are the main subjects of disagreement among interpreters, and mark the dividing lines of opinion. The Historical School, in its various forms, usually makes one or more of these central to the thought of the book; while the Symbolical School, for the most part, does not regard any of them as either distinctly indicated, or certainly implied. It is fortunate, however, that the main teaching is not materially affected by the view we may take concerning these subjects of disagreement. These a
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II The Seven Benedictions of the Revelation
II The Seven Benedictions of the Revelation
(Messages of Christ to the Church Universal) 1 A Message to the Church when Declining, as in Ephesus:— “Remember ... and Repent.” 2 A Message to the Church when Suffering, as in Smyrna:— “Fear not ... Be Faithful.” 3 A Message to the Church when Impure, as in Pergamus:— “Repent, or I Come with the Sword.” 4 A Message to the Church when Struggling, as in Thyatira:— “Hold Fast till I Come.” 5 A Message to the Church when Dying, as in Sardis:— “Stablish the Things that Remain.” 6 A Message to the C
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I The Initial Series of Seven
I The Initial Series of Seven
5 A Message to the Church when Dying, as in Sardis:— “Stablish the Things that Remain.” 6 A Message to the Church when Steadfast, as in Philadelphia:— “Hold Fast ... That No One Take thy Crown.” 7 A Message to the Church when Self-Deceived, as in Laodicea:— “Be Zealous ... and Repent.” (A Key to Scripture Interpretation) The value of the symbolism of numbers in the general interpretation of Scripture is variously estimated, but its importance in interpreting the Revelation is almost universally
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Appendix E: The Symbolism of Numbers
Appendix E: The Symbolism of Numbers
Three (a triad), the Divine Number. The symbol of the Trinity; of the spiritual as contrasted with the material; of blessing in the Old Testament. A small total that is deemed sufficient; a limited plurality; spiritual completeness. The smallest number with a beginning, a middle, and an end—a fact that impressed the Jewish mind. Three and one-half (one-half of seven), a Broken Number, the half of the Perfect Number. The symbol of the finite or undetermined; a broken and uncertain period without
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Appendix F: The Literary Structure of the Apocalypse
Appendix F: The Literary Structure of the Apocalypse
The Apocalyptic Literature is a characteristic product of Jewish national and religious thought. It was a favorite literary method of a particular age, and was born of a travail of soul which strove to find expression for those new currents of thought and feeling that came to the surface in later Judaism. Following the decadence of prophecy it belonged to the period of Jewish oppression, and voiced the heart-cry of a people true to God in the midst of national distress. Though anticipated in fra
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Appendix G: The Apocalyptic Literature595
Appendix G: The Apocalyptic Literature595
It is difficult for us to conceive the conditions of mind and thought that gave rise to such a literature. In itself it affords an interesting psychological study. The Oriental is a mystic by nature, and many of his ways of thinking can never be quite clear to the Western mind. The Jew in times past was the great figure of the Orient, as he has also been well named “the most commanding figure in history” ; for whatever he may now be, the Hebrew which we find in his literature is enveloped in the
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