Revelation

by Thompson, Leonard L.

• ISBN13: 9780687056798
• ISBN10: 0687056799
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1998-10-01
• Publisher: Abingdon Pr

Summary

In this lucid exposition, an acclaimed interpreter shows that the book of Revelation is to be read as a unified work of religious poetry aimed at extricating Christians from Roman society, in which they were living quietly and peacefully. Thompson considers connections between John's negative view of society and his social location as a wandering prophet, compares his visionary experience with that of other prophets and seers, especially in Judaism, notes similarities between the depictions of Christ and Satan in Revelation and portraits of heroes and demons in other writings of the time, and emphasizes that John's vision of heaven and the future were intended to infuse everyday Christian life with confidence in the goodness and ultimate triumph of God.'œThompson's commentary on Revelation is written in an engaging literary style and, by presenting perceptive comparisons and contrasts with both Greco-Roman and Jewish literature'”canonical and non-canonical'”he highlights the distinctive features of this book. He deals effectively with the rhetorical and even the epistemological dimensions, while offering an illuminating and convincing proposal for the structure and thematic development of Revelation. In short, it is a most revealing and insightful analysis of this challenging early Christian writing, as it shows how this book addresses perennial human questions about divine purpose and human destiny.' '-Howard Clark Kee

Table of Contents

Foreword	9	(2)
Preface	11	(2)
List of Abbreviations	13	(6)
Introduction: Reading Revelation	19	(28)
To the Seven Churches of Asia	21	(9)
In the Spirit	30	(5)
Dirty Clothes Are Dirty Clothes	35	(9)
Welcome to the Commentary	44	(3)
Commentary	47	(144)
Introduction to the Visions (1:1-8)	47	(7)
John's First Vision (1:9-3:22)	54	(34)
Brother John (1:9-11)	54	(3)
A Likeness of a Human (1:12-20)	57	(5)
Pronouncements to the Seven Churches (2:1-3:22)	62	(2)
To the Church at Ephesus (2:1-7)	64	(3)
To the Church at Smyrna (2:8-11)	67	(3)
To the Church at Pergamum (2:12-17)	70	(4)
To the Church at Thyatira (2:18-28)	74	(4)
To the Church at Sardis (3:1-6)	78	(2)
To the Church at Philadelphia (3:7-13)	80	(3)
To the Church at Laodicea (3:14-22)	83	(5)
Visions of the Heavenly Throne and the Seven-Sealed Scroll (4:1-8:1)	88	(25)
Enthronement (4:1-5:14)	89	(11)
Opening of the Seven Seals (6:1-8:1)	100	(13)
Visions of Seven Angels with Seven Trumpets (8:2-11:19)	113	(18)
Blowing Six of the Seven Trumpets (8:2-9:21)	113	(9)
Prophecy and the Seventh Trumpet (10:1-11:19)	122	(9)
Visions of Conflict, Judgment, and Deliverance (12:1-14:20)	131	(18)
Mother and Dragon (12:1-18)	132	(5)
Beasts and Saints (13:1-18)	137	(6)
Judgment and Redemption (14:1-20)	143	(6)
Visions of Seven Last Plagues (15:1-16:21)	149	(9)
Heavenly Throne Scene (15:1-16:1)	149	(4)
Pouring Out the Seven Bowls (16:2-21)	153	(5)
Visions of Victory over Babylon the Whore and the Beasts (17:1-19:10)	158	(17)
Babylon the Whore Riding the Beast (17:1-18)	158	(8)
The Fall of Babylon (18:1-19:10)	166	(9)
Visions of a Grand Finale (19:11-22:5)	175	(11)
End-time Events Prior to the New Earth (19:11-20:15)	176	(4)
New Heaven, New Earth, and New Jerusalem (21:1-22:5)	180	(6)
Conclusion to the Visions (22:6-21)	186	(5)
Select Bibliography	191	(8)
Index	199