"I Am the Alpha and the Omega:" The Revelation to John PDF

282 Pages·2015·2.25 MB·English

by  Jim Wilsford

“I Am the Alpha and
the Omega”

The Revelation to John

Commentary and Notes

By Jim Wilsford, Ph.D.
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© 2005-2014 James A. Wilsford
All rights reserved

All scriptures are from the American Standard Version (ASV).
Some archaic constructions and words have been exchanged for the modern form of
the expressions; such as, thee, thine, ye, hast, verily, yea, etc. Otherwise the text of the
1901 AD version is unaltered. The author sought scriptures that were as true and literal
a translation of the original as possible in order to eliminate ambiguity in regard to the
metaphors and images of the Revelation.
Since the primary strategy was to let scripture explain scripture, knowing that the
interpretation belongs to God, the Father, one will find a more liberal quoting of
support passages than is usually the case.
The cover, which is the map showing the seven churches of Asia, is in the public
domain, so placed there by its author Jonadab (see: en:Image:Seven-churches-of-
asia.svg and en:User:Jonadab )
You may not reproduce this materials in any form, print or electronic without the
expressed permission of the author. However, you may use portions for teaching and
preaching efforts, following the standard copyright conventions and limitations.
Inquires or comments on the notes and commentary should be addressed to
James A. Wilsford
[email protected]
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Dedication
This work is dedicated to the members of the Orangeburg church of Christ adult
Bible class, where the lessons were first taught. The class showed unmatched patience
and kindness to me for the thirty seven years of my teaching there. They certainly
taught me more than I ever taught them. May we all live with the words of the Lord
close to our hearts:
“Yes, I come quickly.”

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Table of Contents (Interactive)

INTRODUCTION TO THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST* 1
The Theme: “I am the Alpha and the Omega” 1
The Epicureans 2
The Stoics 5
Application 6
Reading Figurative Language 7
No Scriptures Are of Private Interpretation 9
REVELATION 1: THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST 12
Message to the Seven Churches 14
The Patmos Vision 20
REVELATION 2: WARNINGS AGAINST IMMORALITY AND FALSE
TEACHING AT EPHESUS, SMYRNA, PERGAMUM, AND THYATIRA 27
To the Church in Ephesus (Revelation 2:1-7) 27
To the Church in Smyrna 31
To the Church in Pergamum 33
To the Church in Thyatira 35
REVELATION 3: WARNINGS AGAINST IMMORALITY AND FALSE
TEACHING AT SARDIS, PHILADELPHIA, AND LAODICEA 38
To the Church in Sardis 38
To the Church in Philadelphia 40
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To the Church in Laodicea 42
REVELATION 4: HEAVEN AND THE THRONE OF GOD 45
The Vision of Heaven 45
The Throne in Heaven 45
The Four Living Creatures 47
The Twenty-four Elders 49
REVELATION 5: THE LAMB AND THE SCROLL WITH SEVEN SEALS 52
The Scroll with the Seven Seals 52
The Elders Sing a New Song 53
All Creation Worships the Lamb 55
REVELATION 6: THE LAMB OPENS SIX OF SEVEN SEALS 57
The First Seal—Conqueror on White Horse 58
The Second Seal—War 60
The Third Seal—Famine 62
The Fourth Seal—Death 62
The Fifth Seal—Souls of Those Slain for the Word of God 64
The Sixth Seal—Terror for the Evil Ones and Sealing for the Servants of God 67
REVELATION 7: THE 144,000 SEALED AND THE GREAT MULTITUDE IN
WHITE ROBES 69
144,000 Sealed 69
The Great Multitude from the Tribulation: 72
REVELATION 8: OPENING OF THE SEVENTH SEAL AND SEVEN
ANGELS WITH SEVEN TRUMPETS 76
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Another Angel with a Golden Censer 77
Seven Angels and Seven Trumpets (Revelation 8:6-13) 79
The First Angel Sounded His Trumpet 81
The Second Angel Sounded His Trumpet 82
The Third Angel Sounded His Trumpet 83
The Fourth Angel Sounded His Trumpet 84
An Eagle Calls Out in a Loud Voice 85
REVELATION 9: THE FIFTH AND SIXTH ANGEL SOUND THEIR
TRUMPETS AND TWO WOES PASS 87
The Fifth Angel Sounded His Trumpet (Revelation 9:1-11) 87
The Sixth Angel Sounded His Trumpet 93
The Release of the Four Angels Who Are Bound at the Great River Euphrates 94
The Army of Death, Injury, and Plagues 95
Failure to Repent 98
REVELATION10: THE ANGEL AND THE LITTLE SCROLL 102
A Mighty Angel 102
The Mystery of God to Be Accomplished 105
The Eating of the Book 107
John’s Work Is Not Done 109
REVELATION 11: THE TWO WITNESSES AND THE SEVENTH TRUMPET
110
Measuring the Temple of God and the Altar 110
The Two Witnesses 114
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The Beast Overpowers and Kills the Witnesses 118
Summary of the Sounding of the Sixth Trumpet and the Second Woe 121
The Seventh Angel Sounded His Trumpet 122
REVELATION 12: THE WOMAN AND THE DRAGON 127
Great and Wondrous Sign—the Radiant Woman 128
Another Sign—the Red Dragon 129
War in Heaven 132
A Loud Voice from Heaven 133
The Enraged Dragon 136
Revelation 13: Warriors of the Dragon—The Beast out of the Sea and the Beast out of the
Earth 140
The Beast out of the Sea 140
The Beast out of the Earth 148
REVELATION 14: THE LAMB, THE THREE ANGELS, AND THE HARVEST
157
The Lamb and the First Fruits Purchased from among Men 157
Three Angels Forecasting the Events about to Transpire in the Revelation 161
The Lord Overseeing the Reapers 164
REVELATION 15: GOD’S WRATH COMPLETED WITH THE SEVEN LAST
PLAGUES 166
Seven Angels with Seven Last Plagues 166
The Triumphant God 168
The Tabernacle of the Testimony 168
Bowls Filled with God’s Wrath 169
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REVELATION 16: THE SEVEN BOWLS OF GOD’S WRATH 171
The First Bowl of God’s Wrath 171
The Second Bowl of God’s Wrath 172
The Third Bowl of God’s Wrath 172
The Fourth Bowl of God’s Wrath 173
The Fifth Bowl of God’s Wrath 173
The Sixth Bowl of God’s Wrath 174
The Seventh Bowl of God’s Wrath 177
REVELATION 17: THE WOMAN ON THE BEAST 181
The Punishment of the Great Prostitute 181
The Prostitute and the Scarlet Beast 182
The Mystery of the Woman and the Beast (Revelation 17:6-8) 185
The Beast upon Whom the Woman Rides 186
The Angel Explains the Vision of the Beast 189
The Beast and the Ten Horns Turn against the Prostitute 192
REVELATION 18: THE FALL OF BABYLON 194
Fallen! Fallen! Is Babylon the Great 194
The Fate of Babylon Is Announced to the People of God 195
The First Lament: the Kings of the Earth 197
The Second Lament: The Merchants of the Earth 198
The Third Lament: All Who Earn Their Living from the Sea 200
Babylon Thrown Down 201
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REVELATION 19: FOUR-FOLD HALLELUJAH AND THE RIDER ON THE
WHITE HORSE 203
Four-fold Hallelujah 203
The first hallelujah 203
The second hallelujah 204
The third hallelujah 204
The fourth hallelujah 204
John Directed by the Angel 206
A Majestic Christ Appears 208
The End of Flesh 212
The Fate of the Beast and the False Prophet 212
REVELATION 20: JUDGMENT: THE END OF SATAN, DEATH, AND
HADES 214
The Binding of the Dragon 215
The First Resurrection and Reigning with Christ 216
The Devil’s Doom 221
The Judgment of the Dead 222
REVELATION 21: THE COMPLETION OF THE REVELATION OF GOD 224
The Holy City, the New Jerusalem 224
The New Order 228
The Bride, the Wife of the Lamb 230
Measuring the City 232
The Temple: the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb 234
REVELATION 22: THE INVITATION OF THE LAMB 235
The Coming of Jesus 237
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