Revelation

373 Pages·1979·17.968 MB·English

by  J. P. M. Sweet

Westminster Pelican Commentaries
Revelation
J. P. M. SWEET
The Westminster Press
PHILADELPHIA
Westminster Pelican Commentaries
Edited by D. E. Nineham
Revelation
© J. P. M. Sweet, 1979
The Bible text in this publication is from the Revised Sl41ld41'd
Vel'sion of the Bible, copyright 1946 and 1952 by the Division of
Christian Education, National Council of Churches, and used by
permission.
Published by The Westminster Press@
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
987 6 , 4 3 2 1
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Sweet, John Philip McMurdo.
Revelation.
(Westminster Pelican commentaries)
Bibliography: p.
Includes indexes.
1. Bible. N.T. Revelation-Commentaries.
I. Bible. N.T. Revelation. English. Revised standard.
1979. II. Title. III. Series.
BS2825.3.S93 228'.Q7'7 78·26383
ISBN 0·664-21375·8
ISBN 0·664·24262·6 pbk.
Contents
Editorial Foreword
IX
Acknowledgments
X
References, Abbreviations ,and Technical Terms
Xl
Bibliography xiv
Map xvi
INTRODUCTION I
I. Apocalyptic I
2. Synopsis 5
3. Interpretation I3
(a) Hebrew imagery 13
(b) Daniel and the Lord's Apocalypse 17
4. Date 2I
(a) The historical argument 22
(b) The psychological argument 24-
S. Situation
27
(a) Christians and Jews 28
(b) Compromise with pagan society 31
(c) John's view 34-
6. Authorship and composition 3S
(a) Unity 3S
(b) John in tradition 36
(i) Jolm the apostle 36
(ii) Pseudonymity 37
(iii) Another John 38
CONTENTS
(c) Internal evidence 38
(i) Asia 38
(ii) Old Testament 39
(iii) New Testament 40
(iv) Liturgy 41
(v) The mind of the author 42
(d) Structure 44
7. Place in the New Testament 47
(a) How it got there 47
(b) Is it Christian? 48
(i) Hope deferred 48
(ii) Vengeance 49
(iii) The wrath of the Lamb So
Outline 52
COMMENTARY
I Prologue 55
1.1-3 Title 57
1.4-II John's letter 60
1.12-20 The vision of the Son of man 69
2-3 The Letters to the Seven Churches 75
2.1-7 To the church in Ephesus 78
2.8-II To the church in Smyrna 83
2.12-17 To the church in Pergamul11 87
2.18-29 To the church in Thyatira 91
3.1-6 To the church in Sardis 97
3.7-13 To the church in Philadelphia 101
3.14-22 To the church in Laodicea 105
4-5 The Heavenly Liturgy I II
4.1-11 The heavenly temple 114
5.1-14 The enthronement of the Lamb 121
vi
CONTENTS
6-7 The Seven Seals Opened 133
6.1-8 The four horsemen 136
6.9-II The fifth seal: the cry of the martyrs 141
6.12-17 The sixth seal: the wrath of the Lamb 143
7.1-8 The sealing of God's servants 146
7.9-17 Beyond the great tribulation 149
8-14 The Seven Trumpets ISS
8.1-5 The prayers of the saints 158
8.6-13 The first four trumpets 161
9.1-12 The fifth trumpet and the first woe-
locusts 165
9.13-21 The sixth trumpet and the second
woe -cavalry 170
10.I-II.I4 The Little Scroll and the Two Witnesses 175
10. I-II The little scroll 175
II. 1-14 The two witnesses 180
II.IS-13.18 The Seventh Trumpet and the Third Woe 190
II.I5-19 ' Heavenly liturgy 191
12.1-6 The woman and the dragon 193
12.7-12 The expulsion of the dragon 198
12.13-17 The woman and the dragon -
continued 202
13·1-10 The beast from the sea 206
13.II-I8 The beast from the earth 213
14 The Triumph of the Gospel 220
14.1-5 The followers of the Lamb 220
14.6-12 The gospel 223
14.13-20 The Son of man: harvest and
vintage 228
vii
CONTENTS
15.1-22.5 The Seven Bowls: The Harlot and the
Bride 235
15·1-8 The song of Moses and of the Lamb 238
16.1-9 The first four bowls 242
16.10-21 The last three bowls 245
17·1-6 The great harlot 252
17·7-11 The harlot and the beast 255
17·12-18 The harlot, the beast and ten kings 260
18.1-24 The Lament over Babylon 264
18.1-8 The judgment of Babylon (I) 264
18.9-19 The lament for Babylon 270
18.20-24 The judgment of Babylon (2) 273
19·1-10 The vindication of the saints 276
19·11-16 The coming of Christ 281
19·17-21 The defeat of the beasts 284
20.1-6 The millenniwn 286
20.7-10 The rebellion of Gog 290
20.11-15 The last judgment 293
21.1-8 A new heaven and a new earth 295
21.9-21 The new Jerusalem 300
21.22-22·5 The healing of the nations: paradise
regained 307
22.6-21 Come,. Lord Jesus! JI3
Index of References
Index ofA uthors
Index of S~jbjects
viii
Editorial Foretvord
Biblical commentaries are of various kinds. Some are intended solely
for the specialist; others are devotional commentaries meant simply
to help the Christian believer in his prayer and meditation. The com
mentaries in this series belong to neither class. Though they are based
on full scholarly study and deal with technical points wherever neces
sary, the aim throughout has been to bring out the meaning the
evangelists intended to convey to their original readers. Since that
meaning was religious, it is hoped that the commentaries, while being
of intercst to readers of any religious pcrsuasion or none, and giving a
fair indication of the current position in gospel study, will help
Christian readers to a deeper and more informed appreciation of the
gospels.
Technical terms have been avoided wherever possible; where used
they have been fully explained in the Introductions, and readers are
advised to read the Introduction to each volume before beginning on
the commentary proper. The extended introduction to the volume on
Mark is in some degree intended as an introduction to the series as a
whole.
ix
Acknowledgments
I would like to thank the General Editor of the SCM Pelican Com
mentaries, Dennis Nineham, Warden of Keble College, Oxford, for
his invitation to write this commentary, and for his stimulating teach
ing, patient encouragement and constructive criticism over many
years: Audrey Brooks, who typed it; Andrew Lake, who made the
indexes;Jean Cunningham, who prepared it for the press; my daugh
ter Alison, who made the map; and many colleagues and pupils for
help and advice, especially Richard Bauckham, Colin Herner, Vivian'
Nutton, Stephen Pattison and Christopher Rowland.
lowe much to the late R. H. Lightfoot, who left me his copy of
Lohmeyer's commentary on Revelation, and to the late Alan Richard
son and the members of his seminar at Nottingham University, 1956-
57, who kindled my interest in Revelation. lowe most of all to my
wife.
Cambridge J.P.M.S.
November 1978
x