Revelation: The Compassion and Protection of Christ

by Paul Gardner

Overview

It is ironical that a book called ‘the revelation’ remains probably the most obscure of all the books of the Bible. Many Christians have never ventured further than the first 3 chapters and others have studied its intricacies and the split churches that resulted wished that they hadn’t!

For those who already love the book of Revelation this commentary will take you a little deeper and stimulate thinking about how the teaching should be applied to the modern church.

Paul Gardner is also the author of Ephesians: Encouragement and Joy in Christ (ISBN 978–1–84550–264–5) and 1&2 Peter and Jude (ISBN 978–1–78191–129–7)in the Focus on the Bible commentary series.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781845503444
Publisher:	Christian Focus Publications
Publication date:	03/20/2008
Series:	Focus on the Bible
Edition description:	Revised
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	5.30(w) x 8.40(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Dr. Paul Gardner was previously a lecturer in New Testament at Oak Hill Theological College in London and a Rural Dean in the Church of England. In 2005, after serving as Archdeacon of Exeter for three years, Dr. Gardner moved to the United States and now serves as the Senior Minister at Christ Church Presbyterian, Atlanta, Georgia.

Table of Contents

	Introduction	9
	Authorship and dating	9
	Prophecy and apocalypse	10
	Interpretation	12
Revelation 1	John's Commission to Write	17
1.	An Introduction	17
2.	John's commission to write	23
	Special lessons for today	28
Revelation 2-3	Letters from Jesus to Seven Churches	31
1.	The letter to Ephesus	31
2.	The letter to Smyrna	38
3.	The letter to Pergamum	43
4.	The letter to Thyatira	47
	Special lessons for today	51
5.	The letter to Sarids	53
6.	The letter to Philadelphia	57
7.	The letter to Laodicea	63
	Special lessons for today	68
Revelation 4	The Heavenly Throne Room	71
1.	The throne room in heaven	71
2.	The picture around the throne	73
3.	United worship before the throne	75
4.	Summary	77
Revelation 5	The Scroll That is Sealed	79
1.	The challenge to open the scroll	79
2.	The human reaction	80
3.	Christ can open the scroll	80
4.	Christ takes the scroll	85
5.	Christ is worshipped	85
6.	Summary	89
	An Introduction to the Visions of Wrath	90
Revelation 6	A Scroll with Seven Seals	92
1.	The first seal	93
2.	The second seal	94
3.	The third seal	94
4.	The fourth seal	95
5.	The fifth seal	96
6.	The sixth seal	98
7.	The 'Wrath' of God	100
	Special lessons for today	100
	Excursus: Can God really be the ultimate master of the evil perpetrated by the four horsemen?	101
Revelation 7	The Servants of God are Sealed	104
1.	God's protection of his people	104
2.	The heavenly reward	109
	Special lessons for today	115
Revelation 8-9	The Seventh Seal	118
1.	Silence in heaven	118
2.	Prayers in heaven	119
	The Seven Angels with Seven Trumpets	120
1.	Introduction	120
2.	The seven trumpets	125
	Special lessons for today	136
Revelation 10-11139
1.	A little scroll	139
2.	The two witnesses	144
3.	The two witnesses are killed	152
4.	The two witnesses are raised to life	156
	The Seventh Trumpet	159
Revelation 12162
1.	A pregnant woman	162
2.	The dragon is hurled to earth	166
Revelation 13	Two Beasts Appear	171
1.	The first beast	171
2.	The second beast	176
Revelation 14	The Redeemed	181
1.	144,000	182
	Special lessons for today	183
2.	The gospel proclaimed	185
	Babylon Falls	186
1.	Babylon's identity	186
2.	She receives fearful judgment	187
3.	Further encouragement to the faithful	188
4.	Judgment like a harvest	189
	Special lessons for today	190
Revelation 15	Another Vision of the Throne Room of God	193
1.	God alone is holy	194
2.	Praise in heaven for God's justice	195
3.	God's power in judgment	196
Revelation 16	The Bowls of God's Wrath	198
1.	The first bowl	199
2.	The second bowl	200
3.	The third bowl	201
4.	The fourth bowl	202
5.	The fifth bowl	202
6.	The sixth bowl	204
7.	The seventh bowl	207
	Special lessons for today	208
Revelation 17	God's Judgment Falls on Babylon and the Beast	210
1.	The Great Prostitute's punishment	211
2.	Symbols explained	213
	Excursus: sovereignty and responsibility	215
	Special lessons for today	220
Revelation 18
3.	An angel pronounces judgment	221
4.	An angel calls on God's people	223
5.	Background in Jeremiah 51	224
6.	Judgment to fit the crime	224
7.	Mourning over Babylon's destruction	226
8.	Rejoicing over Babylon's destruction	228
9.	A mighty angel describes Babylon's fall	230
	Special lessons for today	232
Revelation 19
10.	The rejoicing in heaven	233
	The Marriage of the Lamb	236
1.	The bride's dress	237
2.	Marriage as a picture of God's love for his people	238
3.	John's mistake	241
	The Battle is Joined	242
1.	Jesus is King	242
2.	Jesus is called Faithful and True	243
3.	Jesus is the Word of God	243
4.	Jesus' unknown Name	244
5.	Jesus the Judge	244
6.	The demise of the beast and false prophet	247
Revelation 20	A Vision of the Millennium	250
1.	The Millennium Question	250
2.	Satan bound for a thousand years	252
3.	The saints reign with Christ for a thousand years	257
	Special lessons for today	259
	The Final Judgment	260
	The general resurrection	262
Revelation 21	A New Creation	265
1.	A new heaven and a new earth	266
2.	The new Jerusalem	266
3.	A new world order	267
	Excursus: A new creation or a renewed creation?	269
4.	The promises are inherited	270
	The Holy City	272
1.	The glory of the city	273
2.	No temple in the city	275
3.	Neither sun nor moon light the city	276
4.	All nations enjoy this city	276
Revelation 22
5.	Further blessings for residents of the city	278
	The Summary and Final Words of the Vision	281
1.	Jesus is coming soon	282
2.	Two groups of people, two fates	284
3.	Two groups, two rewards	285
4.	The rewards	285
5.	Come to Jesus for eternal life	286
6.	This is God's Word	288
7.	Come, Lord Jesus	289
	Concluding Comments	290
	Notes	293
	Subject Index	305

Editorial Reviews

‘This is a brilliant commentary that deserves a wide readership. It is lucid, sane, helpful and well applied Revelation is a book of enormous encouragement to Christians and it needs deliverance from the way it has been misused by many. Paul's are a safe pair of hands to guide you through. I warmly and highly recommend this commentary.'

Wallace Benn

'It is my sincere hope that every evangelical will read this commentary on Revelation. Paul Gardner has given us an in-depth, but clear, approach. He avoids the host of radical interpretations that are available today. His insights into the meaning of this book will touch every dimension of the Christian life.'

Richard Pratt

Here is a detailed explanation, verse by verse, of what the text actually means, exploring its Old Testament roots, unpacking its potent symbolism, but above all applying its message, personally and pastorally.

‘This is a brilliant commentary that deserves a wide readership. It is lucid, sane, helpful and well applied Revelation is a book of enormous encouragement to Christians and it needs deliverance from the way it has been misused by many. Paul's are a safe pair of hands to guide you through. I warmly and highly recommend this commentary.'

The Right Reverend Wallace Benn

'It is my sincere hope that every evangelical will read this commentary on Revelation. Paul Gardner has given us an in-depth, but clear, approach. He avoids the host of radical interpretations that are available today. His insights into the meaning of this book will touch every dimension of the Christian life.'

Richard Pratt(President

'The Book of Revelation is demanding reading for most Christians and the instinct is to reach for help. It is good, then, to know that there are easy-to-read, reliable commentaries available like this latest offering,subtitled The Compassion and Protection of Christ... For those seeking help with Revelation, this book can be strongly recommended.'

Evangelical Times

Here is a detailed explanation, verse by verse, of what the text actually means, exploring its Old Testament roots, unpacking its potent symbolism, but above all applying its message, personally and pastorally.

David Jackman

'This is a brilliant commentary that deserves a wide readership. It is lucid, sane, helpful and well applied Revelation is a book of enormous encouragement to Christians and it needs deliverance from the way it has been misused by many. Paul's are a safe pair of hands to guide you through. I warmly and highly recommend this commentary.'

Wallace Benn - Retired Bishop of Lewes

'It is my sincere hope that every evangelical will read this commentary on Revelation. Paul Gardner has given us an in-depth, but clear, approach. He avoids the host of radical interpretations that are available today. His insights into the meaning of this book will touch every dimension of the Christian life.'

Richard Pratt - President

'This perceptive book provides a thorough and totally accessible guide through what has so often seemed a maze of conflicting ideas and interpretations. Here is a detailed explanation, verse by verse, of what the text actually means, exploring its Old Testament roots, unpacking its potent symbolism, but above all applying its message, personally and pastorally to life today.'

David Jackman - Past President

This perceptive book provides a thorough and totally accessible guide through what has so often seemed a maze of conflicting ideas and interpretations. Here is a detailed explanation, verse by verse, of what the text actually means, exploring its Old Testament roots, unpacking its potent symbolism, but above all applying its message, personally and pastorally to life today.'

David Jackman - engages in a worldwide ministry for Proclamation Trust

'This is a brilliant commentary that deserves a wide readership. It is lucid, sane, helpful and well applied Revelation is a book of enormous encouragement to Christians and it needs deliverance from the way it has been misused by many. Paul's are a safe pair of hands to guide you through. I warmly and highly recommend this commentary.' ~ Wallace Benn (Retired Bishop of Lewes, Sussex, England)

From the Publisher