The book of Revelation : a commentary on the Greek text /
by G.K. Beale.
- Grand Rapids, Mich. : Carlisle, Cumbria : W.B. Eerdmans ; Paternoster Press, 1999.
- lxiv, 1245 pages ; 24 cm.
- The new international Greek Testament commentary .
- New international Greek Testament commentary (Grand Rapids, Mich.) .
Includes bibliographies and index.
Introduction -- Date of the Apocalypse -- Situation of the churches and the purpose and theme of the book -- Authorship -- Genre -- Major interpretative approaches -- Interpretation of symbolism -- Text of Revelation -- Use of the Old Testament in the Apocalypse -- Grammar of the Apocalypse -- Structure and plan of John's Apocalypse -- Disputed significance of Revelation 1:19 as an interpretative key to the book -- Theology and goal of the Apocalypse -- Commentary -- 1:1-20: Prologue -- 2:1-3:22: The letters to the seven churches: Christ encourages the churches to witness, warns them against compromise, and exhorts them to hear and to overcome compromise in order to inherit eternal life -- 4:1-5:14: God and Christ are glorified because Christ's Resurrection demonstrates that they are sovereign over creation to judge and to redeem -- 6:1-8:5: The seven seals -- 8:6-11:19: The seven trumpets -- 12:1-15:4: Deeper conflict -- 15:5-16:21: The seven bowl judgments: God punishes the ungodly during the inter-Advent age and consummately at the last day because of their persecution and idolatry -- 17:1-19:21: Final judgment of Babylon and the beast -- 20:1-15: The millennium is inaugurated during the church age as God limits Satan's deceptive powers and as deceased Christians are vindicated by reigning in Heaven -- The millennium is concluded by a resurgence of Satan's deceptive assault against the church and the final judgment -- 21:1-22:5: The new creation and the church perfected in glory -- 22:6-21: Conclusion.
"This new study of the book of Revelation will be especially helpful to scholars, pastors, students, and others seriously interested in interpreting the Apocalypse for the benefit of the church. Too often Revelation is viewed as a book only about the future. As G.K. Beale shows, however, Revelation is not merely a futurology but a book about how the church should live for the glory of God throughout the ages - including our own."--Jacket.