Revelation 4-13

Revelation describes the events before, during, and after the second coming of Christ. The purpose is to encourage Christians to live appropriately and to encourage them to persevere because Christ will return.

Chapters 4 through 13 describe the future events that will usher in the return of Christ. Chapter 4 shows a vision of Heaven and the different representations of God which confirm His eternity and authorship over all creation. A scroll with seven seals is mentioned in chapter 5 but no one can open it. Only Christ, in the form of a slain lamb, is deemed worthy of opening the scrolls and thousands of thousands of angels sing praises to Him. This should encourage the Christians who read this because it gives credence to their Faith in Christ.
The first six seals are then opened in chapter 6 to reveal: a conqueror, war, famine, death, martyrs, and terror. However, chapter 7 gives hope to believers because John sees “a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes,” in verse 9. This serves to reassure the faithful of their deliverance through Christ.
The seventh seal is opened in chapter 8 to reveal seven angels with seven trumpets. These reveal more specific events that will occur during the end times. Many bad things will occur but God will send two witnesses to proclaim His name and eventually Christ will judge the wicked. Also Satan will be defeated during a battle in Heaven and he will be assisted by two beasts after he’s cast down to the earth.

Every single verse of this section is significant in one’s theology as it relates to their eschatology. The mark of the beast in chapter 13 is a popular debate. Also, what events we choose to associate with what was revealed through the scrolls and trumpets are of vital importance to how we view our world and the events that transpire.

The commentary does a great job at explaining things in a simple and concise manner. He acknowledges the views he disagrees with and gives rebuttal sufficient for his topic. His interpretation is somewhat inconsistent because some passages he interprets very literally while others he defines as symbolic. His restraint from making bold claims, while at the same time acknowledging different interpretations over others, is both frustrating and understandable. Finally the commentary seems to ignore certain verses; such as the significance of the angels holding back the four winds in Revelation 7:1-3.