Digital Logos Edition
Originally written to be read aloud in church and to offer comfort and hope to those struggling to be faithful in troubling times, Revelation sparks great interest with its mysterious symbols of numbers and beasts. Here, two foremost historians offer readers a highly accessible commentary perfect for Bible study leaders.
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“In reality, there is nothing strange about it. The tribes are twelve. Twelve is also a number of perfection. A thousand means a great multitude. The number 144,000 = 12 × 12 × 1,000. What is meant is a very large number and an absolutely perfect number. Not one person who should have been included is left out—a message of great hope for John’s readers, whose tribulations would often make them wonder if God had forgotten them and not counted them among the number to be saved.” (pp. 54–55)
“In other words, the message to Laodicea, although harsh, is the result of love. If the church there repents, it will be forgiven.” (pp. 36–37)
“Thus, what the message is saying to those in Sardis who have fallen asleep is that they must remember what they have received and heard (v. 3), particularly at their own baptism, and repent. (At this point one is reminded of Martin Luther, who said that when he felt sorely tempted he would cry out, “I am baptized!”)” (p33)
“In reality, there is nothing strange about it. The tribes are twelve. Twelve is also a number of perfection. A thousand means a great multitude. The number 144,000 = 12 × 12 × 1,000. What is meant is a very large number and an absolutely perfect number. Not one person who should have been included is left out—a message of great hope for John’s readers, whose tribulations would often make them wonder if God had forgotten them and not counted them among the number to be saved.” (Pages 54–55)
“Conversely, there are interpretations that place the entire significance of the book in the past. According to these interpretations, John was writing about events that were taking place in his time, or that he could foresee happening in the immediate future.” (Page 10)
“The only solution for the church at large, as for a city whose enemy seeks to enter, is to wake up and be watchful.” (Page 32)
“Thus, the ‘seal’ of God does not mark believers for protection against evil, but only from being defeated by it.” (Page 57)
“The central point in John’s message is not the timing of events, but God’s final triumph over evil.” (Page 13)
Catherine Gunsalus Gonzalez is Professor of Church History at Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, Georgia.
Justo L. Gonzalez has written many books. He is Director of the Comentario Bíblico Hispanoamericano, a projected forty-volume Bible commentary, and President of the Asociación para la Educación Teológica Hispana.