In each part of this series I begin with Dr. Taylor Marshall’s commentary followed by Pastor Paul LeBoutillier’s Commentary. These are followed by 4 commentaries by protestant theologians from the KJV bible site that I use.
Chapter 1 is an Introduction to the Book
I want to make a point that seems to escape many people. Who was the Book given to? Verse 1:1 tells us: “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants …”. So the Book was given to Christ first who then shewed it to John. Both video commentators recognize this.
Taylor Marshall’s Commentary on Chapter 1
In the following video (39:56 minutes), Taylor introduces his approach to his series of videos and begins with an introduction to the book of Revelation from a historical perspective of when it was written.
Taylor explains, beginning at the 19:20 mark, that there are three time frames or approaches that the book can be interpreted to cover. The first is a preterist view that it mostly or all happened in the first century. The second is a historical view that events have been unfolding over time leading to a conclusion with Christ’s return in the future. The third is a futurist view that all or most events remain in the future.
Aside: Here are two references to the preterist view: What is the Preterist View and The Preterist Approach to Revelation. I do not strictly ascribe to any view, rather, I have the view that scripture in some cases may be applied in many different situations and time frames. It is also not a philosophy that I wish to spend time debating. The path my research is taking me would reject the notion of all apocalyptic events being fulfilled in the first century as false.
I maintain that at any point in time one may find a Christian community somewhere experiencing events of apocalyptic proportions. But the final events must be global because we are a global society now and have an emerging global church.
Key points:
- Taylor places the writing of th book around 60n AD.
- He sees the whore of Babylon and the land beast of later chapters as representing Jerusalem.
- Christ is described as having white hair and wearing a white robe with a golden girdle. His bible uses the copper alloy bronze to describe Christ’s feet as opposed to “brass”, another copper alloy used in the KJV.
- The seven lampstands are the seven churches.
- The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches that we see are likely the bishops of the churches (next chapter).
Pastor Paul LeBoutillier’s Commentary on Chapter 1
Here is the video (55:30 minutes).
Paul opens explaining four rules that he follows in eliciting meaning from the book. His comment that chapters 4-22 are future (the futurist approach). I would not accept. This demonstrates the care that needs to be taken with interpreting the book.
Key points:
- At the 2:10 mark he gives the four rules that he uses to guide his understanding of the text.
- If you are a servant to Christ, this Book is given to you, which is why you should seek understanding.
- The seven Spirits represent are unexplained.
- We have been given a priestly role.
- At about 23:10 Paul makes the distinction between Christ’s coming for his people and the final coming at the end.
- About 40:00, like Taylor, he sees the seven churches as representing the seven time periods that progress through the church age from its inception at Pentecost.
- The current period is the end of the church age after which comes the rapture followed by the great tribulation.
Additional Commentaries on Chapter 1
- Matthew Henry’s Commentary
- Gill’s Exposition
- Pulpit Commentary
- Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
Here is the biblical text for chapters 2 and 3,
Chapters 2 & 3 Contain Messages to the Seven Early Churches from God
Taylor Marshall’s Commentary on Chapters 2 & 3
In chapters 2 and 3, the Lord issues a commendation and a rebuke where appropriate to each of the seven churches of the time. Taylor discusses these in an insightful way, that each church represents an era in the old testament (OT) beginning with the Book of Genesis and proceeding in temporal sequence. The video is 1:07:20 minutes long.
Pastor Paul LeBoutillier’s Commentary on Chapter 2:1-7
He breaks chapter 2 into two videos. I am grouping them together since I don’t find the chapter that insightful. Here is the first video (40:50 minutes).
Key points:
Pastor Paul LeBoutillier’s Commentary on Chapter 2:8-29
Here is the second video (55:49 minutes).
Key points:
Pastor Paul LeBoutillier’s Commentary on Chapter 3
Here is the video (56:20 minutes).
Key points:
Additional Commentaries on Chapter 2
- Matthew Henry’s Commentary
- Gill’s Exposition
- Pulpit Commentary
- Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
Additional Commentaries on Chapter 3
- Matthew Henry’s Commentary
- Gill’s Exposition
- Pulpit Commentary
- Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
My Comments on Chapter 3
I want to extract a favourite passage for me, and I hope you:
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Rev. 3:20. KJV
Articles in This Series
Refer to the series index in A New Direction.
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