There can be no greater example of the primacy of the Second Coming for the believer today than the church the Apostle Paul planted at Thessalonica. He was in that city for only three weeks, yet it is clear from reading First and Second Thessalonians that he immediately grounded and anchored the very young believers there to the basic truths of our Lord’s Second Coming. They were made to see the great epochs concerning the Rapture the Tribulation and Christ’s Glorious Return to earth.
With so many good books having been written on Revelation it is incumbent to give a reason why another one should be written. It is believed that the outlined format of the present commentary will be an aid to the student, the teacher and preacher in expounding this last Book of the Bible. It is believed that further insights have been given concerning the Seven Churches. And, it is believed that along with a number of other matters, clarification has been given to the chronology of Revelation from Chapters 6 - 18.
Evidence is shown that Chapter 6 with the six Seal Judgements covers the first half of the Tribulation, while Chapters 7-18 with their references to time are devoted entirely to the second half. The Trumpet Judgements cover all but the final weeks of the second half. The Vial Judgements cover these last weeks. The Seals are wrath; the Trumpets are woeful wrath; the Vials are unmitigated wrath. Against the background of these judgements the succeeding Chapters view the last half the the standpoint of the 144,000 (Ch. 7); from the standpoint of the Herald Angel (Ch. 10); from the standpoint of the Two Witnesses (Ch. 11); from the standpoint of Israel ‘s flight (Ch. 12); from the standpoint of the Antichrist (Ch. 13); and from the standpoint of Babylon (Chpts.17,18).
With the world moving ever closer to the precipice, for such a time (Est 4:14), it is our prayer that this commentary will be a help to many.