Revelation

CATHERINE GUNSALUS GONZÁLEZ

JUSTO L. GONZÁLEZ

Westminster John Knox Press Louisville, Kentucky

Westminster Bible Companion

Series Editors

Patrick D. Miller

David L. Bartlett

© 1997 Catherine Gunsalus González and Justo Luis González

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. For information, address Westminster John Knox Press, 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40202-1396.

Except where noted, the scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.

Book design by Publishers’ WorkGroup

Cover design by Drew Stevens

First edition

Published by Westminster John Knox Press

Louisville, Kentucky

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

González, Catherine Gunsalus.

Revelation / Catherine Gunsalus González and Justo L. González.

p. cm.—(Westminster Bible companion)

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 0-664-25587-6 (alk. paper)

1. Bible. N.T. Revelation—Commentaries. I. González, Justo L. II. Title. III. Series.

BS2825.3.G63 1997

228′. 07—dc21

96-49119

Contents

Series Foreword

Introduction

The Author

The First Readers

The Book of Revelation

The Date

Interpretations

1. The Setting

Revelation 1:1–20

Title and Blessing (1:1–3)

The Salutation (1:4–8)

The Great Vision (1:9–20)

The Setting (1:9–11)

The Vision (1:12–20)

2. Letters to Seven Churches

Revelation 2:1–3:22

Ephesus (2:1–7)

Smyrna (2:8–11)

Pergamum (2:12–17)

Thyatira (2:18–29)

Sardis (3:1–6)

Philadelphia (3:7–13)

Laodicea (3:14–22)

3. Worship in Heaven

Revelation 4:1–5:14

Worship Around the Throne (4:1–11)

The Book and the Lamb (5:1–14)

4. The First Six Seals

Revelation 6:1–7:17

The First Seal (6:1–2)

The Second Seal (6:3–4)

The Third Seal (6:5–6)

The Fourth Seal (6:7–8)

The Fifth Seal (6:9–11)

The Sixth Seal (6:12–7:17)

The Opening of the Seal (6:12–17)

The Sealed from Israel (7:1–8)

The Sealed from among the Nations (7:9–17)

5. The Seventh Seal and the Seven Trumpets

Revelation 8:1–11:19

The Seventh Seal (8:1)

The First Six Trumpets (8:2–9:21)

The Setting of the Scene (8:2–5)

The First Four Trumpets (8:6–13)

The Fifth Trumpet and the First Woe (9:1–12)

The Sixth Trumpet and the Second Woe (9:13–21)

The Vision of the Little Scroll (10:1–11)

The Two Witnesses (11:1–14)

The Seventh Trumpet (11:15–19)

6. The Cosmic Battle Begins

Revelation 12:1–18

The Portents Appear (12:1–6)

The Battle in Heaven (12:7–12)

The Present Danger (12:13–18)

7. The Conflict on Earth Begins

Revelation 13:1–14:20

The Beast from the Sea (13:1–10)

The Beast from the Earth (13:11–18)

The Challenger Appears (14:1–5)

The Announcement of Judgment (14:6–13)

The Harvest (14:14–20)...