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Comparison of Revelation Commentators views.

Books linked to go to Amazon Michael Flowers also added some contributions to the table

Commentary

First seal

...........................
144,000...........................

Two witnesses

...........................
Woman of Ch. 12...........................

Babylon

Millennium

D. Aune

Irresistible Conquest The people of God to be built upon the 12 Tribes of Israel & the 12 Apostles Whereas 7:9 is an intentional contrast, a fulfillment of the promise made to Abraham - " ... from every nation" Symbolic witness of the people of God in a godless world who, as their Lord, triumph over evil The Church & her persecuted offspring as Christians; from an earlier Jewish perspective, she is Israel, the persecuted people of God Rome & her fall An exclusive, earthly premillennial reign of the martyrs raised in the first resurrection, a resurrection for martyrs alone following RH Charles

William Barclay

Militarism and conquest

Church

Elijah and Moses

OT and NT people of God

Rome

?

David Barr

Tales of the End

A possible combination of images: Roman general, Parthian King & the mystery God Mithras, the prime god of the Roman Army - all speaking of conquest - p. 82 A symbolic representation of God's true Israel being the same as the innumerable multitude made up of all nations. God's new community is Jew & Gentile, thus shaping the way John tells the rest of the story. p. 74 The Church at work in the world, the final prophets long expected. p. 92 Eve, Israel, queen of heaven, a city, the new Jerusalem, marrying a Lamb, the great antithesis of the great whore, Babylon. She encompasses both Israel (12 tribes) and the new people of God (12 Apostles) pp. 112-13 Rome The reign of martyrs, the faithful witnesses who refused the mark of the beast. "This thousand years is a remarkable and paradoxical symbol, for as a multiple of ten it suggests a complete & total victory. but as a period that comes to an end it symbolizes the temporariness of the victory over evil." p. 138-39
Barton et al Conquest Church Elijah and Moses or the church Faithful Israel Rome or any state system hostile to God Premill

R. Bauckham

Climax of Prophecy

The rider of the first seal opening stands in antithetical parallelism to the rider of 19:11 Therefore, not Christ. p. 179 Climax of Prophecy A symbolic military census for a messianic army, gathered for holy war not engaged with force but with martyrdom, extended in v.9 to depict an international army celebrating victory after battle w/ the Roman Empire via faithful witness unto death pp. 215 - 237 Climax of Prophecy Two prophets symbolizing the universal Church's prophetic witness to the world as well & a witness of Christ's Lordship over the world. p. 165 Climax of Prophecy A reference pointing back to Eden, but "not only Eve, but also Zion, from whom the Messiah is born ... p. 89 The Theology of Revelation Rome pp. 338f. Climax of Prophecy Amillennial A theological image of vindication of the martyrs. The theological intent conveys the way of God's rule - faithfulness to Christ unto death ensures victory pp. 106-108 The Theology of Revelation
G K Beale Satanic force A remnant from the visible church Whole community of faith the faithful community (OT and NT) Prevailing economi-religious system in alliance with the state Amillennial (church age)

Beasley-Murrey

Conquest

Sons of Israel

Church

Zion

Babylon, Rome

Premillennial

Isbon T. Beckwith Conquest Whole church of God Elijah and Moses Ideal church of God OT & NT Rome Premillennial
Eugene M. Boring, Parthians Church End-time Church Israel/Church Rome Amillennial
Ian Boxall False Christ's Church Church Heavenly counterpart of the community of the faithful Latest incarnation of the oppressive and idolatrous city (Rome is an example)

Amillennial?

Louis A. Brighton Military, tyrannical dominance Church militant on earth Churches prophetic witness to Jesus Christ Israel and the church False church Amillennial

FF Bruce

Invasion from eastern frontier of Roman Empire

Total sum of the true followers of Christ

The church in its royal and priestly functions

True Israel from which Messiah was born

Rome

Premillennial but could be in heaven

Paul T Butler conquest complete covenant people of God church and bible OT and NT church Rome Amillennial

G B Caird

Invasion

Whole body of martyrs

Church: royal and priestly function

Messianic community - Church

Rome

?

R.H. Charles

Parthian Empire (that was to overthrow Rome)

Christians, spiritual Israel (a symbol, not a definite number); no contrast with the 144,000 is intended. The innumerable multitude are martyrs who would experience the horrors of the last tribulation in John's own generation

Moses & Elijah Representing Law and Prophecy The Church depicted as a sun goddess who gives birth to a sun god - pagan mythic material fulfilled in Christ & the Church. See p. 299 Rome An exclusive, earthly premillennial reign of the martyrs raised in the first resurrection, a resurrection for martyrs alone
David Chilton Christ Ideal Israel OT witnesses culminating in John the Baptist the Church in the form of OT Israel Jerusalem Postmillennial
Kendell H. Easley Military conquest End-time Christians Church prophetic God's people civilization apart from God promillennialism (sic) reward of the martyrs
A. Farrer Victory, Victorious Conquest

Both are identical, contrasted to represent Jewish roots and Abraham's Covenant of innumerable multitudes as the stars (p. 109-110). Fulfillment of the martyr's prayer

A new, representative Moses & Elijah (a type of priest-kings - Jer 33:14f, the Church Typological Eve, daughters of Zion, Mother Israel, all Seed bearing wombs culminating in the Virgin Mary Rome Premillennial earthly reign of martyrs
Elisabeth Fiorenza Parthians who defeated Rome Christians alive at the "Day of the Lord" Christian prophets and witnesses Israel-Zion, messianic community Babylon/Rome Amillennial?

T.F. Glasson

War Jewish converts of the Elijah of Chapter 11, one of the two witnesses. The innumerable multitude are Gentile converts from every nation p. 53 Elijah & Moses Israel, the people of God Rome An exclusive, earthly premillennial reign of the martyrs raised in the first resurrection, a resurrection for martyrs alone

Homer Hailey

Victorious Christ conquering with the gospel

Total number of redeemed on the earth, spiritual Israel

Holy Spirit and apostles or the saints

Spiritual remnant of God's faithful, collective spiritual body of God's people

Pagan Rome represents the world of lust, seductive, enticing, appealing to the desires of the flesh and mind

Period from Constantine until shortly before the Lord returns

Wilfrid J. Harrington

Parthian Invasion p. 89 Symbolic Israel, The Church, equivalent to the great multitude p. 98 The Church p. 121 The Bride, the heavenly Jerusalem, depicted as the woman of Gen. 3:15f p. 128-30 Rome p. 150 Amillennial

William Hendricksen

Christ

Church

Church

Church

World

Amillennial

Stanley M Horton

Conquest

Believing Jews sealed for service

Two Spirit filled leaders

Faithful Israel

Entire world system

Premillennial, dispensational

Philip Edgcumbe Hughes

Conquest

Complete company of the redeemed

Churches witness

Church

Ungodly civilisation of the world in its fallenness

Amillennial

Alan F Johnson

Antichrist and the forces of evil

Church

Those in the church called to give a prophetic witness

Jews and Gentiles - the Church

Total culture of the world apart from God, Rome being only one example

Premillennial

Dennis Johnson Conquest Church Church in its witness OT Israel Rome and idolatry that worships economic properity and cultural achievement Amill
Craig S. Keener Parthians All true believers in Jesus church righteous Israel Rome Premillennial

M. Kiddle

A host of invaders possibly suggesting Parthians but more likely "a continuous wave of invasion which encroaches on the civilized world until finally it is submerged e.g., A symbolic number representing the Church. They are Christian prophets ... the future martyrs from among the churches ... known as conquerors. The innumerable multitude are the heavenly depiction of the martyrs, showing the reward from heaven's perspective The conquerors of the seven churches representing bodies of Christians who diffused the light of Christ in this world p. 194 The faithful remnant of Israel Rome An exclusive, earthly premillennial reign of the martyrs raised in the first resurrection, a resurrection for martyrs alone. This earthly reign is a special distinction of martyrs as promised in Thyatira 2:26-27 and Laodicea 3:21
Simon J Kistemaker gospel Church Church Covenant community of both OT and NT anti-christian world Amillennial
Craig R Koester Parthians Christ's followers Community of faithful Christians People of God adversaries of God Amillennial
Gerhard A Krodel antichrist or Parthians church militant Spirit empowered christian community true Israel and the faithful church Rome Premillennial
A. Kuyper Christ 

7:3 From among the children of Israel; 14:1 martyrs in heavenly Zion contrasting with innumerable Gentile

Two individuals of importance who sound a last call of grace to the world following the 6th Trumpet No mention "... the earthly power which has established itself among men and has set its face against God" p 106 Amillennial / Futurist "thousand has symbolic significance ... the secret doings of God between the two parts of the parousia" against the present time between the 1st & 2nd Advents

George Eldon Ladd

Gospel

Church

Two eschatological prophets

Church

Babylon symbol of human civilisationorganized in opposition to God

Premillennial although not a literal thousand years

Tim LaHaye

Antichrist and his kingdom, little horn

Literal 144,000 Jews

Moses and Elijah

Nation of Israel

Religious harlot of Babylonian idolatry

Premillennial, dispensational

R C H Lenski

Word of God

Church militant

The true church shall witness and prophecy the gospel in its public ministry

OT and NT church

Antichristian empire, antichristian seductiveness

Amillennial

Martyn Lloyd-Jones Jesus Christ saints of OT and NT law & gospel Israel seductive power of the world and sin Amillennial
Edmondo Lupieri
2006
Christological Figure p. 142 144,000, the Army of the Lamb, the Church, symbolically, half of which come from the circumcision, and those who come from paganism, innumerable. This is inferred from dividing 144,000 by 2 linked to David's army of 288,000 (I Chr. 27:1-15). The innumerable multitude are the innumerable "half" of the 144,000, the fulfilled promise of Abraham's innumerable descendents. p. 150 "corporate personalities" figures who appear to be individuals but actually represent more complex human groups, such as kingdoms or peoples, in which case they would represent the two parts of militant Christianity p. 176 A heavenly representation of Israel, of that faithful Israel which is also true Christianity p. 189 Jerusalem 224-225; 248-251 Symbolically representing completeness rather than a partial period p. 312
John F. MacArthur Ch 1-11 False peace literal 144,000 descendands of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob Moses and Elijah na -na dispensational

John Metcalfe

Christ as king Church All the prophets of the church she is the concept that bore Christ and his seed and the ecclesia the whore seduces and the mystical city Babylon endices Amillennial

B. Metzger

Parthian invasion A symbol of completeness representing the new Israel, the Church. The innumerable multitude are the same people from a heavenly perspective, an encouragement for faithfulness under persecution Symbolic of the Church, though appointed to suffer in this world, continue to bear faithful witness to the truth. Their death and resurrection point to what seems to be defeat is, in fact, victory Personification of the ideal community of God's people, from Jewish roots to fulfillment in the redeemed community, persecuted by political powers behind which the dragon Rome Martyr's reign wherein the local is not mentioned. The martyrs are the highlight and their status with Christ for faithfulness unto death; thus, it could be a heavenly or an earthly reign
J Ramsey Michaels antichrist messianic or distinctly Christian list church in its prophetic ministry Jerusalem? Rome Premillennial

W Milligan 1889

Christ in Judgment Church Church Church OT and NT degenerate church or religion Amillennial

Leon Morris

Warlike conqueror

Church

Witnessing church (Smyrna and Philadelphia)

Israel and then the church

Civilised man apart from God

Amillennial

Robert H Mounce

Military conquest in general

Faithful believers about to enter a period of testing

Witnessing church

Faithful Israel/The church

Rome

Earthly reign of martyrs

Frederick J. Murphy A Parthian warrior celebrating triumph in a victory parade (205) The 144,000 are a subset of all Christians (223) and the innumerable multitude, the victorious church in God's presence (224) ". . . the two witnesses are generalized images . . . they stand for the prophetic function of the church." (264) ". . . The messianic community, the community from which the messiah comes." (282) Rome A literal, earthly messianic reign with the martyrs . . . 1000 is symbolic (402)
Myself Conquest The Church (could include Israel) The Church Israel and the church Rome and the world system Amillennial

William R Newell

Christ and the heavenly host

Elect Israelites

Two prophets

Israel

Romanism

Premillennial, dispensational

John P Newport

Gospel

Church: Jews and Gentiles

Those in the church called to bear prophetic witness/martyr in the last days

Covenant community giving birth to Christ - the Church

Archetype of all entreched worldly resistance to God. Total culture of the world apart from God

Historical premillennial

Grant R. Osborne

Lust for conquest

Church

Elijah & Moses

Israel & the Church

Rome and empire of the beast

Premillennial

Earl Palmer

Specter of tyranny and the conquering threat of power p.176

The number represents completeness yet preserves the mystery of God's intention for His original people founded in Abraham & Abraham's children. The innumerable multitude depicts the fulfillment of Israel within the universal church p. 181

The Church in faithfulness & authority - lampstand imagery in the seven letters refers to the churches and olive tree imagery refers to the people of God (Ro 11). p. 194

Mary, the mother of Jesus p. 200

Rome

A heavenly "... priestly reign of those who had died as martyrs and who had not worshiped the beast" Emphasizing "the tremendous importance of the Christian and their lives ..." pp. 236-237

V. Poythress Conquest Both are identical: the fullness of God's people, New Covenant people of God Symbolic representation of Christian witness Old & New Covenant saints, including Mary as an outstanding part of God's people The center for false worship Amillennial
POSB antichrist Jewish believers two men Israel False religion, politics Premillennial, dispensational
James B Ramsey Ch 1-11 Christ in His goespel conquering Does not write on this Church na  na  na 

Mitchell Reddish

Parthian Invasion p. 125-26 A symbolic number that represents the martyred saints In contrast to the great multitude which is a fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant p. 145-49 The Church in its prophetic mission to the world, resulting in martyrdom p. 211 From 'combat myth' to Eve to Israel to Mary to the Church, the Woman symbolizes the faithful people of God of all time p. 238-39 Rome p. 277-78 An interim period of time, not to be taken literally but as "a lengthy yet limited period of time" reserved exclusively for martyrs. p. 382-85

J. Resseguie


2009

Demonic parody of Christ p. 127

The complete number of God's Israel, the inward, theological reality; John views the same event from two different points of view. The international multitude envisions the outward reality, the Israel of God includes all those who follow the Lamb - international in scope. pp. 137-138

Represent a paradox of a vulnerable yet protected community of believers. The faithful church in its specific role as witness for God. p. 161-163

An image of the Church, persecuted by the dragon and subject to the distress and travail of the messianic age yet protected by God. p. 171

Though Rome "fits the bill" as do many other places, it is "more than Rome ... It is the symbolic city of this world that represents oppression, captivity, and exile." Babylon is the anticity to the new Jerusalem, a Satanic parody of God's city ... any place & every place that defies itself and sets itself up as supreme." pp. 198-199

Amillennial The Millennium presents two perspectives (ala Bauckham) - from an earthly view, "the beast appears to be victorious. But from an above view of God's ways are vindicated and the martyrs are victorious. This above view is preceded by the first resurrection, an exclusive, bodily resurrection of those beheaded due to their testimony for Jesus ... countering Smalley's (510) spiritualized first resurrection pp. 245-247

Stephen S Smalley lust for power Church on earth Witnessing church True Israel and the Church Worldly, idolatrous, oppressive powers Amillennial

Lehman Strauss

Antichrist

144,000 Israelites

Elijah and Enoch

Israel

Apostate church, all religious faiths

Premillennial, dispensational

J P M Sweet

Antichrist

Church

Church

Faithful Israel and the church

Contrasted with the woman of 12 and the New Jerusalem, based on Babylon

Premill

H B Swete

Triumphant militarism

Church

Church in her function of witness bearing

Church of the OT and the Christian society

Rome

Amillennial

Robert Thomas

Counterfeit Christ

A group of Israel specially charged with witnessing for Christ during the darkest hour

Moses and Elijah

National Israel

False religion

Premillennial, dispensational

L. Thompson Victory in War The two contrast, 144,000 on earth, the innumerable multitude in heaven Archetypal of both Christ and the prophetic destiny Celestial goddess imagery understood as Mary in later Christianity p. 132 Ungodliness (Rome), in contrast to Mt. Zion & the 144,000 Premillennial earthly reign of martyrs
Robert W Wall Military strife Remnant of martyrs Churches ongoing witness the faithful people of God (OT and NT) wealth and power Premillennial

John Walvoord

Antichrist ie beast out of the sea of Ch 13

Godly remnant of Israel during great trib

Two prophets

Jewish, nation of Israel

Ecclesiastical and political entity. Papal Rome

Premillennial, dispensational

M. Wilcock Conquest Church Church in the world Israel (old & new) World System Amillennial
Ben Witherington Parthians Total number of believers Whole church or two of the seven churches People of God Rome Premillennial

See also Annotated bibliography

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Authors cited in 7 recent commentarties (1997-2005)

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