Revelation

Kick at the Darkness till it Bleeds Daylight

A Commentary

“Kick at the Darkness till it Bleeds Daylight” is a quote from Bruce Cockburn’s song: “Lovers in a Dangerous Time” from the album, “Stealing Fire.”

Note: To help make reading this commentary easier I have attempted to type all Biblical references in Bold and all other quotes in italics. My ramblings are in plain type except for questions, which are, for the most part, in italics.

PREFACE:

As a young Christian reading through the New Testament of the Bible I was thoroughly confused by the book of Revelation. When I asked my parents to explain the meaning of the book they suggested that I talk to the pastor of our Reformed Presbyterian Church. My pastor recommend that I read Hal Lindsey’s book “The Late Great Planet Earth.” Lindsey’s book, which became the best selling “nonfiction” book of the 1970s, was a popularization of the teachings coming out of Dallas Seminary by men such as John Walvoord and his book “The Revelation of Jesus Christ.” “The Late Great Planet Earth” has shaped the popular understanding of Revelation for the past 50 years, spawning such works as Tim LaHaye’s best selling fictional apocalyptic “Left Behind” series.

Several years later, when I was attending seminary, I was surprised to learn that Lindsey’s understanding of Revelation was not the historic teaching of the church, and, in fact, it contradicted the historic creeds of the church such as the Westminster Confession of Faith.

This book is my attempt to distill, into a much shorter and hopefully easily readable work, the teachings of the Scriptures as explained in several much longer works on Revelation, most notably, J. Stuart Russell’s 577 page “The Parousia”, and David Chilton’s 753 page book, “The Days of Vengeance.” Regardless of the preconceived understanding that you bring with you in the study of Revelation, all I ask is that as you read through Revelation you allow the Scriptures to teach you.

Kick at the Darkness till it Bleeds Daylight

Revelation, a Commentary

1. Overview: A Child is Born

2. Revelation 1: All Authority

3. Revelation 2: Ephesus

4. Smyrna

5. Pergamum

6. Thyatira

7. Revelation 3: Sardis

8. Philadelphia

9. Laodicea

10: Revelation 4: Throne Room