Digital Logos Edition
The Book of Revelation has inspired controversy ever since it was written in the first century. It was the last book to be accepted into the New Testament canon, and today a myriad of mutually contradictory end-times speculations claim to be based on its teachings. Lawrence Farley provides a sober, patristic interpretation that reads Revelation in its proper context of Jewish apocalyptic literature. He demonstrates that the most important lesson we can learn from Revelation today is the need to remain faithful in a time of widespread hostility to the Christian faith.
“Israel was often promised by God that they ‘would be His people’ and that He ‘would be their God’ (e.g. Lev. 26:12; Jer. 31:33; Ezek. 37:23). That age-old hope now finds its complete and satisfying fulfillment. In the new city, God will draw close to all men in an intimate communion of love, and all the nations will be His peoples. We note that peoples is in the plural. Formerly, under the Old Covenant, Israel alone was called to be God’s holy and chosen people. Now in Christ, at the consummation of the age, all the nations of the earth share that privilege and saving status.” (Page 211)
“The seven spirits before His throne are the seven archangels” (Page 28)
“‘without money and without cost’ (Is. 55:1). In Christ” (Page 213)
“His faithfulness unto death resulted in His victory and His inheriting all the world. Our faithfulness unto death will result in our sharing that victory.” (Page 29)
“‘would be open continually and not be shut day or night, that men may bring into it the wealth of the Gentiles and their kings in procession’” (Page 219)