Apocalypse of John – A Commentary

Francis J. Moloney, SDB (DPhil, University of Oxford), is Senior Professorial Fellow at Catholic Theological College, University of Divinity, in Melbourne, Australia, and the author of more than forty books. He is the former Provincial Superior of the Salesians of Don Bosco for Australia and the Pacific.

• ContentsForeword by Eugenio Corsini1. IntroductionIntroductory QuestionsLiterary QuestionsThe Challenge of a Literary DesignA Proposed Literary DesignConsequencesConclusion2. Interpreting the Apocalypse 1:1-8The Prologue (1:1-8)God's Mediated Revelation of Jesus Christ (1:1-3)The Coming of the Christ (1:4-8)3. Interpreting the Apocalypse 1:9-3:22Heavenly Encounters (1:9-20)The Voice from Behind, like a Trumpet: The Revelation of God's Initial Saving Intervention (1:9-11)Excursus 1: Witnesses to the Law and the Messianic Promises of the Prophets (1:9)The Sight of One Speaking: The Revelation of God's Definitive Saving Intervention (1:12-20)The Seven Churches (2:1-3:22)Traditional ProblemsChurches or the Church?Literary FeaturesMediationEphesus: The Fall from Original Love (2:1-7)Smyrna: Affliction and the Plagues in Egypt (2:8-11)Pergamum: Israel in the Desert (2:12-17)Thyatira: Sinful Rulers in Israel (2:18-29)Sardis: The End of Israel and Judah, with a Small Remnant Remaining (3:1-6)Philadelphia: Return of a Weak Israel and Rebuilding the Temple (3:7-13)Laodicea: Israel's Rejection of the Messiah and the Coming of the Son of Man (3:14-22) 0004. Interpreting the Apocalypse 4:1-8:1Heavenly Encounters (4:1-5:14)God and Creation (4:1-11)The Lamb and Universal Salvation (5:1-14)Opening the First Four Seals (6:1-8)The First Seal: The White Horse and Its Rider--Humankind's Potential (6:1-2)The Second Seal: The Bright Red Horse and Its Rider--Violence (6:3-4)The Third Seal: The Black Horse and Its Rider--Toil (6:5-6)The Fourth Seal: The Pallid Green Horse and Its Rider--Death (6:7-8a)A Concluding Summary (6:8b)Opening the Final Three Seals (6:9-8:1)The Fifth Seal: The Saints of Israel, Waiting under the Altar (6:9-11)The Sixth Seal: The Cosmic Effects of the Death of the Lamb (6:12-7:17)The Seventh Seal: Silence in Heaven Greets the Victory of the Lamb (8:1)5. Interpreting the Apocalypse 8:2-11:19Heavenly Encounters (8:2-6)Blowing the First Four Trumpets (8:7-13)The First Trumpet: Burning a Third of the Sea (8:7)The Second Trumpet: Poisoning a Third of the Sea (8:8-9)The Third Trumpet: Poisoning a Third of the Springs (8:10-11)The Fourth Trumpet: Destruction of a Third of the Earth's Light (8:12-13)Blowing the Final Three Trumpets: The Woes (9:1-11:19)The First Woe: The Fall of Humankind (9:1-12)The Second Woe: God's Initial Intervention in Israel (9:13-11:14)1. Warfare: The Severest Consequence of the Fall of Humankind (9:13-21)2. The Little Scroll: God's Initial Intervention in Israel's Sacred History (10:1-11)3. The Temple, the Law, and the Prophets: God's Presence in Israel (11:1-14)The Third Woe: The Fulfillment of the Mystery of God (11:15-19)6. Interpreting the Apocalypse 12:1-18The Woman, the Son, and the Dragon (12:1-6)Heavenly Warfare (12:7-12)The Woman and the Dragon (12:13-18)7. Interpreting the Apocalypse 13:1-18The Beast from the Sea (13:1-10)Excursus 2: "The Lamb That Was Slaughtered from the Foundation of the World"The Beast from the Land (13:11-18)8. Interpreting the Apocalypse 14:1-20The Lamb and the First Fruits (14:1-5)The Son of Man and God's Judgment (14:6-20)The First Group of Three Angels (14:6-13)The One like a Son of Man (14:14)The Second Group of Three Angels (14:15-20)9. Interpreting the Apocalypse 15:1-16:21Heavenly Encounters (15:1-18)The Literary Structure of 16:1-21The First Four Bowls (16:1-9)The Final Three Bowls (16:10-21)The Fifth Bowl (16:10-11)The Sixth Bowl (16:12-16)The Seventh Bowl (16:17-21)10. Interpreting the Apocalypse 17:1-19:10The Whore Seated on the Beast (17:1-18)Lament over the Destruction of Jerusalem (18:1-20)The Description of Fallen Babylon (18:1-8)Lamentations over Fallen Babylon (18:9-19)Heaven, the Saints, the Sent Ones, and the Prophets Rejoice (18:20)Fallen Babylon and the Twofold Rejoicing of the Multitudes (18:21-19:10)Babylon Is Cast Down (18:21-24)The Rejoicing of the Saints of Israel (19:1-3)The Heavenly Court Rejoices (19:4-5)The Marriage of the Lamb (19:6-8)Closing Dialogue (19:9-10)11. Interpreting the Apocalypse 19:11-21:8Preparation for the Final Battle (19:11-16)The First Aspect of the Final Battle (19:17-21)The Thousand-Year Reign: Judgment and the First Resurrection (20:1-6)The Second Aspect of the Final Battle (20:7-10)The Voice from The Throne: Judgment and the Second Death (20:11-21:8)12. Interpreting the Apocalypse 21:9-22:5The New Jerusalem (21:9-21)Dwelling in the New Jerusalem (21:22-27)Life and Light (22:1-5)13. Interpreting the Apocalypse 22:6-21The Authoritative Interpretation of This Book: "Worship God!" (22:6-9)The Authoritative Interpretation of This Book: "Come!" (22:10-17)The Authoritative Interpretation of This Book: Warning, Promise, and Response (22:18-21)Indexes