This volume presents an exegetical analysis of the first seven chapters of the Apocalypse. It reaffirms the basic framework of eschatology espoused by ancient Christianity but with added perspective of centuries of doctrinal progress in the Body of Christ.

ROBERT THOMAS (B.M.E., Georgia Institute of Technology; Th.M. and Th.D., Dallas Theological Seminary) is currently professor of New Testament at The Master\u2019s Seminary. Dr. Thomas is author of A Harmony of the Gospels, Revelation 1-7 and Revelation 8-22: An Exegetical Commentary. Dr. Thomas previously served with the Lockman Foundation as a member of the translation team for the Exhaustive Concordance Committee and on the Topical Reference Bible Committee for the New American Standard Bible. Robert resides in California.

Part 1 - The Preparation of the Prophet: His Past Vision (1:1-20) 1. The Prologue of the Apocalypse A. Prologue (1:1-8) 1. Preface (1:1-3) 2. Address and doxology (1:4-6) 3. Theme (1:7-8) 2. John's Vision of the Glorified Christ B. John's Commission to Write (1:9-20) 1. The first commission to write (1:9-11) 2. The source of the commission (1:12-16) 3. The commission restated and amplified (1:17-20) Part 2- The Preparation of the People: Their Present Condition (2:1-3:22) 3. Church of Loveless Orthodoxy A. The Message to Ephesus (2:1-7) 4. Church of Martyrdom B. The Message to Smyrna (2:8-11) 5. Church of Indiscriminate Tolerance C. The Message to Pergamum (2:12-17) 6. Church of Compromise D. The Message to Thyatira (2:18-29) 7. Church of Complacence E. The Message to Sargis (3:1-6) 8. Church of Promised Deliverance F. The Message to Philadelphia (3:7-13) 9. Church of Lukewarmness G. The Message to Laodicea (3:14-22) Part 3-The Publication of the Prophecy: Its Future Expectation (4:1-22:5) 10. The One Sitting on the Throne A. The Opening of the Seven-sealed Scroll (4:1-8:1) 1. The source of the scroll (4:1-5:14) 2. The one sitting on the throne (4:1-11) 11. The Seven-sealed Scroll of the Lamb b. The seven-sealed scroll of the Lamb (5:1-14) 12. The First Six Seals, "The Beginning of Birth Pains" 2. The opening of the first seal: peaceful conquest (6:1-2) 3. The opening of the second seal: warfare andbloodshed (6:3-4) 4. The opening of the third seal: widespread famine (6:5-6) 5. The opening of the fourth seal: death to a fourthof earth's inhabitants (6:7-8) 6. The opening of the fifth seal: prayers for divine vengeance (6:9-11) 7. The opening of the sixth seal: cosmic and terrestrial disturbances (6:12-17) 13. The Slaves of God 8. The slaves of God (7:1-17) 1. Those on earth: the 144,000 (7:1-8) 2. Those in heaven: the innumerable multitude (7:9-17) Excursus 1: The Chronological Interpretation of Revelation 2-3 Excursus 2: The Imprecatory Prayers of the Apocalypse