But When You See Jerusalem

ut when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know B that her desolation is at hand. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are in the midst of the city depart, and let not those who are in the country enter the city; because these are the Days of Vengeance, in order that all things which are written may be fufilled. Luke 21:20-22 1 2 THE DAYS OF VENGEANCE An Exposition of the Book of Revelation D AVID C HILTON Dominion Press Ft. Worth, Texas 3 Copyright @ 1987 by Dominion Press First Printing, January, 1987 Second Printing, December, 1987 Third Printing, March, 1990 All rights reserved. Written permission must be secured from the publisher to use or reproduce any part of this book, except for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles. Published by Dominion Press P.O. Box 8204, Ft. Worth, Texas 76124 Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 86-050798 ISBN 0-930462-09-2 TABLE OF CONTENTS FOREWORD by Gordon J. Wenham . 6 AUTHOR’S PREFACE. 6 PUBLISHER’S PREFACE by Gary North. 8 INTRODUCTION . 15 Part One: PREAMBLE: THE SON OF MAN (Revelation 1) . 33 l. King of Kings . 33 Part Two: HISTORICAL PROLOGUE: LETTERS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES (Revelation 2-3) . 46 2. The Spirit Speaks to the Church: Overcome!. 49 3. The Dominion Mandate . 59 Part Three: ETHICAL STIPULATIONS: THE SEVEN SEALS (Revelation 4-7) . 67 4. The Throne Above the Sea . 69 5. Christus Victor . 76 6. In the Path of the White Horse . 82 7. The True Israel . 89 Part Four: COVENANT SANCTIONS: THE SEVEN TRUMPETS (Revelation 8-14) . 98 8. Liturgy and History. 99 9. All Hell Breaks Loose . 104 10. The Faithful Witness . 111 11. The End of the Beginning. 115 12. The Holy War. 124 13. Leviathan and Behemoth . 135 14. The Kingdom Mount Zion . 146 Part Five: COVENANT SUCCESSION AND CONTINUITY - THE SEVEN CHALICES (Revelation 15-22) . 155 15. Seven Last Plagues . 157 16. Judgment from the Sanctuary . 161 17. The False Bride. 170 18. Babylon Is Fallen! . 178 19. The Feasts of the Kingdom . 186 20. The Millennium and the Judgment. 196 21. The New Jerusalem. 212 22. Come, Lord Jesus!. 223 CONCLUSION: THE LESSONS OF REVELATION . 229 APPENDIX A – The Levitical Symbolism in Revelation by Philip Carrington . 233 APPENDIX B – Christian Zionism and Messianic Judaism by James B. Jordan . 243 APPENDIX C – Common Grace, Eschatology and Biblical Law by Gary North . 248 SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY . 267 5 FOREWORD message in symbols. But the meaning of those symbols is not up for grabs. There is a systematic Foreword structure in Biblical symbolism. In order to Readers of the Book of Revelation are either understand Revelation properly, we must mesmerized or mystified by it. The mesmerized come up become familiar with the “language” in which it with such startling interpretations that the mystified is written. Among other goals, this commentary often conclude that sober-minded Christians should seeks to bring the Church at least a few steps leave the book well alone. closer to a truly Biblical Theology of Revelation. David Chilton’s commentary ought to be studied by 3. Revelation is a prophecy about imminent both types of reader. He shows that Revelation is a events – events that were about to break loose book, like every other book of the New Testament, on the world of the first century. addressed primarily to the first-century church and Revelation is not about nuclear warfare, space easily understood by them, because they were travel, or the end of the world. Again and again thoroughly familiar with Old Testament imagery. He it specifically warns that “the time is near!” St. shows that once we grasp these idioms, Revelation is John wrote his book as a prophecy of the not difficult for us to understand either. approaching destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. Revelation remains, though, a challenging and 70, showing that Jesus Christ had brought the relevant book for us, not because it gives an outline of New Covenant and the New Creation. world history with special reference to our era, but Revelation cannot be understood unless this because it shows us that Christ is in control of world fundamental fact is taken seriously. history, and how we should live and pray and worship. 4. Revelation is a worship service. St. John did In vivid powerful imagery it teaches us what it means to not write a textbook on prophecy. Instead, he believe in God’s sovereignty and justice. May this recorded a heavenly worship service in progress. valuable commentary prompt us to pray with John and One of his major concerns, in fact, is that the the universal church in heaven and on earth, ‘Even so worship of God is central to everything in life. It come, Lord Jesus!’ is the most important thing we do. For this Gordon Wenham reason I have devoted special attention The College of St. Paul and St. Mary throughout this commentary to the very Cheltenham, England considerable liturgical aspects of Revelation, and their implications for our worship services today. 5. Revelation is a book about dominion. Revela- tion is not a book about how terrible the Anti- Author’s Preface christ is, or how powerful the devil is. It is, as the very first verse says, The Revelation of Jesus From the very beginning, cranks and crackpots have Christ. It tells us about His lordship over all; it attempted to use Revelation to advocate some new tells us about our salvation and victory in the twist on the Chicken Little Doctrine: The Sky is Falling! New Covenant, God’s “wonderful plan for our But, as I hope to show in this exposition, St. John’s life”; it tells us that the kingdom of the world Apocalypse teaches instead that Christians will has become the Kingdom of our God, and of His overcome all opposition through the work of Jesus Christ; and it tells us that He and His people Christ. My study has convinced me that a true shall reign forever and ever. understanding of this prophecy must be based on the I have many people to thank for making this book proper application of five crucial interpretive keys: possible. First and foremost, I am grateful to Dr. Gary 1. Revelation is the most “Biblical” book in the North, without whose patience and considerable Bible. St. John quotes hundreds of passages from financial investment it simply could not have been the Old Testament, often with subtle allusions written. The week I moved to Tyler, Gary took me to little-known religious rituals of the Hebrew along on one of his periodic book-buying sprees at a people. In order to understand Revelation, we large used bookstore in Dallas. As I helped him haul need to know our Bibles backward and forward. hundreds of carefully chosen volumes to the One reason why this commentary is so large is checkstand (I bought a few books, too – a couple every that I have tried to explain this extensive hour or so, just to keep my hand in the game), Gary Biblical background, commenting on numerous asked me what long-term project I’d like to work on, portions of Scripture that shed light on St. along with my other duties at the Institute for Christian John’s prophecy. I have also re-printed, as Economics. “How about a medium-sized, popular-style, Appendix A, Philip Carrington’s excellent introductory-level, easy-to-read book on Revelation?” I survey of the Levitical symbolism in Revelation. suggested. “I think I could knock something like that 2. Revelation has a system of symbolism. Almost out in about three months.” That was, almost to the everyone recognizes that St. John wrote his day, 3 years and six months ago – or, as Gary might be 6 AUTHOR’S PREFACE tempted to mutter under his breath: Church has many more years left to write many more A time, times, and half a time. words! I am greatly indebted to the important At last, the tribulation has ended. contributions of many other commentators – especially Philip Carrington, Austin Farrer, J. Massyngberde Ford, The book, of course, has vastly outgrown its projected Meredith G. Kline, J. Stuart Russell, Moses Stuart, size and scope. No small part of that is due to the Rev. Henry Barclay Swete, and Milton S. Terry – and I hope James B. Jordan and the Rev. Ray Sutton, pastors of I have done justice to them in building on their Westminster Presbyterian Church in Tyler, Texas, who foundation. Yet I am painfully aware that the task of have greatly influenced my understanding of the Bible’s commenting on St. John’s magnificent prophecy far literary and symbolic connections and liturgical exceeds my abilities. Where I have failed adequately to structures. The Rev. Ned Rutland, of Westminster set forth the message of the Revelation, I beg the Presbyterian Church in Opelousas, Louisiana, read an indulgence of my brothers and sisters in Christ, and early version of some chapters and, with consummate earnestly desire their comments and corrections. tact and graciousness, steered me in a more Biblical Letters may be addressed to me at P. O. Box 2314, direction. James M. Peters, Tyler’s resident historian of Placerville, CA 95667. antiquities and computer whiz, was a rich treasury of information on the ancient world. My beloved wife, Darlene, has always been my greatest source of encouragement. Our children (Nathan There are others who contributed in various ways to David, Jacob Israel, and Abigail Aviva) endured our the production of this volume.

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