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Plain Talk on Mark by Manford George Gutzke
- GenresChristian
Mass Market Paperback
First published September 1, 1979
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February 20, 2022
Useful, short commentary on Revelation. It hits the main points without diving into every detail, and is less detailed than other commentaries. It seems to be amillennial, but it doesn't name this or any other eschatological view.
Notes
Rev 1
7 spirits (Rev 1:34) refers to sevenfold Holy Spirit (Isa 11:2).
Numbers
• 1 usually suggests unity
• 2 suggests added/increased strength, added weight, increased courage
• 3 refers to deity/God
• 3.5 implies something incomplete, imperfect, indefinite
• 4 generally refers to earth
• 6 always has evil connotation; it falls short of perfection (7)
• 7 generally refers to perfection, combination of heaven and earth to give completeness
• 10 seems to refer to secular/worldly or earthly completeness
• 12 seems to refer to God's people on earth (3 x 4)
• 1,000 symbolizes unknown, yet complete, quantity or length
Rev 5-6
The Lamb's 7 horns (Rev 5:6) represents total power, and the 7 eyes represent total sight and knowledge.
4 horsemen
• White suggests Jesus, spread of Gospel
• Red likely represents war
• Black represents famine
• Pale seems to represent death
• These horses are mentioned in Zech, and are similar to signs in Matt 24
Rev 10-12
Rev 11:2 means we shouldn't occupy our time measuring the actions of unbelievers, because they'll be destroyed.
The 2 witnesses remind us of Elijah and Moses; they preach and offend unbelievers.
Rev 13-14
Wounded head (Rev 13:3) could refer to Roman government surviving Nero's death.
John used figurative and obscure language because his Roman prison guards wouldn't understand his document and would deem it safe enough to be sent without censorship.
Beast from sea (Rev 13:1-10) could represent Roman political power.
Beast from earth (Rev 13:11-18) pictures totalitarian political power backed up by religion.
7th trumpet gives a survey of all history.
Rev 16
Seals and trumpets cover same time period; things happening throughout history and now. Bowls picture beginning of the end.
Rev "is a vision like a dream. John is not seeing something that will come to pass in these literal, physical terms."
In Rev 16:13, dragon represents Satan, beast represents political power, false prophet represents natural religion (imitation of Christianity).
Rev 17
Rev 17:9-11 refers to Rome which persecuted church in John's day.
Rev doesn't only speak of Rome; Rome was, at John's time, best representation of political domination. Fall of Rome in Rev points beyond Rome to fall of political power in entire world.
Rev 19-20
Rev 17-20 are about end of world, but not necessarily in chronological order.
That Satan is bound (Rev 20:2) means he's restrained, not powerless. At some point this restraint will be removed for a short time (Rev 20:3).
Rev 20:4 refers to all believers (2 Tim 2:12)
1st death is spiritual death (Gen 2:17). 1st resurrection (Rev 20:5) is regeneration. 2nd death (Rev 20:6) is physical/bodily death. 2nd resurrection is of body at end of world.
Saints are still on earth when Satan moves nations to battle (Rev 20:8-9). Battles in Rev 19-20 could refer to final conflict between antichrist and his people and God's people.
Elect won't appear before judgment seat (Rom 8:1); John 5:24); they're covered by Christ, written in book of life (Rev 20:12).
Rev 21-22
Greek word for "new" (Rev 21:1) doesn't imply different heaven and earth, but renewed.
No more sea (Rev 21:1) represents no more physical separation between people, no more troubling evil.
"I come quickly" (Rev 22:12) doesn't mean soon, but suddenly, unexpectedly (1 Thess 5:2; 2 Pet 3:10).
Notes
Rev 1
7 spirits (Rev 1:34) refers to sevenfold Holy Spirit (Isa 11:2).
Numbers
• 1 usually suggests unity
• 2 suggests added/increased strength, added weight, increased courage
• 3 refers to deity/God
• 3.5 implies something incomplete, imperfect, indefinite
• 4 generally refers to earth
• 6 always has evil connotation; it falls short of perfection (7)
• 7 generally refers to perfection, combination of heaven and earth to give completeness
• 10 seems to refer to secular/worldly or earthly completeness
• 12 seems to refer to God's people on earth (3 x 4)
• 1,000 symbolizes unknown, yet complete, quantity or length
Rev 5-6
The Lamb's 7 horns (Rev 5:6) represents total power, and the 7 eyes represent total sight and knowledge.
4 horsemen
• White suggests Jesus, spread of Gospel
• Red likely represents war
• Black represents famine
• Pale seems to represent death
• These horses are mentioned in Zech, and are similar to signs in Matt 24
Rev 10-12
Rev 11:2 means we shouldn't occupy our time measuring the actions of unbelievers, because they'll be destroyed.
The 2 witnesses remind us of Elijah and Moses; they preach and offend unbelievers.
Rev 13-14
Wounded head (Rev 13:3) could refer to Roman government surviving Nero's death.
John used figurative and obscure language because his Roman prison guards wouldn't understand his document and would deem it safe enough to be sent without censorship.
Beast from sea (Rev 13:1-10) could represent Roman political power.
Beast from earth (Rev 13:11-18) pictures totalitarian political power backed up by religion.
7th trumpet gives a survey of all history.
Rev 16
Seals and trumpets cover same time period; things happening throughout history and now. Bowls picture beginning of the end.
Rev "is a vision like a dream. John is not seeing something that will come to pass in these literal, physical terms."
In Rev 16:13, dragon represents Satan, beast represents political power, false prophet represents natural religion (imitation of Christianity).
Rev 17
Rev 17:9-11 refers to Rome which persecuted church in John's day.
Rev doesn't only speak of Rome; Rome was, at John's time, best representation of political domination. Fall of Rome in Rev points beyond Rome to fall of political power in entire world.
Rev 19-20
Rev 17-20 are about end of world, but not necessarily in chronological order.
That Satan is bound (Rev 20:2) means he's restrained, not powerless. At some point this restraint will be removed for a short time (Rev 20:3).
Rev 20:4 refers to all believers (2 Tim 2:12)
1st death is spiritual death (Gen 2:17). 1st resurrection (Rev 20:5) is regeneration. 2nd death (Rev 20:6) is physical/bodily death. 2nd resurrection is of body at end of world.
Saints are still on earth when Satan moves nations to battle (Rev 20:8-9). Battles in Rev 19-20 could refer to final conflict between antichrist and his people and God's people.
Elect won't appear before judgment seat (Rom 8:1); John 5:24); they're covered by Christ, written in book of life (Rev 20:12).
Rev 21-22
Greek word for "new" (Rev 21:1) doesn't imply different heaven and earth, but renewed.
No more sea (Rev 21:1) represents no more physical separation between people, no more troubling evil.
"I come quickly" (Rev 22:12) doesn't mean soon, but suddenly, unexpectedly (1 Thess 5:2; 2 Pet 3:10).
June 15, 2025
Finally finished this! really nice application commentary! A lot of cross references to other parts of the Bible which was very insightful. This book was so old it broke in half but I still finished it regardless.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews