No writing of any commentary is a private project—especially writing one on John’s Revelation. Not only have I depended upon the work of many other scholars, I have benefitted enormously from four conversation partners. Two of these partners are Mercer Island Presbyterian Church and First Covenant Church, both in Seattle, where I taught the book of Revelation to adult classes of mature believers during the past year. Their hard questions and perceptive comments during our study together forced me to relate Revelation’s message to everyday life in practical ways. If I have succeeded at all in providing readers with a “sensible” commentary on Revelation, it is a debt I owe in part to them.
Two other conversation partners are classes of students, one graduate and the other undergraduate, whose completed assignments and class discussions were stimulating and enriching. No doubt my students will claim the best parts of this commentary for themselves, finding here the precipitates of new insights that were jointly achieved by shared research and reflection upon the biblical text. Teachers everywhere depend upon their students for those ideas that focus their scholarship, and they draw from their students the required energy and excitement to see their work to completion.
I am indebted as well to the dean of the School of Religion at Seattle Pacific University, Dr. William L. Lane, and to my other colleague in New Testament, Dr. Eugene E. Lemcio, for their help during this project. Sitting in with Gene’s class in Apocalyptic Literature in the spring of 1989 provided a stimulating reintroduction to Revelation, and Bill’s unfailing support both spiritually and intellectually provides a gracious setting in which to work as scholars for the church. Thanks are also due Mr. Patrick Alexander, Academic Editor of Hendrickson Publishers, for his helpful suggestions and steadfast encouragement throughout the preparation of this commentary.
I am most thankful to God for Carla, my dearest friend and spiritual mentor. Without her love and wisdom, I would certainly fail more than I do to know God’s gospel and to find it in our shared life and common faith. Even though she was not directly involved in editing this commentary (as she has been in much of my other work), the maturity I absorb from her as her husband has no doubt produced a better work.
Finally, this commentary is dedicated to my beloved parents, Elizabeth E. and Robert R. Wall. Not only did they lead me as a young lad into God’s salvation by their teaching, and keep me there through my youth by their example, Dad was the first to call my attention to the power and importance of Revelation’s message for today. His life-long interest in the prophetic books of Scripture was passed on to me, my two sisters, and my Mom around the dining room table, and it now has born some fruit—although still too meager for its source—in this commentary.
Robert W. Wall
Lent, 1991