The Winepress of God's Wrath

A Commentary on the Book of Revelation From a Near-Historic Perspective

Steve A. Hamilton

• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Year: 2021
• Print ISBN: 9781662429521
• eBook ISBN: 9781662429538

Without exception, this is the most revealing commentary of the book of Revelation in decades! This fresh and historically researched commentary reveals what early Christians had known so many years ago about the apocalypse. After 1, 900 years, present-day Christians finally have a reliable document that explains Christ's prophetic book. This commentary contains amazing insights.

One of the main adversaries in the book of Revelation was a prominent historical figure. He was known as the savior of the church. People looked up to him and worshipped him. The apostle Paul called him the man of sin and the son of perdition (2 Thessalonians 2: 3). The apostle John, in one of his earlier writings, called him the Antichrist (1 John 2: 18). Those who failed to get their names written in the Book of Life marveled at his presence in eternal punishment (Revelation 17: 8). That person is identified by name in this commentary.

Armageddon is more than a great battle in the book of Revelation. It is the one defining event that will affect everyone's life. The number of combatants "is as the sand of the sea." Yet the battle will be over before it ever begins (Revelation 20: 8–9).

The bowls of God's wrath were poured out on a wicked and unsuspecting world. Historically, "a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshipped his image" (Revelation 16: 2). This plague was described in detail by writers who lived as it occurred. This commentary includes their firsthand accounts.

The Winepress of God's Wrath depicts God's anger at a wicked society while providing hope and comfort to believers. The theme in the book of Revelation is clear—the wicked will not escape destruction. Only obedient Christians will avoid the winepress of God's wrath.

Commentary on Revelation 1

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to shew unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John. (Rev. 1:1)

The Apocrypha or Revelation of Jesus Christ was made available to our Lord so that it might be revealed to His “slaves.” Throughout the book of Revelation, His servants are called slaves in the original Greek (Rom. 6:16–23). This book is not intended for the slaves of sin but for the slaves of righteousness. Most people who read this book have failed to properly understand it because they are not slaves to Christ.

The book of Revelation will reveal things that will shortly take place. Christ signified its message by His angel. By means of signs or indications, His angel showed the apostle John the things that would come to pass in the near future. Those signs or indications make use of symbols to prevent unbelievers from understanding the message. This is the main reason why the book of Revelation has long been the subject of many fantastic and farfetched theories. It remains the mission for true slaves of Christ to correctly interpret the prophetic book of Revelation.

Who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw. (Rev. 1:2)

The apostle John was a firsthand witness to the life of Christ, His words, His deeds, and the gospel that was revealed through the apostles by the Holy Spirit. In this book, John will bear witness to God’s Word and to Christ’s testimony, not to mention all the things that he saw in his prophetic vision. As John writes in the third person, he identifies himself as uniquely qualified to pass on the prophetic Revelation of Jesus Christ to his fellow servants (2 Pet. 1:21).

Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near. (Rev. 1:3)

The book of Revelation is said to have its own set of beatitudes (Rev. 1:3, 14:13, 16:15, 19:9, 20:6, 22:7, 22:14). This first of seven beatitudes is a blessing for the reader and hearers that observe the things written in the book of Revelation. John infers that his immediate audience of early Christians would be wise to give heed to the things written in this book because the time is short. The fulfillment of this prophetic message is about to begin.

John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne. (Rev. 1:4)

The apostle John opens the book of Revelation by addressing it to the seven churches of Asia. The actual author of the book is Jesus Christ. John is used as a scribe or a conduit through which this important prophecy is being transmitted to the reader. “Him who is and who was and who is to come” would be a description of our eternal God. The offering of grace and peace not only comes from God but also from the Holy Spirit, represented as the seven spirits before the throne as well as from Jesus the Christ.

The number seven is used extensively throughout the book of Revelation to depict an ultimate identity, a supreme being, or a complete collection. The seven churches of Asia would infer a complete representation of all churches. The seven spirits would relate to a supreme being. The seven-headed beast would represent an ultimate identity and the seven crowns it wears as a complete collection of all Roman emperors. The idea of perfection comes to mind with the number seven.

And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (Rev. 1:5–6)

Jesus Christ was further described for the reader by fitting accolades. He was “the faithful witness” because the things that His divine being had seen and can relate are the only source of information beyond this world. Jesus spent His life declaring God to mankind (John 1:18). He represents the only source in scripture that relates the Hadean realm (Luke 16:11–19). Even His witness concerning Himself is trustworthy (John 8:14).

Christ was “the firstborn from the dead.” It was not that He was the first one resurrected from the dead, but He was the first soul to overcome death and thereby establish the heavenly kingdom as its head (1 Cor. 15:20; Eph. 1:20–22; Col. 1:18). Death could not hold Him (Acts 2:23–36; Heb. 2:14–15).

Jesus was established as “the ruler over the kings of the earth.” All authority was given to Him by God (Matt. 28:18). As Daniel said, “Heaven rules” (Dan. 4:25–26). The world’s nations are ruled by Christ.

Jesus Christ loved us so much that He laid down His life for us (1 John 3:16). The washing that cleanses us from our sins is immersion in water (Acts 22:16; 1 Cor. 6:11; 1 Pet. 3:21). His blood on the cross paid the penalty for our sins (1 John 1:7).

If that were not enough, Christ “made us kings and priests to His God and Father.” What an unspeakable privilege! The redeemed in Christ become kings (Rev. 5:10). The redeemed in Christ become priests (Heb. 7:24–27; 1 Pet. 2:5, 9). Christians become part of a royal priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices to the Lord. No doubt, glory and dominion belong to Christ for all eternity (1 Pet. 4:11, 5:11)!

Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. (Rev. 1:7)

It was prophesied that Jesus the Christ would return in the same manner that He left the earth upon His Second Coming (Acts 1:9–11). There are at least six other references in scripture to Christ returning in, on, or with clouds (Matt. 24:30, 26:64; Mark 13:26, 14:62; Luke 21:27; 1 Thess. 4:17; Rev. 11:12). The judgment day is depicted with Christ sitting on a cloud (Rev. 14:14–16). This passage is yet another prophecy concerning Christ’s Second Coming. This verse reveals that those responsible for piercing His side will see that event from Hades. In fact, “all the tribes of the earth” will bemoan, wail, or mourn the occasion. Those responsible for Christ’s crucifixion, along with all the others in torment, will be upset when the Lord returns because they already know their next destination will be hell. Even so…so let it be!

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Rev. 1:8)

God and Christ have always existed, having formed the earth in the beginning (John 1:1–5, 14). God and Christ share many of the same designations (Rev. 1:4, 8, 11; 4:8; 11:17; 21:6; 22:13). Jesus the Christ “did not consider it robbery to be equal with God” (Phil. 2:5–8). John said while referring to Christ as the Word in the beginning of his gospel letter, “The Word was God” (John 1:1, 14; 1 John 5:20). In context, this passage would seem most applicable to Christ. However, the term “Almighty” is used exclusively in reference to God. In fact, the phrase “who is and who was and who is to come” is used exclusively of God in the book of Revelation (Rev. 1:4, 8; 4:8; 11:17). In application, it makes little difference whom this passage might reference. God and Christ are both “the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.” However, God is the only one “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Rev. 1:9)

The apostle John uncharacteristically identifies himself as the writer of the book of Revelation. In his other writings, John identifies himself in the third person. In this work, he identifies himself in the first person. He confirms his relationship with the intended readers by saying he is a brother in Christ. He is also a Christian in the tribulation. That tribulation has already begun and has an important application in the understanding of this book (Rev. 2:10, 7:14). John also has become a member of the Lord’s kingdom, the church, which began on Pentecost in Acts chapter 2. His shared patience is something that all Christians will need because of the coming trials (Jas. 1:2–4).

John identifies the location he was at when he received the prophetic revelation. He was placed on the island of Patmos because of his testimony for Jesus Christ and for God’s Word. Patmos was a penal island where political criminals were banished in his day. The book of Revelation was written after John’s release from that island. Historical writings by Irenaeus, Hegesippus, Tertullian, Eusebius, Origen, Clement of Alexandria, and Victorinus logically place that date around AD 97. (Please read the earlier section “Dating the Revelation of Jesus Christ” for more detailed information relating to that date.)

I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.” (Rev. 1:10–11)

While John was on the island of Patmos, he fell into something like a trance. A similar thing happened to Peter. “He fell into a trance and saw heaven opened” (Acts 10:10b–11a). John uses the phrase “in the Spirit” to describe his state of mind that was being directed by the Holy Spirit. He refers to his vision this way throughout the book of Revelation (Rev. 4:2, 17:3, 21:10).

The Lord’s Day is a day devoted to the Lord. This passage happens to be the only reference in the Bible to a day that is called the Lord’s Day. Whatever day that might be, Christians would understand it, as no further explanation is given to the identity of that day. Ignatius, who was a disciple of the apostle John, wrote a letter in about AD 101 to the Magnesians. In it he writes, “And after the observance of the Sabbath, let every friend of Christ keep the Lord’s Day as a festival, the resurrection-day, the queen and chief of all the days.”19 Ignatius identifies the Lord’s Day as the day after the Sabbath and the day of Christ’s resurrection. The Lord’s Da...

Table of contents

• Dating the Revelation of Jesus Christ
• Timing the Book of Revelation
• Commentary on Revelation 1
• Commentary on Revelation 2
• Commentary on Revelation 3
• Commentary on Revelation 4
• Commentary on Revelation 5
• Commentary on Revelation 6
• Commentary on Revelation 7
• Commentary on Revelation 8
• Commentary on Revelation 9
• Commentary on Revelation 10
• Commentary on Revelation 11
• Commentary on Revelation 12
• Commentary on Revelation 13
• Commentary on Revelation 14
• Commentary on Revelation 15
• Commentary on Revelation 16
• Commentary on Revelation 17
• Commentary on Revelation 18
• Commentary on Revelation 19
• Commentary on Revelation 20
• Commentary on Revelation 21
• Commentary on Revelation 22
• The Two Witnesses
• The Number of a Man
• Time, Times and Half a Time
• The Sea Beast and Its Ten Horns
• The Winepress of God’s Wrath