The Expositor's Bible: The Book of Revelation — Context and Discussion

Milligan's Method: Continuous Narrative

Milligan repeatedly emphasizes that the visions of Revelation form a coherent progression. In the excerpt, he states that the idea of a break between verses 6 and 7 is “wrong” and that “the progress of the thought is continuous.” This is not a minor point; it reflects his broader interpretive strategy. Rather than treating each vision as a self-contained episode, Milligan reads them as stages in a single drama. For a first-time reader, this means paying attention to how each scene logically follows the previous one, even when the imagery shifts dramatically. Milligan's commentary thus serves as a guide to the book's internal logic, helping the reader see connections that might otherwise be missed.

Identifying the Divine Warrior

One of Milligan's more striking claims is that the archangel Michael in Revelation 12 is actually Christ himself. He supports this by noting that the name Michael means “Who is like God?” and that in 1 Thessalonians 4:16, the Lord descends “with the voice of the archangel.” He also appeals to the book of Daniel, where Michael appears as the defender of the church. This identification is not universally accepted, but Milligan argues it is “even in itself probable” because the dragon leads darkness and the Son is the dragon's primary opponent. Readers should note how Milligan uses cross-references and linguistic analysis to build his case, a method he applies throughout the commentary.

The Wilderness as Sustenance

In discussing the woman fleeing into the wilderness (Revelation 12:6), Milligan draws parallels to Israel's wilderness wanderings, Elijah's flight, and Christ's forty days in the desert. He writes that the church's wilderness life “continues during the whole Christian era” and that believers are nourished by “heavenly food” and “living water.” This typological reading—where Old Testament events prefigure New Testament realities—is a hallmark of Milligan's approach. For the reader, this means that even seemingly obscure details in Revelation are linked to a broader biblical narrative. Milligan's commentary thus functions as a kind of biblical theology, tracing themes across testaments.

The Accuser Cast Down

Milligan's treatment of the war in heaven emphasizes the victory achieved “because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony.” He notes that the accuser is cast down and that the saints “loved not their life even unto death.” This passage, he argues, shows that the conflict is not merely cosmic but also personal: the dragon's defeat is accomplished through the faithful witness of believers. Milligan does not dwell on speculative details about the timing of these events; instead, he focuses on the spiritual reality they convey. For a first reading, this section underscores that Revelation is not just about future events but about present Christian experience.

Milligan's commentary rewards readers who attend to his argument for narrative coherence and his careful use of Scripture to interpret Scripture. Rather than offering a verse-by-verse gloss, he builds a cumulative case for how Revelation's visions fit together. A first-time reader may find it helpful to read the biblical text alongside Milligan's commentary, noting where he identifies connections and where he departs from other interpreters. His work remains a valuable resource for those seeking a thoughtful, theologically grounded introduction to this challenging book.

Reading Milligan’s gentle insistence that Revelation flows as one continuous story, never breaking, made me think of how our own church covenants quietly hold us together. There's a similar trust in wholeness there. I found myself wandering back to The Nature of a Gospel Church A Confession of Evangelical Principles; and the Members' Covenant. Intended for the Use of the Church of Christ. — Story, Setting & Ideas, remembering how its plain words once felt like a warm hand on my shoulder.