There are hundreds of quotes, references, and allusions to both the old and new testaments in the book of revelation. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant john, 2 who testifies to everything he saw. I found this book very helpful as a detailed summary of the book of the revelation. Its title is derived from the first word of the koine greek text. As the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth 1. He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant john. A testimony of jesus christ is a commentary that explains some of the mysteries of revelation. The apocalypse, or revelation to john, the last book of the bible, is one of the. How to interpret the secret meaning of the book of revelation how to interpret the secret meanings in the book of revelation how to better understand the coming events revelations of awareness 9617 no. The book requires frequent reference to passages of scripture. Do our minds become confused when we hear all those sevens and l2s, and all those strange titles applied to jesusthe alpha and omega and the bright morning star. Though it is little more than a piece of scholarly gossip, some have even suggested that the reformer john calvin, one of the best interpreters of the scriptures the church has known, shied away from writing a commentary on the book of revelation for this very reason.
Historicist interpretations of the book of revelation. In daily mass we have recently been reading from the book of revelation. Historicism, a method of interpretation in christian eschatology which associates biblical prophecies with actual historical events and identifies symbolic beings. Futurism sees the visions with the exception of chapters as related to end times events still to come in the future. The bible is the word of god given in the words of men in history. The book depicts him as the risen, glorified son of god ministering among the churches 1. The wild beast with seven heads introduced at revelation. The book of revelation is some sort of prophecy which will come true based on the astrological cycles. Although a christian work, the apocalypse belongs to a class of literature dealing with eschatological subjects and much in vogue among the jews of the first. Reagans book, wrath and glory, covers the book of revelation chapter by chapter. The interpretation of the book revelation lamb and. The revelation of jesus christ is a book of prophecy on the end times and comprises the final book of the new testament and of the bible.
The book of revelation also called the revelation of john or the revelation of st. In the new testament, this word describes the unveiling of spiritual truth. Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest. What is the idealist interpretation of the book of. Hes just a mildmannered christian guy living in exile whenpow. Apocalypticism was not a new phenomenon among christians. The book of revelation is the only book in the bible, that i know of, that has a blessing associated with it for those who will read itnot once but twice. Some will interpret the how, what, and even the timing in the book of revelation differently depending on their method of interpretation. First, revelation is a fulfillment of the sixtyfive books that came before it. In the book of revelation, the apocalyptic hopes of the early christian community find their clearest and most complete expression.
Then i heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, come. The book of revelation was written in the first century a. The interpretation of the book of revelation has often proven difficult throughout the history of the christian church. It is commonly read at this, the end of the liturgical year, because it. Historicist interpretations of the book of revelation wikipedia. The christians of asia minor, and christians of all times, are assured of their eternal reward for their faithfulness. Hermeneutics is the study of the principles of interpretation. Here is my verse by verse interpretation of the book of revelation chapter 1. The book of revelation is at once one of the most important books of the.
It is most important to understand that the book of revelation does not list the scenes and events in the same order in which they will actually occur. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it. A testimony of jesus christ is a commentary that explains some. It rules over every tribe and people and tongue and nation, so it is greater than a single national government. Book of revelation read, study bible verses online. Apocalypse, from the verb apokalypto, to reveal, is the name given to the last book in the bible. Historicism, a method of interpretation in christian eschatology which associates biblical prophecies with actual historical events and identifies symbolic beings with historical persons or societies, has been applied to the book of revelation by many writers. Preterists understand the book exclusively in terms of its firstcentury setting, claiming that most of its events have already taken place. The historicist view follows a straight line of continuous fulfillment of prophecy which starts in daniels time and goes through john. The book of revelation explained by pastor allen nolan is a teaching series on how to unravel the mysteries of the book of the. Here are brief definitions of the four major interpretive approaches. What is the idealist interpretation of the book of revelation. Revelation has a wide variety of interpretations, ranging from the simple historical interpretation, to a prophetic view on. Of all the books in the bible, the book of revelation is one of the most difficult to understand.
An apocalypse is a very specific kind of literature with no modern equivalent. So, the divine author of revelation is jesus christ and the human author is the apostle john. The following definitions are what the spirit has revealed to me. Book of revelation explained a testimony of jesus christ. The discipleapostle john, who followed jesus christ and witnessed his crucifixion, authored it. It can perhaps be best understood in distinction from the other major interpretations of revelation. The book of revelation in the bible is one of the more difficult books of the bible to understand. Historicists take it as describing the long chain of events from patmos to the end of history. The other mode of interpretation is what we might call a literalist mode, where it is assumed that at least some events in the book of revelation are literal historical events that have played. Outline for this study of the book of revelation pages 1, 2, and top of page 3. Interpreters of revelation normally fall into four groups.
Revelation speaks of things that are already history. Parts of the old testament, particularly in the book of daniel, are also written in the apocalyptic genre. The interpreters of revelation are divided into three main schools. Revelation 6 new international version niv the seals. Historicist interpretations see revelation as containing a broad view of history, whilst preterist interpretations treat revelation as. Ten keys for interpreting the book of revelation digital commons. Historicism interprets the writing as a prophetic and panoramic overview of history, from the first century until the second coming of christ. The book of revelation often called the revelation to john, apocalypse of john, the revelation from jesus christ from its opening words, the apocalypse, the revelation, or simply revelation is the final book of the new testament, and consequently is also the final book of the christian bible.
The first blessing is in the first chapter of revelation in verse 3. Book of revelation for dummies cheat sheet dummies. Book of revelation overview church of jesus christ. When interpreting the book of revelation there are two important elements to remember. The constellations of the zodiac dont really resemble the. A 21st century interpretation of the book of revelation. Many major entities and symbols in the book of revelation are introduced. The book of revelation starts with this is a revelation from jesus christ, which god gave him to show his servants the events that must soon take place. John is told to write down everything god shows him, and boy is god going to show him some strange things. The book of revelation, a prophecy of warning and hope.
Youll find four major interpretive approaches to the book of revelation that can help you read, understand, and figure out the apocalyptic letter of john. John the divine is an example of apocalyptic writing a form that delivers a message using symbols, images and numbers. Those events are subject to interpretation but they are not a salvation issue. Is the modern interpretation of the book of revelation flawed. The interpretation of revelation has always been a subject of debate among bible interpreters. Alpha and omega are the first and last letters of the greek alphabet, the original language of revelation. John the divinean alternative name for the book of revelation was written by a prophet, it makes perfect sense that its interpretation is best given by another prophetespecially by the prophet who fulfills the prophecies in the book of revelation. Spiritual definitions of the book of revelation pure. Its meaning is positive, not fearful or terrifying to those who serve god. Keys to understanding the book of revelation its meaning is positive, not fearful or terrifying to those who serve god.
The interpretation of the book the interpretation of the book. This, in turn, led me to look for further detailed exposition of this difficult to understand book of the bible. An overview of revelation multimedia training kit covers the book of revelation verse by verse. Most every word in ancient scripture has a spiritual counterpart to its literal meaning. Revelation greek apokalupsis means an uncovering, an unveiling, or a disclosure. Its purpose is to give encouragement and hope for all. This is the word of god and the testimony of jesus christ. God gave it to him to show his servants the things that must happen soon. Indeed, some might feel revelation ssymbols and metaphors are so confusing that they.
Another key to understanding the book of revelation. The revelation of jesus christto show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass. Some christian scholars in later centuries questioned its authorship, objected to some of its doctrines for instance, its teachings about the millennium or its teaching that people would be judged according to their works, and found its. Reagans video program, revelation revealed, presents a sweeping overview of the entire book of revelation.
Book of revelation overview through the prophet joseph smith, the lord has given us vital keys to understanding the book of revelation, particularly the meaning of the seven seals. This view maintains that the words in the entire book have. Book of revelation explained scripture by scripture. While there is only one old testament apocalyptic book daniel and one new testament book that demonstrates some features of this type revelation, it was a common form of writing in the two. The historicist view follows a straight line of continuous fulfillment of prophecy which starts in daniels time and goes through johns writing of the book of revelation all the way to the second coming of jesus christ. Revelation always implies the unveiling of something previously hidden, in. The idealist interpretation could also be called the symbolic or spiritual interpretation. Revelation uses many signs, or symbols, that are not to be understood literally revelation 1. And so what we have to realize is that in some interpretations of the book of revelationin fact most of themthe interpretation is created by bringing things into.
Key to understanding commentaries on revelations is knowing the position of the commentator. The interpretation of revelation the interpretation of revelation has always been a subject of debate among bible interpreters. Since the book of revelation offers a prophetic look into the future, its fulfillment is also prophetic. The real meaning of the bibles book of revelation is a popular, ongoing debate. The book of revelation is not so intimidating once you understand what the author was up to. Revelation gives a birds eye view of the entire sweep of christian church history. The key to understanding the intent of its meaning is through revelation. Revelation is first and foremost a revelation about jesus christ 1. To read the word of god in this apocalyptic book without letting our imagination give us misguided interpretations, we need to understand the symbolism the same way the first readers did. The key to bible interpretation, especially for the book of revelation, is to have a consistent hermeneutic. In other words, it is the way you interpret scripture. The literary genres of the book of revelation are an apocalypse, a prophecy, and an epistle or letter. The apocalypse, or revelation to john, the last book of the bible, is one of the most difficult to understand because it abounds in unfamiliar and extravagant symbolism, which at best appears unusual to the modern reader.
John wrote revelation while a prisoner on the island of patmos, approximately 8595 a. There will be differences of opinion about exactly what and the timing of events that take place in the book of revelation. How to interpret the secret meaning of the book of revelation. While many associate the word apocalypse with great disaster, the book of revelation begins and ends by saying that those who read, understand, and apply its message would be happy for doing so.
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