Key to understanding commentaries on revelations is knowing the position of the commentator. Wilsons charts cover a range of historical, literary, rhetorical, and interpretive issues that will guide the careful student in making more viable interpretations of this difficult yet enriching book. A 21st century interpretation of the book of revelation. This view regards the book as a book on church history. Revelation greek apokalupsis means an uncovering, an unveiling, or a disclosure. It will prepare you for the rest of the material contained here. Book of revelation explained scripture by scripture. Online church promoting biblical interpretations of the. The idealist approach doesnt interpret revelation in terms of any.
And christ sent his angel to show it to his servant john, 2 who has told everything he saw. I have spoken with this deacon about the book of revelation and he wanted to be sure i understand the catholic churchs interpretation. The book elijah by michael obrien is faithful to the catholic point of view, while speculating on the events described in the book of revelation, but as mentioned before, there is no actual official interpretation of the book of revelation. In it, john1 talks about the ultimate defeat of evil and the glorious return and reign of the lord jesus christ. The interpretation of revelation has always been a subject of debate among bible interpreters. The following interpretation, offered here, is by special request. Four horsemen of the apocalypse meaning in revelation. Revelation 17 commentary the angels interpretation. However someone else told me the catholic church does not claim to know what the book of revelation means. Revelation with book summary versebyverse bible commentary.
A bible commentary for teaching and preaching is a distinctive resource for those who interpret the bible in the church. As with all prophecies the revelation also is not easily understood. 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. Hermeneutics is the study of the principles of interpretation. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant john, 2 who testifies to everything he saw. A bahai interpretation of the book of revelation, after acknowledging the existence of a previous, and immediate, historicalcontemporary context, can then. Holy bible book of revelation full audio book by apostle. Interpreting the symbolism in the book of revelation. The book of revelation is by far one of the most challenging books in the bible, yet well worth the effort to study and comprehend. What do the lampstands in the book of revelation mean. How has the book of revelation been interpreted through christian history. The greek name of the bible book of revelation, apoka. Historicism, a method of interpretation in christian eschatology which associates biblical prophecies with actual historical events and identifies symbolic beings. The challenge to understand revelation revelation is the most difficult book of the bible to understand.
The book of revelation niv audio holy bible high quality. Reagans video program, revelation revealed, presents a sweeping overview of the entire book of revelation. The book of revelation also called the revelation of john or the revelation of st. I believe that in the book of revelation our lord jesus christ has already given us an excellent key to the interpretation. If you do not get mired down in all of the imagery, the book is rather straightforward. Discover the most popular bible verses from revelation in the collection of scripture below. It is full of caution and encouragement and is the last book of the bible. The book of revelation means an unveiling of the character of the manifest christ. Mar 19, 2019 the book of revelation is by far one of the most challenging books in the bible, yet well worth the effort to study and comprehend. But just how is one to understand the book of revelation. In a comment, posted on february 16, 2019, a reader asked me to offer a bahai interpretation of chapter 20 of the book of revelation. Introduction the book of revelation is one of the most encouraging books of the new testament.
Perhaps those who regard the book of revelation as repulsive, subchristian or somehow unworthy of the god of the bible need to call their own world into question with the same rigor they bring to these disturbing oracles out of their christian past. The apocalypse, or revelation to john, the last book of the bible, is one of the. There are many different interpretations regarding the end times spoken of in the bible. Youll find four major interpretive approaches to the book of revelation that can. Revelation the last book in the bible was written to tell us about the futureespecially the final conflict between god and satan, and the triumph of jesus christover all the powers of evil and death and hell. Do not pay attention to the terms preterist, historicist, and futurist. Disagreements over the meaning of revelation have divided christians into a number of different eschatological camps.
The real meaning of the bible s book of revelation is a popular, ongoing debate. This is certainly true if one measures difficulty in terms of disagreement over what the book means. The interpretation bible commentary series is one of the best available and eugene borings contribution in his book. In fact, there is actually a lot of repetition in the book that operates like different chapters of a book or scenes of a movie. Verses 718 look like a doublet of these opening verses, as if john were drawing on two different accounts of the same vision. As its first verse declares, it is the revelation from jesus christ to show his servants what must soon take place.
Revelation always implies the unveiling of something previously hidden, in. 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. Like all books of the bible, revelation was written in a particular time and. Answers to a variety of questions on the book of revelation including, the meaning of the first horseman, the timing of the bowl judgments, the application of the churches of laodicea and thyatira to history, and the meaning of nation against nation. Then go into each of the twenty two chapters of the book of revelation one by one. Mar 07, 2012 the book of revelation, the final book of the new testament, has some of the most dramatic and frightening language in the bible. The book of revelation, a prophecy of warning and hope. Book of revelation for dummies cheat sheet dummies. The book of revelation, often called the revelation to john, or the apocalypse of john, is a book of the new testament that occupies a central place in christian eschatology. The obscure and extravagant imagery has led to a wide variety of christian interpretations.
Another key to understanding the book of revelation, a very important key, is to accept the plain sense meaning of each passage. Im going to propose what i think is a rather novel and perhaps disturbing interpretation of the book of revelation. An overview of revelation multimedia training kit covers the book of revelation verse by verse. The adventists take a unique view applying it to the millerite movement. 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. The discipleapostle john, who followed jesus christ and witnessed his crucifixion, authored it. Revelation 12 commentary the interpretation of the signs. John the divine is an example of apocalyptic writing a form that delivers a message using symbols, images and numbers.
Larkin explains and interprets every statement in the book of revelation with reference to earlier books of the bible. Metaphorical interpretations suppose that revelation does not indicate actual people or events, but is a parable of the spiritual path and the continuing conflict between good and evil. Its title is derived from the first word of the text, written in koine greek. This summary of the book of revelation provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of revelation.
This view maintains that the words in the entire book have. Revelation is in a form of literature known as apocalyptic. Even if you dont understand it, the best rule of thumb is to just accept the plain sense meaning. These four horsemen of the apocalypse appear to symbolically portray four disastrous occurrences that will take place before the second coming of jesus christ. They are churches in the cities of ephesus, smyrna, pergamum, thyatira, sardis, philadelphia, and laodicea. If youre befuddled by the book of revelation in the bible, dont fret. In this lesson we will examine the first two sections of this outline. Third, there is a greater use of symbolic language in revelation than in other parts of the bible. Mar 18, 2019 revelations basic message is that persecuted christians, if they remain faithful and endure these trials and tribulations, will experience ultimate victory in the day of resurrection. The interpretation of revelation the interpretation of revelation has always been a subject of debate among bible interpreters.
Hope you will be addressing the meaning of these images in revelation. Ben witherington iii, author of the following article, asking the right question, once hitched a ride from a couple who believed the earth was flat. It can perhaps be best understood in distinction from the other major interpretations of revelation. Charts on the book of revelation is a useful supplement to courses on the book of revelation in both the church and the academy. This book is a tremendous tool for anyone wishing to understand how different schools of interpretation approach the book of revelation. The book of revelation dramatically reveals the final victory of christ. The complexity of the structure of the book and the difficulty of interpreting it is. 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. I do not write this with the intention of upsetting anyone but instead i do it in the tradition of all good teachers including jesus who inspire their students to think for themselves. 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. This series explains in simple terms the relationship between these two books of the bible. The literary genres of the book of revelation are an apocalypse, a prophecy, and an epistle or letter.
Oct 05, 2015 interpretations of revelations and end times. The book of revelation is an important book regarding the future, but one must have the proper biblical method of interpretation and a relationship with christ in order to understand it. Whether were looking for gospel meaning or struggling with understanding revelations in the bible, historical bible study can help us find our way. Historicism has produced many different, and often conflicting, interpretations of the actual historical events contained in revelation. This is the word of god and the testimony of jesus christ. The book of revelation is the final book of the new testament, a stark account of. The primary meaning of the revelation, or at least the anchor point of any meaning, is what john intended it to mean, which in turn must also have been something his readers could have understood it to mean. What is the idealist interpretation of the book of revelation. Since the book of revelation is considered in the apocalyptic genre, the text can be extremely difficult to understand. The four parallel columns allow the reader to compare the views and hopefully identify the strengths and weaknesses of each. First, the book of revelation promises a blessing to the one who reads it rev 1. The classical historicist view of the vision of the angel with the little book, in revelation 10, represents the protestant reformation and the printing of bibles in the common languages. Book of revelation biblical interpretations, pictures.
One will interpret revelation according to ones method of interpretation. Why is god going to give us a white stone with a new name. Interpretations of revelation by mike mazzalongo posted. Edgar cayce on the book of revelation the afterlife.
The seven churches of revelation were real, physical congregations when the apostle john wrote this bewildering last book of the bible around 95 ad, but many scholars believe the passages have a second, hidden meaning. Its title is derived from the first word of the koine greek text. The seven stars appear to be the pastors of the seven churches. 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. Parts of the old testament, particularly in the book of daniel, are also written in the apocalyptic genre. What this school said was too idealistic to be accepted by orthodox bible interpreters. Most popular bible verses from revelation scripture. The real meaning of the bibles book of revelation is a popular, ongoing debate.
So we should read it even if we do not completely understand everything. In other words, it is the way you interpret scripture. In the bible, there is only one reference to god giving us a white stone with a new name. The metaphor of babylon as harlot would be wrongly construed if interpreted. Take a look at the basic structure of the book of revelation. Despite our various views, there are some common threads upon which christians agree.
To the one who is victorious, i will give some of the hidden manna. All views believe that god is sovereign and in charge of all that occurs in history and its ultimate conclusion. 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 interpretation of the book revelation lamb and. The book of revelation is difficult to understand and inspires a wide range of questions, especially since there are many competing interpretations. The book of revelation is a series of visions, but not every vision represents the same thing, nor are they in any strict chronological order. Unlike most books of the bible, revelation contains its own title. Reagans book, wrath and glory, covers the book of revelation chapter by chapter. We do not need to waste time to study the interpretations and concepts of the different schools. The interpreters of revelation are divided into three main schools. Only revelation and the gospel of john describe jesus as the lamb 5. Eugene borings critical assessment of revelation enlightens readers as to just what that message is. Historicist interpretations of the book of revelation.
The book of revelation is a fascinating book, and the debate regarding its interpretation will continue. The gaps and abrupt changes in verses 16 are explained in part by the rest of the chapter. Fee and stuart, how to read the bible for all its worth. It reveals the summingup process through which the fruits of the word are brought forth from the invisible into visibility. Through what agency is the great truth contained in this book. Each page of scripture is from the king james bible, and is immediately followed by the meaning of that scripture.
Charts on the book of revelation is a useful supplement to. Through what agency is the great truth contained in this book revealed. Apr 29, 2015 the book of revelation from the holy bible new international version niv book 66 please note we have increased the volume and the pitch of the audio for a clearer sound, so this speed. Bible scholars have taken one of four interpretations concerning the book of revelation. He often refers to the book of daniel for the key to the meaning in revelation. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it revelation 2. The book of revelation is the final book of the new testament, a stark account of the apocalypse and a prophecy of the world. The key to bible interpretation, especially for the book of revelation, is to have a consistent hermeneutic. Historicist interpretations of the book of revelation wikipedia. Scholars assign four basic schools of interpretation to the book of revelation. In fact, the opening passage contains a blessing to everyone who reads, hears, and keeps the words of this prophecy. Several principles need to guide any study of the book of revelation.
It talks about a time when god will dwell with men and he will wipe every tear from their eyes and there will be no more death, or mourning or crying or pain for the old order i. Four times the author identifies himself as john 1. The theme of the book is the revelation of christ and the outline follows this theme. This name indicates the meaning of revelation it uncovers matters that had been hidden and discloses events that would happen long after it was written. The idealist interpretation could also be called the symbolic or spiritual interpretation.
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