The interpretation of the book revelation lamb and lion. Each page of scripture is from the king james bible, and is immediately followed by the meaning of that scripture. Its title is derived from the first word of the koine greek text. A series of visions, each one leading into the next. A testimony of jesus christ is a commentary that explains some. And many religious people believe that the book of revelation offers no help anyway, because it cannot be understood. Apr 07, 2011 interpretation principles for the book of revelation. A 21st century, secular interpretation of the book of revelation now, even though the realms of religion and science in themselves are clearly marked off from each other, nevertheless there exist between the two strong reciprocal relationships and dependencies. John mentions his name four times in the book revelation 1. 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. Edgar cayce on the book of revelation the afterlife. Revelation chapter explained book of revelation each.
Justin the martyr around 100 to 165 ac, irenaeus around 140 to 220 ac and the muratori canon end of 2 nd century confirm that the apostle john is the author. In all its uses, revelation refers to something or someone, once hidden, becoming visible. Its meaning is positive, not fearful or terrifying to those who serve god. Part of book of revelation for dummies cheat sheet. And there has been much speculation about it some of it bordering on offthewall, but some of it serious and scholarly. Revelation niv bible the dragon stood on the shore of. The interpreters of revelation are divided into three main schools.
However, its true meaning is an unveiling or revelation of things known only to god. If you want to better understand the book of revelation and the end times. This commentary has been through advanced checking. For example, after reading revelation and the rest of scripture, the early christians summarized the end times as follows. Exploring the book of revelation, prophecy, and apocalyptic literature. There are several other articles available on biblical interpretation. John the divine is an example of apocalyptic writing a form that delivers a message using symbols, images and numbers.
While there is only one old testament apocalyptic book daniel and one new. Five common misinterpretations of the book of revelation, the here are five of the most common fallacious statements propagated in the name of john the revelator. Cayces dream interpretation of the book of revelation can be contained in a book all by itself. It will prepare you for the rest of the material contained here. The radical discipleship interpretation asserts that the book of revelation is best understood as a handbook for radical discipleship. The real meaning of the bibles book of revelation is a popular, ongoing debate.
He follows the directives of the second vatican councils constitution on divine revelation and. The book of revelation explained takes you on a easy to understand and eyeopening journey through the book of revelation. The literary genres of the book of revelation are an apocalypse, a prophecy, and an epistle or letter. Parts of the old testament, particularly in the book of daniel, are also written in the apocalyptic genre. If you hang around long enough, youll quickly realize my theological perspective but just to make it easy, ill lay out the basics here. 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. The following is the forward and a portion of a chapter from a forthcoming book which, in my view, falls in.
Book of revelation explained interpretation principles. The book of revelation is the fulfilment of every biblical prophecy. The versebyverse commentary on revelation introduction this commentary on revelation will prove, contrary to what most people think, that the revelation, the last book of the bible, is not difficult to understand if we will take a simple, facevalue, commonsense approach to interpreting it. In the 1970s there was an extremely popular book titled the late great planet earth which allegedly interpreted the book of revelation. This same method of interpretation can be applied to most of the imagery of revelation, from the four horsemen, to the dragon, to the bowls. Book of revelation overview church of jesus christ. Book of revelation explained scripture by scripture. The end times in revelation though revelation can be difficult to understand because it uses so many symbols, it actually provides a very simple description of the end times as the early christians noticed. It professes to be the record of prophetic visions given by jesus christ to john, while the latter was a prisoner, for the word of god and the testimony of jesus revelation 1. The revelation is the only book in the nt mentioning john as author. This booklet contains vital understanding that will forever change your outlook on the future. 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.
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. In other words, it is the way you interpret scripture. Reagans video program, revelation revealed, presents a sweeping overview of the entire book of revelation. The book of revelation, the last book of the bible, has fascinated and puzzled christians for centuries. Book of revelation explained interpretation principles youtube. The book of revelation is perhaps the most mysterious book in sacred scripture. The book of revelation must be taken literal whenever possible. 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. This view maintains that the words in the entire book have. Book of revelation for dummies cheat sheet dummies. 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. Every statement is to be taken to mean for exactly what. Revelation with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. A word list at the end explains words with a star by them.
The following facts and principles of interpretation should be understood in order for one to arrive at a correct understanding of the book of revelation. The historicist view follows a straight line of continuous fulfillment of prophecy which starts in daniels time and goes through john. Understanding images and symbols in the book of revelation richard d. Im a pastor, seminarian, collectorofbooks, and lover of all things revelation. Doyle tries to clear up the confusion over the interpretation of the last book of the bible. Understanding images and symbols in the book of revelation.
This is the word of god and the testimony of jesus christ. Interpretation principles for the book of revelation. This very powerful and dynamic teachingtool on the book of revelation shines a light on the symbolism and the mysteries of god. John wrote revelation while a prisoner on the island of patmos, approximately 8595 a. The real meaning of the bible s book of revelation is a popular, ongoing debate.
The key to bible interpretation, especially for the book of revelation, is to have a consistent hermeneutic. The book of revelation is johns record of that vision revelation 1. The book of revelation bold type and underlining of scripture text have been added for emphasis your questions and comments are welcome note. It cannot be understood without knowing the ot prophets ezekiel and daniel especially, nor without knowing the words of the lord jesus in matthew 24. But, of course, we cant leave it at that many books of the bible are very easy to understand on the surface. An easyenglish bible version and commentary 2800 word vocabulary on the book of revelation. Its title is derived from the first word of the text, written in koine greek. A 21st century interpretation of the book of revelation. The interpretation of the book revelation lamb and. It fittingly has the last place ending the scriptures and gods revelation to man. The discipleapostle john, who followed jesus christ and witnessed his crucifixion, authored it. However someone else told me the catholic church does not claim to know what the book of revelation means.
This interpretive method robs revelation of any meaning for those to whom it was written. Take a look at the basic structure of the book of revelation. Hermeneutics is the study of the principles of interpretation. And i will never blot out his name from the book of life, but i will confess his name before my father and his angels. The book of revelation explained in under 5 minutes youtube.
Great prophecies in the book of revelation show how and when these catastrophic events will occur. Truths about him and his final victory, that the rest of scripture merely allude to, become clearly visible through revelation about jesus christ see historical and theological themes. 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. An overview of revelation multimedia training kit covers the book of revelation verse by verse.
What this book reveals or unveils is jesus christ in glory. Youll find four major interpretive approaches to the book of revelation that can help you read, understand, and. The book depicts him as the risen, glorified son of god ministering among the churches 1. But god is working out a supreme master plan, involving every human being. Seven bowls, each containing a plague representing a divine judgment to be poured out on. 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 book of revelation in the new testament has the literal title in greek, the apocalypse of john. The book of revelation in the bible is one of the more difficult books of the bible to understand. 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. Book of revelation explained a testimony of jesus christ.
Pack staggering events foretold in your bible will shock the whole world. The book of revelation also called the revelation of john or the revelation of st. A commentary of the book of revelation bible truth. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant john, 2 who testifies to everything he saw. The following is the forward and a portion of a chapter from a forthcoming book which, in my view, falls in the latter category. Jun 17, 2018 the book of revelation explained takes you on a easy to understand and eyeopening journey through the book of revelation. Revelation is first and foremost a revelation about jesus christ 1.
The interpretation of revelation has always been a subject of debate among bible interpreters. As the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth 1. 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. Draper, understanding images and symbols in the book of revelation, shedding light on the new testament. The book of revelation is the final book of the new testament, and consequently is also the final book of the christian bible. The word apocalypse means unveiling and thats exactly what the book of revelation isit is a prophetic book that discusses the unveiling of what is going to happen in the nearing end times and what will come with the final revelation of jesus christ. Seven trumpets, the last three of which introduce three woes revelation 8. Then go into each of the twenty two chapters of the book of revelation one by one. John was a christian leader of jewish origin who was in exile on the roman prison island of patmos. Whenever god gives a vision of an image, or beast, or figure of any kind, he always holds himself responsible to give a revelation or interpretation of the meaning thereof, otherwise we are not responsible or. Cayce revealed the book of revelation is the symbolic story of how humanity in general and a human being in particular attains this union with the divine. And today we are talking about the book of revelation, a book that has several different interpretations and one that many.
Historicist interpretations of the book of revelation. An apocalypse is a very specific kind of literature with no modern equivalent. If youre befuddled by the book of revelation in the bible, dont fret. Revelation the dragon pursuing a woman, from the bamberg apocalypse. Most believe that the book of revelation is sealed, closed from understanding. At the same time they received the interpretation as to what those images or types were designed to represent teachings. 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.
Historicist interpretations of the book of revelation wikipedia. Among the things found in this book was the idea that revelation was speaking about such things as the soviet union, nuclear attacks between the ussr and the us, etc. A testimony of jesus christ is a commentary that explains some of the mysteries of revelation. I have spoken with this deacon about the book of revelation and he wanted to be sure i understand the catholic churchs interpretation.
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