This summary of the book of revelation provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of revelation. Revelation 1, new international version niv the bible app. Although its visions often seem bizarre to the western reader, fortunately the book provides a number of clues for its own interpretation e. 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.
Its purpose is to give encouragement and hope for all. In part 1 of our 65 part bible study, we are introduced to the most. The book of revelation bible, bible study, scripture. It can perhaps be best understood in distinction from the other major interpretations 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. This view maintains that the words in the entire book have almost been fulfilled.
The greek name of the bible book of revelation, apoka. Boring deals with the revelation from the stand point of examining. Almost half the books of the old testament are included 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. The book of revelation closes its awful description of the judgments which are coming upon the earth by inviting to the sinner, come to christ, and, after one reads and understand the book of revelation, he too will close the book and invite the sinner to, come, and receive, jesus christ as you savior. The interpretation bible commentary series is one of the best available and eugene borings contribution in his book. 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. Although not easily accessible to one unfamiliar to the landscape of biblical scholarship, this text is more than worth the effort. Whether were looking for gospel meaning or struggling with understanding revelations in the bible, historical bible study can help us find our way. Youll find four major interpretive approaches to the book of revelation that can.
Many have considered the book of revelation to be a sealed book and unable to be understood. The book of revelation is unique, in that it describes a series of visions that may or may be taken literally. 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. Revelation 1 new international version niv prologue. The book of revelation explained in under 5 minutes youtube. He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant john. In it, john1 talks about the ultimate defeat of evil and the glorious return and reign of the lord jesus christ. He is the man who in 1909 produced the very first study bible a bible with explanatory notes. What is the idealist interpretation 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. An integrated digital bible study library including complete notes from the believers bible commentary and the cultural backgrounds study bible niv and nrsv is just a step away. May 02, 2007 revelations is the source for the popularity of 666 and the four horseman of the apocalypse war, famine, pestilence, and death. So, the divine author of revelation is jesus christ and the human author is the apostle john.
The revealing is done by the commentators, who know nothing. In this approach to the book the symbols and content therein relate only to events and happenings at the time of the author. In revelation, johns visions reveal that jesus has overcome evil by. What is the idealist interpretation of the book of. Hal lindseys 1970 book the late great planet earth and the left behind series by tim lahaye and jerry b. There will be differences of opinion about exactly what and the timing of events that take place in the book of revelation. Like all books of the bible, revelation was written in a particular time and place to particular people. In the 1970s there was an extremely popular book titled the late great planet earth which allegedly interpreted the book of revelation. In other words, it is the way you interpret scripture. As to the first four seals, in my interpretation of the book of revelation, the seven seals are what keep the book closed. Introduction the book of revelation is one of the most encouraging books of the new testament. Four times the author identifies himself as john 1. The book tells of plagues, a meteor named wormwood, famines, and pestilence. Louis brighton and the online commentary the book of revelation.
Watch our overview video on the book of revelation, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. The bible is the word of god given in the words of men in history. This false view is held by most protestant denominations, most covenant theologians and many in the reformed movement. Here is the biblical meaning of the number 666, and if its the mark of the beast, according to scripture verses found in the book of revelations. The book of revelation, a prophecy of warning and hope. The interpretation of the book revelation lamb and lion. An apocalypse is a very specific kind of literature with no modern equivalent. Symbolic language, however, is one of the chief characteristics of apocalyptic literature, of which.
I heard or read somewhere that the book of revelation isnt included in catholic bibles, but that they have 73 books instead of the protestant 66, which protestants know as the apocryp. Here is the biblical meaning of the number 666, and if its the mark of the beast, according to. The interpreters of revelation are divided into three main schools. Youre already logged in with your bible gateway account.
Book of revelation biblical interpretations, pictures. Commenting on this interpretation, he stated, i dont understand it. 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. Those events are subject to interpretation but they are not a salvation issue. A testimony of jesus christ is a commentary that explains some of the mysteries of revelation. Some will interpret the how, what, and even the timing in the book of revelation differently depending on their method of interpretation. The book of revelation can be confusing to the modern reader because much of it was written using a symbolic style of language that is not used today. In fact, the opening passage contains a blessing to everyone who reads, hears, and keeps the words of this prophecy. This book takes the view that for the most part revelation is talking about historical events that happened during christianitys earliest years. For an adequate understanding of revelation, the reader must recognize that it is a distinct kind of literature. The idealist interpretation could also be called the symbolic or spiritual interpretation. Revelation is apocalyptic, a kind of writing that is highly symbolic. John wrote revelation while a prisoner on the island of patmos, approximately 8595 a.
Historicist interpretations of the book of revelation wikipedia. The beasts of chapter, for example, are related to imperial rome and the imperial priesthood. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant john, 2 who testifies to everything he sawthat is, the word of god and the testimony of jesus christ. The book of revelation in the bible is one of the more difficult books of the bible to understand. The interpretation of revelation has always been a subject of debate among bible interpreters. However literal the prophecies may or may not be, the point is clear. It does not accept the literal interpretation of the book of revelation and instead spiritualizes or allegorizes most of prophesy to make it fix into their interpretation. From as early as justin martyr in the second century a. Hermeneutics is the study of the principles of interpretation. I have some thoughts on this, but i would like to hear what others believe. 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. The book of revelations, a gnostic gospel excommunicate. Many verses in revelation apply to life today, whether we are living in the midst of one of the. Revelation often seems bizarre and incomprehensible.
That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers. But understanding the apocalyptic genre, the history of the early christians, the persecutions. However in my opinion theres problems with trying to apply the entire book of revelation to that one historical time period because revelation seems to. Similar to the early protestants, adventists maintain a historicist interpretation of the bibles predictions of the apocalypse. John the divinean alternative name for the book of revelationwas 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.
Its title is derived from the first word of the koine greek text. Sincere bible scholars, in fact, disagree about the meaning of some of the symbolic passages. Immediately i saw a black horse appear, and its rider was holding a pair of scales. The historicist view follows a straight line of continuous fulfillment of prophecy. The literary genres of the book of revelation are an apocalypse, a prophecy, and an epistle or letter. Unlike most books of the bible, revelation contains its own title. Book of revelation read, study bible verses online. The book of revelation, quipped ambrose bierce, is a famous book in which st. The bible is approximately 750,000 words, with about 250,000 devoted to many, many prophecies. 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. Why do catholic bibles not include the book of revelation. Early church history supports the apostle john as the author. Is the modern interpretation of the book of revelation flawed.
Other curious things of note in the bible, are the sevenheaded tenhorned red dragon as well as the seven headed beast. Understanding revelations in the bible biblical archaeology society. 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. 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. 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. Book of revelation explained scripture by scripture. This page is an indepth bible study of the book of revelation based on the concordia commentary of revelation by dr.
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. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant john, 2who testifies to everything he sawthat is, the word of god and the testimony of jesus christ. The new testament includes books that are biographies, histories, letters, sermons, and one book of apocalyptic prophecy. The book of revelation, the rapture and related bible prophecies have spawned a whole industry in recent years. Revelation 1 niv prologue the revelation from jesus. However, the word revelation comes from the greek name apokalypsis, which means a disclosure, a revelation or manifestation and to be revealed. Interpretation of the book 1 this book is a part of the canona part of that which god has spoken. Interpretive models for the book of revelation as a whole bible. The book of revelation explained by pastor allen nolan is a teaching. The key to bible interpretation, especially for the book of revelation, is to have a consistent hermeneutic. And so what we have to realize is that in some interpretations of the book of. Mar 18, 2019 a bahai interpretation of the book of revelation, after acknowledging the existence of a previous, and immediate, historicalcontemporary context, can then apply the prophetic patterns in the book of revelation to a presentday context.
Revelation 1, king james version kjv the bible app. But that should not keep us from reading it and understanding its main message. The discipleapostle john, who followed jesus christ and witnessed his crucifixion, authored it. 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 of pestilence. When people read the book of revelation they encounter this vast array of symbols. Dec 14, 2016 watch our overview video on the book of revelation, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Interestingly enough there are only 4 chapters in the bible where there is. Revelations is the source for the popularity of 666 and the four horseman of the apocalypse war, famine, pestilence, and death. The real meaning of the bibles book of revelation is a popular, ongoing debate. A third method of interpretation is the preterist method.
A free bible version and commentary on the new testament book of revelation in easy english. 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. So it was written by an apostle and this is one of the requirements or tests for inclusion into the canon of scripture. As its first verse declares, it is the revelation from jesus christ to show his servants what must soon take place. Nov 22, 2019 the number 666 represents more than you may think. Nowhere in the old testament is rome or any pagan city referred to as a harlot, yet jerusalem repeatedly is. Have you ever wondered what the book of revelation is all about. Outline for this study of the book of revelationpages 1, 2, and top of page 3. The interpretation of the book revelation lamb and. Key to understanding commentaries on revelations is knowing the position of the commentator. This view maintains that the words in the entire book have. Starting your free trial of bible gateway plus is easy. Since the book of revelation offers a prophetic look into the future, its fulfillment is also prophetic. The real meaning of the bible s book of revelation is a popular, ongoing debate.