Revelation 1 niv bible the revelation from jesus christ. The historical context of the book of revelation put forward in this minority view is the persecution of christians by unbelieving jews in. 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. Reagans video program, revelation revealed, presents a sweeping overview of the entire book of revelation. This mode of interpretation, which sees later events in christian history as fulfilling predictions in the book of revelation, is known as the continuous history view. The beasts of chapter, for example, are related to imperial rome and the imperial priesthood. John wrote revelation while a prisoner on the island of patmos, approximately 8595 a. An apocalypse is a very specific kind of literature with no modern equivalent. And there has been much speculation about it some of it bordering on off the wall, but some of it serious and scholarly. Book of revelation read, study bible verses online. One of our most fascinating exercises in scriptural interpretation is to study the book of revelation, to ponder its truths, and to discover. Book of revelation explained a testimony of jesus christ. The book of revelation is not so intimidating once you understand what the author was up to. Indeed, some might feel revelationssymbols and metaphors are so confusing that they.
The interpretation of the book is it symbolic or literal in nature. In the book of revelation, the apocalyptic hopes of the early christian community find their clearest and most complete expression. I have some thoughts on this, but i would like to hear what others believe. Like all books of the bible, revelation was written in a particular time and place to particular people.
The following interpretation, offered here, is by special request. In fact, the opening passage contains a blessing to everyone who reads, hears, and keeps the words of this prophecy. In this approach to the book the symbols and content therein relate only to events and happenings at the time of the author. The historicist view follows a straight line of continuous fulfillment of prophecy which starts in daniels time and goes through john.
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. However someone else told me the catholic church does not claim to know what the book of revelation means. 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. Matt tully so it seems like the history of christian interpretation of the book of revelation can be broken down into four broad categories. 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.
Parts of the old testament, particularly in the book of daniel, are also written in the apocalyptic genre. Key to understanding commentaries on revelations is knowing the position of the commentator. 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. 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. 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. The interpretation of the book revelation lamb and lion. Here are brief definitions of the four major interpretive approaches. 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 explained in under 5 minutes youtube. May 10, 2016 name the name of the book comes from the first verse, the revelation of jesus christ which lets us know that this book is all about the unveiling or uncovering of the person, plan and. The historical interpretation sees in it a description of the whole time of christendom. 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. An overview of revelation multimedia training kit covers the book of revelation verse by verse. I thought it was a discussion of revelation in general, only to find out it was an interpretation of the book of revelation as found in the new testament, and also known as the book of the revelation of saint john the divine. The book of revelation doesnt mean what you think theres more to understanding this ancient book than you realize. Please dont be deceived by those people who come along and say, the book of revelation is apocalyptic. Whether were looking for gospel meaning or struggling with understanding revelations in the bible, ben witherington iii, author of the article asking the right question, says historical bible study can help us find our way. A wellknown illustration of an historicist reading of the book of revelation is the reformation identification of the harlot babylon in revelation 17 with the roman catholic church and the papacy. 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.
Mansons interpretation of the book of revelation especially chapter 9. Hermeneutics is the study of the principles of interpretation. 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. 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. Interpretive models for the book of revelation as a whole. Charles mansons interpretation of the book of revelation. There are several other articles available on biblical interpretation. He follows the directives of the second vatican councils constitution on divine revelation and. 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. 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. A less wellknown historicist interpretation is the medieval churchs identification of the beast from the sea in revelation with the rise of islam. 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. Doyle tries to clear up the confusion over the interpretation of the last book of the bible. The real meaning of the bibles book of revelation is a popular, ongoing debate.
Book of revelation explained scripture by scripture. Hope you will be addressing the meaning of these images in revelation from the bahai perspective. The discipleapostle john, who followed jesus christ and witnessed his crucifixion, authored it. Is the modern interpretation of the book of revelation. The obscure and extravagant imagery has led to a wide variety of christian interpretations. Historicism, a method of interpretation in christian eschatology which associates biblical prophecies with actual historical events and identifies symbolic beings. The book of revelation, a prophecy of warning and hope. The key to bible interpretation, especially for the book of revelation, is to have a consistent hermeneutic. When i chose to read this book i had no idea what i was in for. The way the book of revelation is actually written is as a series of kind of unfolding revelations, each one of which gets to something deeper in the story. The apocalypse, or revelation to john, the last book of the bible, is one of the.
If one is looking to study the book of revelation, this is a great place to start. Is the modern interpretation of the book of revelation flawed. I have spoken with this deacon about the book of revelation and he wanted to be sure i understand the catholic churchs interpretation. Four times the author identifies himself as john 1.
The following is the forward and a portion of a chapter from a forthcoming book which, in my view, falls in the latter category. A testimony of jesus christ is a commentary that explains some. 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. You will start understanding the book of revelation. Those events are subject to interpretation but they are not a salvation issue. In revelation, johns visions reveal that jesus has overcome evil by. Historicism has produced many different, and often conflicting, interpretations of the actual historical events contained in revelation. The interpretation of the book revelation lamb and. Do our minds become confused when we hear all those sevens and l2s, and all those strange titles applied to jesus the alpha and omega and the bright morning star. Name the name of the book comes from the first verse, the revelation of jesus christ which lets us know that this book is all about the unveiling or uncovering of the person, plan and. A commentary of the book of revelation bible truth. Book of revelation for dummies cheat sheet dummies. So, the divine author of revelation is jesus christ and the human author is the apostle john. Revelation then becomes merely a collection of stories designed to teach spiritual truth.
This view also ignores revelations prophetic character and, if carried to its logical conclusion, severs the book from any connection with actual historical events. Historicist interpretations of the book of revelation. There will be differences of opinion about exactly what and the timing of events that take place in the book of revelation. Revelation often seems bizarre and incomprehensible. The book of revelation also called the revelation of john or the revelation of st. The book of revelation is perhaps the most mysterious book in sacred scripture. Apocalypticism was not a new phenomenon among christians. In other words, it is the way you interpret scripture. Book of revelation, chapter 9 american standard version 1 and the fifth angel sounded, and i saw a star from heaven fallen unto the earth. While there is only one old testament apocalyptic book daniel and one new. It is also a book of glory, depicting the continue reading is the modern interpretation of the book of revelation flawed. Watch our overview video on the book of revelation, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. The following is the forward and a portion of a chapter from a forthcoming book which, in my view, falls in. John the divine is an example of apocalyptic writing a form that delivers a message using symbols, images and numbers.
Reagans book, wrath and glory, covers the book of revelation chapter by chapter. The book of revelation in the bible is one of the more difficult books of the bible to understand. And there has been much speculation about it some of it bordering on offthewall, but some of it serious and scholarly. But understanding the apocalyptic genre, the history of the early christians, the persecutions. A third method of interpretation is the preterist method. In this view, the book contains neither historical allusions nor predictive prophecy. This book is especially helpful when comparing eschatological systems and how they influence the interpretation of the book of revelation. 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. A 21st century interpretation of the book of revelation. The past interpretation sees the battle of christendom gaining strength against heathen rome ending with faiths victory. If one is looking to study the book of revelation, this is a.
This way of interpretation was especially popular during the time of reformation. 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. 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. The greek name of the bible book of revelation, apoka. Historicist interpretations of the book of revelation wikipedia. It is commonly read at this, the end of the liturgical year, because it speaks to the passing quality of the things of this world and to the end of the world itself. The metaphor of babylon as harlot would be wrongly construed if interpreted. Mar 18, 2019 the following interpretation, offered here, is by special request. This false view is held by most protestant denominations, most covenant theologians and many in the reformed movement. Nov 27, 2018 in daily mass we have recently been reading from the book of revelation.
The interpretation of the book of revelation has often proven difficult throughout the history of the christian church. The interpreters of revelation are divided into three main schools. 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. The first category of people would be those who think that all of the events recorded in the book already happenedsoon after the book was probably written in the days of the roman empire. The interpretation of revelation has always been a subject of debate among bible interpreters. Revelation with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. In daily mass we have recently been reading from the book of revelation. The book of revelation bold type and underlining of scripture text have been added for emphasis your questions and comments are welcome note. In the 1970s there was an extremely popular book titled the late great planet earth which allegedly interpreted the book of revelation. He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant john.