The book of revelation, a prophecy of warning and hope. 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. Irenaeus also mentions that john has written the book of revelation towards the end of the roman emperor domitians reign. We can know the book of revelation speaks with clarity about the end times because of two central principles drawn from revelation 1. Now, the book of revelation is made up of this symbolic language. Commentary, interpretation and historical perspective on each book and each. In the 1970s there was an extremely popular book titled the late great planet earth which allegedly interpreted the book of revelation. The book of revelation in the bible is one of the more difficult books of the bible to understand.
Revelation is apocalyptic, a kind of writing that is highly symbolic. The new view, therefore, began to argue that none of the events described in the book of revelation after chapters i. When people read the book of revelation they encounter this vast array of symbols. Both testaments can be divided into history instruction prophecy revelation is the only book of prophecy in the new testament. Great prophecies in the book of revelation show how and when these catastrophic events will occur. Such a motif is also found on coins of the emperor domitian. The emperor decius proclaims an empirewide sacrifice, and this really is the event. Toward the end of the first century of the christian era, emperor worship was fairly well. The book of revelation is the final book of the new testament, and consequently is also the.
The route by which the revelation came to john is given here. Enduring word bible commentary revelation chapter 1. Working on the same principle of numerology, academics work out 616 to indicate the emperor. This perspective is explained in the paschal liturgy and the apocalypse new edition.
The book of revelation explained volume 4 preface you will notice that the book of revelation explained, volume 4, begins with chapter 12, not chapter 1, and ends at the conclusion of chapter 14. Book of revelation for dummies cheat sheet dummies. The author of the book of revelation, saint john the divine, offers a transcription of seven letters and later describes strange beasts, visions of judgments, governments, demonic battles, heaven, and a new world order a prophetic vision for the end of the world. The book of revelation was written sometime around 96 ce in asia minor. I think that the key to the book of revelation is that it has an incredibly ornate and lush imagery.
As the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth 1. Although its visions often seem bizarre to the western reader, fortunately the book provides a number of clues for its own interpretation e. Salt lake city the book of revelation has remained the most mysterious book in the bible for the last two thousand years. Many of the verses are foreboding and frightening, yet whoever reads this book is promised a blessing rev 1. The links below reveal the preterist view and interpretation of revelation as well as a preterist bible commentary on all major end time prophecies and end time bible verses in disguise with evidence from roman history suggesting that all bible end time prophecies have been fulfilled. Exploring the book of revelation, prophecy, and apocalyptic literature. John was a christian leader of jewish origin who was in exile on the roman prison island of patmos. Like the books of prophecy in the old testament, revelation proclaims a message. Summary in the book of revelation, the apocalyptic hopes of the early. Its title is derived from the first word of the text, written in koine greek. We hope this dynamic commentary is a beneficial study tool in your devotion to the word of god. The bulk of traditional sources date the book to the reign of the roman emperor domitian ad 8196, which evidence tends to confirm. The transition to the fourth chapter of the book of revelation. We dont know why john was exiled to patmos, but it may have been for refusing to worship the roman emperor domitian, who had declared himself a god.
Why is revelation, the last book of the bible, so different from the rest of. The book of revelation is the only book in the new testament that begins by specifically stating its source, the revelation of jesus christ, which god gave to himand signified it by his angel to his servant john rev. A commentary on the book of revelation clearly explained for everyone. Revelation is first and foremost a revelation about jesus christ 1. An interpretation of the book of revelation tyndale press. The book of revelation apocalypse 1 introduction revelation1 or apocalypse2 is a unique, complex and remarkable biblical text full of heavenly mysteries. However, he merely writes the words of jesus revelation 1. Book of revelation explained a testimony of jesus christ. No other new testament book poses more serious and difficult interpretive challenges than revelation. The book of revelation explained takes you on a easy to understand and eyeopening journey through the book of revelation. When people read the book of revelation they encounter this vast array of. We hope this commentary is a beneficial study tool in your devotion to the word of god.
This booklet contains vital understanding that will forever change your outlook on the future. The book of revelation introduction the revelation of jesus christ, which god gave him to show his servantsthings which must shortly take place. Christians were certainly persecuted in rome and the emperor nero. The book of revelation is johns record of that vision revelation 1.
Now, a chinese man with the knowledge of both eastern religions and. If you want to better understand the book of revelation. For an adequate understanding of revelation, the reader must recognize that it is a distinct kind of literature. If you want to better understand the book of revelation and the end times. Franciscan father stephen doyle provides a catholic commentary on the book of revelation and explains that todays people do not understand what the author of revelation. 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. It is the first book that many new to the bible want to study, while it is often neglected by mature. Revelation chapter 9 book of revelation each scripture. 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 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. Its title is derived from the first word of the koine greek text. Thompson is renowned for a revisionist take on emperor domitian that has been questioned by scholars for not being even handed, but knowing this before hand means that the rest of. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant john, 2 who testifies to eve rything he sawthat is, the word of god and the testimony of jesus christ.
Im a pastor, seminarian, collectorofbooks, and lover of all things revelation. The book concludes with a versebyverse background guide to the contents of the message the risen lord sent to his church. Before beginning to go through the content of revelation, we recommend that you read through the, and sections to familiarize yourself with the framework concerning this incredible book of god. You encounter these fantastic figures who play some role in the drama of the end, whether it be. Cyril barber the ministers library volume 3 this is not a commentary on the book of revelation, but a wellinformed book that introduces readers to the intricacies of interpretation and theology of johns vision. A chinese man decodes the 2,000year mystery of the book. At the heart of this millenialism is the description of armageddon, the final. Hes just a mildmannered christian guy living in exile whenpow. Very important we note this and realize we cannot study revelation in the same way we study the book of romans. The natural explanation of the messengers angels is that. The emperor decius proclaims an empirewide sacrifice, and this really is the event that for the very first time will be the. Placing the book of revelation clearly in the social setting of asia minor challenges much of the older scholarship on johns work being set in a time of persecution. The revelation to john new international version the prologue 1. John is told to write down everything god shows him, and boy is god going to show him some strange things.
Edgar cayce on the book of revelation the afterlife. Dont say i iz reading revelations whilst ma is cooks up some possum pie. One of these papyrus fragments is of the book of revelation and gives the number of the beast as 616. Before beginning to go through the content of revelation, we recommend that you read through the introduction, overview, and hermeneutical sections to familiarize yourself with the framework concerning this incredible book of god. Revelation with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. In this view, revelation is a sort of crystal ball that gives a timeline of literal future events. Revelation overview spurgeons verse expositions of the. Breastplates were designed to protect the vital organs and sustain the life of the warrior. If youre befuddled by the book of revelation in the bible, dont fret.
In revelation the message is that god is coming to judge and to redeem, and that the powers of evil and empires will clash before god establishes the fullness of his kingdom. Take a look at the basic structure of the book of revelation. Johns vision of the son of man is described in the scriptural revelation 1. 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. God hits him with a doozy of a revelation hey, thats not a bad idea for a title. 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. So, the divine author of revelation is jesus christ and the human author is the apostle john. The greek name of the bible book of revelation, apoka. He is the author of the forth gospel and of three epistles. Enduring word bible commentary revelation chapter 4. This is the apocalyptic vision which the biblical book of revelation says will come to pass, according to the understanding of many christians. The book depicts him as the risen, glorified son of god ministering among the churches 1.
This book is the unveiling of jesus christ in his relationship to the church, to judgment, and to what is to come. Having confined him to this barren spot, the emperor no doubt thought he had effectually. Pack staggering events foretold in your bible will shock the whole world. That the beast from the sea is the emperor himself is made clear in a later. There are many symbols and their meanings are seemingly hidden. This interpretation is based upon the angels explanation of the beast in revelation 17. That sounds ignorant all because you made revelation plural. Because of the contradictory nature of the external evidence, i place more weight on the internal evidence evidence from within the book itself. The author and date of revelation the book s author was obviously john revelation 1. First, we believe that the book of revelation must mean something. This is to corre spond with the chapters in the revelation. And many religious people believe that the book of revelation offers no help anyway, because it cannot be understood.
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