Perhaps understanding revelation as a story will help us sort through the enigmatic and cumbersome book that has baffled scholars, churchmen, and everyone else for over a thousand years. The meaning of the book of revelation canada free press. The book of revelation, a prophecy of warning and hope. The meaning of the book of revelation, whats it all about, meaning of life, dr. The last book of the bible is titled the revelation of jesus christ.
With this background, you now understand the introduction to the book. Come explore the works of temple scholar frank shallieu. The greek name of the bible book of revelation, apoka. 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. This idea has a strong tie to the book of revelation, as the gospel of jesus christ is the good news that he brought.
Revelation is well known for its apocalyptic style and vision of the end times. The book is laden with symbols and pictures that are hard to define. The key to understanding the book of revelation is to interpret it as literally as possibleit says what it means and means what it says. These indepth versebyverse studies harmonize the holy bible from genesis to revelation. It is often shortened to revelation or the apocalypse. 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.
The thing about the book of revelation is once you understand the key to deciphering it its not very interesting. Book of revelation definition of book of revelation by. The things that john had seen comprise an account of johns experience at patmos when jesus appeared to him. 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. The first resurrection in revelation 20 matt waymeyer professor of new testament and systematic theology the expositors seminary, jupiter fl revelation 20 is often seen as the most significant biblical passage in the debate over the timing and nature of the millennium. Though the book of revelation speaks of the end of the world using. These titles come from the greek word apokalupsis meaning disclosure or revelation used in the first verse of the first chapter. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation by elaine h. Well, one thing thats helpful to remember in revelation, is that numbers mean things, sometimes in a different way than they do in historical narratives because revelation is an apocalyptic work that shows this. Book of revelation synonyms, book of revelation pronunciation, book of revelation translation, english dictionary definition of book of revelation.
Its title is derived from the first word of the koine greek text. Its all explained in chapter xii of the rare book the origin of all religious worship by charles. Many christians consider revelation a book closed to being understood. It makes numerous references to various constellations in the night sky. In this verse we learn that jesus instructed john to write what he had seen, the things that are, and those that are still future. He wants us to hear what john heard, see what he saw, and feel as he did. Understanding revelations in the bible biblical archaeology society. Great prophecies in the book of revelation show how and when these catastrophic events will occur. In revelation 14, we meet 144,000 people, who had the name of jesus and the father on their foreheads.
And daniel also shows us a fate that is not compatible with eternal torment. A primer on the relationship between reason and revelation april 23, 2014 by brian jones the great philosophers that preceded the judeochristian revelation demonstrated many of the truths about god and the faith that are affirmed in scripture, and are what st. The meaning of the book of revelation can seem confusing to the average reader. This is a book for the seeker, for the churchgoing seatwarmer, for the active christian who lives the life but cannot understand the meaning of the last book of the bible, and for the person who knows nothing of the meaning or purpose of the christian life. Revelation 1 niv prologue the revelation from jesus. Revelation 1 new international version niv prologue. What this book reveals or unveils is jesus christ in glory. The allimportant introduction to revelation are we in the last days. We also know that numbers play a significant role in the book of revelation, carrying meaning. If jesus said that even these small marks are significant, then every word in the.
God would not have given it to us if its meaning were entirely a mystery. Information and translations of book of revelation in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. Symbolic language, however, is one of the chief characteristics of apocalyptic literature, of which this book is an. Here james resseguie applies the easily understandable tools introduced in his primer on narrative criticism to this challenging book. Introduction some general comments about the book of revelation and its uniqueness. Book of revelation the last book of the new testament. 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. Watch this video on the book of revelation and discover how to understand its meaning and message as a form of apocalpytic literature. But that should not keep us from reading it and understanding its main message. Is the author speaking of past events or future events. 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.
Bible living why i dont want to read leviticus but should anyway dawn wilson. I remember growing up thinking that the book of revelation was impossible to understand. Definition of book of revelation in the dictionary. Whats the significance of the 144,000 in revelation 14. Sincere bible scholars, in fact, disagree about the meaning of some of the symbolic passages. Many have wondered if the third temple will ever be built. The clear purpose of revelation love worth finding with. Parts of the old testament, particularly in the book of daniel, are also written in the apocalyptic genre.
Although we have a number of articles on interpreting the book of revelation and on related matters, and although the passage has been addressed in the rethinking hell podcast as well as in free resources outside of rethinking hell, a nice primer article addressing this passage was long past due. In these chapters god tells us what eternity with him will be like. It wasnt until a few years ago that i was able to acquire a toehold on the meaning of the text. Read this primer on the revelation and take comfort in the authors words. Revelation is the finale of the entire bible bringing gods word to a dramatic conclusion. While the book compares in part to a few old testament books, it does not compare with them as a whole.
The reason this article is something of a primer is because whether or not. A commentary of the book of revelation bible truth. It fittingly has the last place ending the scriptures and gods revelation to man. The comforting promise of revelation when you are certain of your future, then you can concentrate on your present. I have written about this before, but its been a while and ive decided i would like to address it for those of you who are interested. Are we to take prophecies literally or allegorically.
I believe the clear purpose of revelation is exactly what it says it is. The book of revelation, the last book of the bible, has fascinated and puzzled christians for centuries. Revelation the dragon pursuing a woman, from the bamberg apocalypse. The book of revelation dramatically reveals the final victory of christ. I get asked from time to time about turkey, the antichrist, bible prophecy, and how it all weaves together. Book of revelation explained scripture by scripture. As the only book of its kind in the new testament, revelation can be difficult to understand, and for readers without specialized training, the historicalcritical approach used in many commentaries can provide more complication than illumination. The name comes from the greek term apokalypsis, meaning unveiling or 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. The meaning of the book o f revelation can seem confusing to the average reader. Robert owens, the book of revelation, prophecy, christian prophecy, the end of the world.
It is a first step toward understanding something more complicated. As stated in the preface, the bruce metzger has tried to present a scholarly as well as. The book of revelation also called the revelation of john or the revelation of st. This book is intended to be a primer on the book of revelation. John the divine is an example of apocalyptic writing a form that delivers a message using symbols, images and numbers. We want what we want until we get it than we wonder why we wanted it to begin with. In the following article, witherington notes that a text without a context is just a pretext for whatever you want it to mean.
Bible biblestudytools video what is the book of revelation all about. So, the divine author of revelation is jesus christ and the human author is the apostle john. This world view, in combination with a literal interpretation of the book of revelation, is reflected in extremist ideology, violent acts, and literature. He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant john. A primer is a book for beginners, presenting the most basic elements of a field of study. The book of revelation was written by the apostle and gospel author john while he was imprisoned by the romans on the island of patmos.
What is the meaning of the parable of the mustard seed matthew. We ascertain rather easily that the book of revelation differs from the other books of the bible. Read our primer, how to read revelation in the church by matt o. In the bibles most infamous instance of divine judgment by means of fiery.
The second is to uncritically follow someone elses arbitrary interpretation of all the details and hidden meanings of its passages. It is necessary to look beyond the literal meaning to see that these images. A primer to catholic symbolism boston catholic journal. So often the wanting is much more fulfilling than the getting because the having is always transitory and the losing is inevitable. Given the ubiquity of old testament imagery in the book of revelation, daniel 7 plays a big role in interpreting whowhat the beast of revelation is. The revelation research foundation has completed work on a 3d version of ezekiels temple, utilizing the drawings of mr. In all its uses, revelation refers to something or someone, once hidden, becoming visible. The book serves as a good primer for the novice student of prophecy.
The apocalypse, or revelation to john, the last book of the bible, is one of the most. This came through a better understanding of the history of apocalyptic writing and a few. 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. For each of us, the cross will have various levels of meaning according to our lifes experience. The book of revelation is the final book of the new testament, and consequently is also the final book of the christian bible.
32 667 1083 1290 3 604 291 1273 13 434 1479 11 397 1363 56 445 683 357 755 807 1423 640 509 1437 490 1073 932 650 602 1303 96 876 674 296 1246 954 892 780 360