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