It will prepare you for the rest of the material contained here. This is the method that i will be employing in this study of revelation. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant john, 2 who testifies to everything he saw. Since the book of revelation is considered in the apocalyptic genre, the text can be extremely difficult to understand.
Over the years, the book has been called by all different names the apocalypse, the revelation of saint john the divine, fire and brimstone r us. Over the centuries, the church has presented countless interpretations and. There will be differences of opinion about exactly what and the timing of events that take place in the book of revelation. Franciscan father stephen doyle provides a catholic commentary on the book of. A bible commentary for teaching and preaching is a distinctive resource for those who interpret the bible in the church. So, the divine author of revelation is jesus christ and the human author is the apostle john. Revelation is first and foremost a revelation about jesus christ 1. Key to understanding commentaries on revelations is knowing the position of the commentator.
Maybe john thought titling his letter was a little bit pretentious. Bible for many christians, yet one of the most difficult books to understand. Even so, many different shades of interpretation are possible, and there is still considerable debate about the meaning of some of the symbols and images. Commenting on this interpretation, he stated, i dont understand it. The futurist method of interpretation there are several methods of interpreting revelation. The discipleapostle john, who followed jesus christ and witnessed his crucifixion, authored it. A portrait of dispensationalist interpretation of the book of revelation. This is the word of god and the testimony of jesus christ. 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. And there has been much speculation about it some of it bordering on offthewall, but some of it serious and scholarly.
Futurists hold that the church fathers taught a literal interpretation of revelation until origen ad 185254 introduced allegorical interpretation. The book of revelation also called the revelation of john or the revelation of st. In seeking the best interpretation of the book of revelation it is useful to know that it was not always considered by early christians as inspired. The revelation of jesus christto show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass. Paul tanner the book of revelation history of interpretation apr 25, 2002 appendix d. One will interpret revelation according to ones method of interpretation. This same method of interpretation can be applied to most of the imagery of revelation, from. Most interpreters hold that the first three chapter are addressed to a circular rout of seven literal churches of that day. It professes to be the record of prophetic visions given by jesus christ to john, while the latter was a prisoner, for the word of god and the testimony of jesus revelation 1. Its purpose is to give encouragement and hope for all. Some will interpret the how, what, and even the timing in the book of revelation differently depending on their method of interpretation. The interpretation of the book revelation lamb and. Its title is derived from the first word of the koine greek text.
Hermeneutics is the study of the principles of interpretation. What is the best interpretation of the book 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. There are several other articles available on biblical interpretation.
Even if you dont understand it, the best rule of thumb is to just accept the plain sense meaning. An apocalypse is a very specific kind of literature with no modern equivalent. Parts of the old testament, particularly in the book of daniel, are also written in the apocalyptic genre. The literary genres of the book of revelation are an apocalypse, a prophecy, and an epistle or letter.
Book of revelation biblical interpretations, pictures. The following authors take seriously revelations first century context. What john saw from chapter four and onward are the things that must take place after these things. February 24, 2010 by matt svoboda this is a post i wrote on my own blog a few days ago thought itd make some good conversation. Book of revelation explained scripture by scripture. Book of revelation explained a testimony of jesus christ. This then became the popular form of interpretation when taught by augustine ad 354430. John wrote revelation while a prisoner on the island of patmos, approximately 8595 a. Differences of interpretation, they point out, have divided christians, and therefore the book should. The book of revelation in the bible is one of the more difficult books of the bible to understand. It is helpful to know what these are so that one can understand the origin of various trains of thought on particular passages. Ten keys for interpreting the book of revelation digital commons.
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. 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. The real meaning of the bibles book of revelation is a popular, ongoing debate. In other words, it is the way you interpret scripture. In this thcentury mosaic in the cupola of the baptistry in florence, a voracious devil devours sinners. The following is the forward and a portion of a chapter from a forthcoming book which, in my view, falls in the latter category. As the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth 1. In fact, the opening passage contains a blessing to everyone who reads, hears, and keeps the words of this prophecy. 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. 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. Revelation has a wide variety of interpretations, ranging from the simple historical interpretation, to a prophetic view on what will. The third predominant school of interpretation regarding revelation, which is once again enjoying a resurgence in popularity, is the preterist school.
It links the book of revelation to prophetic books of the old testament and maintains their historical meaning and focus. Revelation the dragon pursuing a woman, from the bamberg apocalypse. 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. Youll find four major interpretive approaches to the book of revelation that can. Therefore, the third section of revelation begins with chapter four.
The book of revelation is perhaps the most mysterious book in sacred scripture. But just how is one to understand the book of revelation. The interpretation of the book of revelation has often proven difficult throughout the history of the christian church. Those events are subject to interpretation but they are not a salvation issue. The interpretation of revelation has always been a subject of debate among bible interpreters. The book of revelation is notoriously difficult to understand. While many associate the word apocalypse with great disaster, the book of revelation begins and ends by saying that those who read, understand, and apply its message would be happy for doing so. We have to appreciate it as a particular form of literature that utilizes symbolic and allegorical phraseology. The greek name of the bible book of revelation, apoka. Each page of scripture is from the king james bible, and is immediately followed by the meaning of that scripture. The postapostolic period for at least the first one hundred years after john wrote the book of revelation, what evidence we have from the postapostolic period indicates that the church. The book of revelation is not given to easy interpretation.
This view regards reve lation in the same way as we would view ephesians or first corinthians, or any other book of the bible. All christians from all time will reign physically on earth with jesus. Alan hultberg, associate professor of bible exposition and new testament, shares from the book of revelation in this talbot chapel at biola. Bible scholars have taken one of four interpretations concerning the book of revelation. Then go into each of the twenty two chapters of the book of revelation one by one. A 21st century interpretation of the book of revelation. 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 time for understanding the book of revelation is now at hand. Historical bible study indicates that when revelations author refers to the place inhabited by satan, he was thinking of pergamon. The book of revelation explained in under 5 minutes youtube. The revelation of jesus christ, greetings to the seven churches, a vision of the son of man, the message to ephesus, the message to smyrna, the message to pergamon, the message to thyatira. Discovering gospel meaning or understanding revelations in the bible has baffled readers for centuries. Book of revelation for dummies cheat sheet dummies. 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.
A testimony of jesus christ is a commentary that explains some of the mysteries of revelation. Another key to understanding the book of revelation, a very important key, is to accept the plain sense meaning of each passage. The language and imagery is so chosen as to appeal to the maturing gospel scholar, to those who already love the lord and have some knowledge of. Book of revelation explained interpretation principles. Similar such writings of this genre appear in daniel. 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. In the new testament, this word describes the unveiling of spiritual truth rom. The book depicts him as the risen, glorified son of god ministering among the churches 1. Historicism, a method of interpretation in christian eschatology which associates biblical prophecies with actual historical events and identifies symbolic beings. He is the man who in 1909 produced the very first study bible a bible with explanatory notes.
It cannot be deciphered in a literal or fundamentalist manner that seeks to make quick and easy contemporary correlation. John the divine is an example of apocalyptic writing a form that delivers a message using symbols, images and numbers. He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant john. The book of revelation king james version audiobook by. Historicist interpretations of the book of revelation wikipedia. The key to bible interpretation, especially for the book of revelation, is to have a consistent hermeneutic. The book of revelation, the last book of the bible, has fascinated and puzzled christians for centuries.
Its meaning is positive, not fearful or terrifying to those who serve god. Unlike most books of the bible, revelation contains its own title. 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 only method of interpretation or hermeneutic that brings such controls and that moves us toward objectivity is the literal or normal and plain method of interpretation. The interpreters of revelation are divided into three main schools. The book of revelation takes an approach to the plan of salvation that is found nowhere else in all of our inspired writings. The books each have their strengths one of those strengths is being relatively concise. The book of revelation is at once one of the most important books of the. Revelation greek apokalupsis means an uncovering, an unveiling, or a disclosure. The book of revelation, a prophecy of warning and hope. The bible is the word of god given in the words of men in history. Planned and written specifically for teaching and preaching needs, this critically acclaimed biblical commentary is a. Is the modern interpretation of the book of revelation flawed.
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