As the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth 1. The real meaning of the bible s book of revelation is a popular, ongoing debate. I have spoken with this deacon about the book of revelation and he wanted to be sure i understand the catholic churchs interpretation. John wrote revelation while a prisoner on the island of patmos, approximately 8595 a. Overview of the book of revelation introduction revelation 119.
John was a christian leader of jewish origin who was in exile on the roman prison island of patmos. It is, of course, the cryptic symbolism of revelation that makes it challenging to understand. God reveals a basic framework for understanding future events. Revelation is first and foremost a revelation about jesus christ 1. 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. Book of revelation read, study bible verses online. 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. Online church promoting biblical interpretations of the. Johnson says that, as a system of interpretation it is more. However someone else told me the catholic church does not claim to know what the book of revelation means. The revelation is a very solemn book speaking much about divine judgments but it is also a.
The second method of interpretation is known as the idealist method. This framework is primarily laid out in daniel and revelation. Why do catholic bibles not include the book of revelation. He is the man who in 1909 produced the very first study bible a bible with explanatory notes. Revelation the last book in the bible was written to tell us about the futureespecially the final conflict between god and satan, and the triumph of jesus christover all the powers of evil and death and hell.
In this understanding, the contents of the book are not seen to relate to any historical events at all, but only to symbolize the ongoing struggle between good and evil during the church age until christ returns. Early church history supports the apostle john as the author. John the divine, although the godgiven title is at the very beginning of the text, the revelation of jesus christ, which god. Revelation 1, king james version kjv the bible app. Although its visions often seem bizarre to the western reader, fortunately the book provides a number of clues for its own interpretation e.
Youre already logged in with your bible gateway account. The key to bible interpretation, especially for the book of revelation, is to have a consistent hermeneutic. Revelation speaks of things that are already history. The book of revelation, a prophecy of warning and hope. I encourage you to bring your insights to class to share with others. Only johns gospel and revelation refer to jesus christ as the word 19. When a symbol is used, always look for the literal meaning behind it. Although not easily accessible to one unfamiliar to the landscape of biblical scholarship, this text is more than worth the effort. Revelation the last book in the bible was written to tell us about the futureespecially the final conflict between god and satan, and the triumph of jesus. An introduction to the book of revelation, including issues in interpretation. The book of revelation in the bible is one of the more difficult books of the bible to understand.
The revelation is the only prophetic book of the nt and it is the keystone of the word of god. The greek name of the bible book of revelation, apoka. The book of revelation was written to seven churches as both encouragement and challenge. I have some thoughts on this, but i would like to hear what others believe. The time for understanding the book of revelation is now at hand. And there were open books, and one of them was the book of life. What is the idealist interpretation of the book of revelation.
In revelation, johns visions reveal that jesus has overcome evil by. Revelation with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. 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. Preterists understand the book exclusively in terms of its firstcentury setting, claiming that most of its events have already taken place. What is the idealist interpretation of the book of. Each page of scripture is from the king james bible, and is immediately followed by the meaning of that scripture. Yet it has a clear message for all who would devote themselves to its pages. I heard or read somewhere that the book of revelation isnt included in catholic bibles, but that they have 73 books instead of the protestant 66, which protestants know as the apocryp. And hilkiah gave the book to shaphan, and he read it. The book of revelation, the final book of the new testament, has some of the most dramatic and frightening language in the bible. The interpreters of revelation are divided into three main schools.
Like all books of the bible, revelation was written in a particular time and place to particular people. The interpretation of the book revelation lamb and lion ministries. Revelation is apocalyptic, a kind of writing that is highly symbolic. There is perhaps no more misunderstood book of the bible than revelation. There are several other articles available on biblical interpretation.
Starting your free trial of bible gateway plus is easy. A commentary of the book of revelation bible truth. The book of revelation is johns record of that vision revelation 1. 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. Commenting on this interpretation, he stated, i dont understand it. Interpreters of revelation normally fall into four groups. A testimony of jesus christ is a commentary that explains some of the mysteries of revelation. Is the modern interpretation of the book of revelation flawed. Your credit card wont be charged until the trial period is over. An apocalyptic letter, it relies on visions, symbols, and old testament references to reveal the. John the divine, although the godgiven title is at the very beginning of the text, the revelation of.
The interpretation of revelation has always been a subject of debate among bible interpreters. Youll find four major interpretive approaches to the book of revelation that can. Mar 07, 2012 the book of revelation, the final book of the new testament, has some of the most dramatic and frightening language in the bible. This false view is held by most protestant denominations, most covenant theologians and many in the reformed movement. Messages from jesus to the seven congregations revelation 1. Sincere bible scholars, in fact, disagree about the meaning of some of the symbolic passages. Revelation 1, new international version niv the bible app. Louis brighton and the online commentary the book of revelation. An integrated digital bible study library including complete notes from the niv study bible and the nkjv macarthur study bible is. But that should not keep us from reading it and understanding its main message. The book of revelation is the final book of the new testament, and consequently is also the final book of the christian bible.
What this school said was too idealistic to be accepted by orthodox bible interpreters. Watch our overview video on the book of revelation, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Then go into each of the twenty two chapters of the book of revelation one by one. Historicism, a method of interpretation in christian eschatology which associates biblical prophecies with actual historical events and identifies symbolic beings. This name indicates the meaning of revelation it uncovers matters that had. This is the holy book of revelation, known as the revelation of st. And the dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books. This is the prevailing view among modern scholars who arent aligned with orthodox christianity. A series of visions, each one leading into the next. Historicists take it as describing the long chain of events from patmos to the end of history.
The book depicts him as the risen, glorified son of god ministering among the churches 1. I heard or read somewhere that the book of revelation isnt included in catholic bibles, but that they have 73. A testimony of jesus christ is a commentary that explains some. Historicist interpretations of the book of revelation wikipedia.
Historicism has produced many different, and often conflicting, interpretations of. The classical historicist view of the vision of the angel with the little book, in revelation 10, represents the protestant reformation and the printing of bibles in the common languages. Louis brighton and the online commentary the book of. Unlike most books of the bible, revelation contains its own title. The book of revelation can be confusing to the modern reader because much of it was written using a symbolic style of language that is not used today. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant john, 2 who testifies to. The interpretation of the book revelation lamb and. The interpretation of the book revelation lamb and lion. Book of revelation explained a testimony of jesus christ. This view maintains that the words in the entire book have almost been fulfilled. Symbolic language, however, is one of the chief characteristics of apocalyptic literature, of which this book is an. An apocalypse is a very specific kind of literature with no modern equivalent. 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. 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.
Book of revelation explained scripture by scripture. The holy bible book 66 revelation kjv dramatized audio. This page is an indepth bible study of the book of revelation based on the concordia commentary of revelation by dr. And hilkiah the high priest said unto shaphan the scribe, i have found the book of the law in the house of the lord. 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.
The discipleapostle john, who followed jesus christ and witnessed his crucifixion, authored it. The holy scriptures start with a revelation on the past genesis 1 and they end with a revelation on the future. This view regards the book as a book on church history. The holy scriptures start with a revelation on the past. Apr 28, 2015 the book of revelation is similar to other literature of the time thats called apocalyptic, which typically includes visions, global clashes, endoftheworld warnings, and many, many symbols. The idealist interpretation could also be called the symbolic or spiritual interpretation.
The real meaning of the bibles book of revelation is a popular, ongoing debate. A vision of god on his throne in heaven revelation 4. The interpretation bible commentary series is one of the best available and eugene borings contribution in his book. 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. May 02, 2017 why do catholic bibles not include the book of revelation. The next step is to enter your payment information. For an adequate understanding of revelation, the reader must recognize that it is a distinct kind of literature. Even if you dont understand it, the best rule of thumb is to just accept the plain sense meaning.
Book of revelation for dummies cheat sheet dummies. Another key to understanding the book of revelation, a very important key, is to accept the plain sense meaning of each passage. Nov 19, 2012 this is the holy book of revelation, known as the revelation of st. Usually this is done by combining references from various parts of the. In fact, the opening passage contains a blessing to everyone who reads, hears, and keeps the words of this prophecy.