The book of revelation has been available in english since the king james version was translated from the original greek in 1611. In other words, it is the way you interpret scripture. How to interpret the secret meaning of the book of revelation how to interpret the secret meanings in the book of revelation how to better understand the coming events revelations of awareness 9617 no. Crime is ten times as bad as it was in the good old days. In beginners guide to revelation, robin robertson uses his unique skills as a jungianoriented therapist to reinterpret this magnificent document as a saga of changing human consciousness. He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant john. The following is the forward and a portion of a chapter from a forthcoming book which, in my view, falls in the latter category. Book of revelation explained scripture by scripture. The most natural interpretation is the two witnesses are two men god has commissioned as servants to reveal him and oppose the antichrist. In this view, the book contains neither historical allusions nor predictive prophecy. Bible scholars have taken one of four interpretations concerning the book of revelation. All views believe that god is sovereign and in charge of all that occurs in history and its ultimate conclusion.
Over time the bible has been edited and passages and books have been stricken from the collective christian book. The time for understanding the book of revelation is now at hand. Book of revelation mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. 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. The book of revelation in the bible is one of the more difficult books of the bible to understand.
The interpretation of the book of revelation is not that of the restored church of god, or any person within it, including me. Some concluding remarks i entitled my talk this evening why the new testament book of revelation is often misunderstood and misused. The world is destined to terrible destruction in the next few years. And sometime read it alongside one of the better commentaries. About three years ago just after pastor james arrived. Understanding the book of revelation back to news archives reading the book of revelation can be a frustrating and perplexing study experience, with all its amazing cast of characters, its extraordinary symbolic imagery, and its deeply spiritual prose. There are several other articles available on biblical interpretation. Its title is derived from the first word of the koine greek text. According to many christian dogmas, the book of revelation is regarded as an interesting, complex, and a controversial book. The adventists take a unique view applying it to the millerite movement. The book of revelation, a prophecy of warning and hope. Historicist interpretations of the book of revelation wikipedia. Read through these highly informative booklets today.
The revelation of john the divine the argument it is manifest, that the holy ghost would as it were gather into this most excellent book a sum of those prophecies, which were written before, but should be fulfilled after the coming of christ, adding also such things as should be expedient, as well to forewarn us of the dangers to come, as to. Revelations is a slim book that packs in dense layers of scholarship and meaning. Under this view, the book of revelation is mostly a book of future prophecy. Revelations is the source for the popularity of 666 and the four horseman of the apocalypse war, famine, pestilence, and death.
Reading it straight through in one, two, or three settings is very helpful because you will see connections. A less wellknown historicist interpretation is the medieval churchs identification of the beast from the sea in revelation with the rise of islam. Applying the best available sources of commentary from a variety of scholars, donald and jay parry show that the book of revelation is meant for us to. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation. Reagans book, wrath and glory, covers the book of revelation chapter by chapter. It is the only biblical book that is wholly composed of apocalyptic literature.
Historicist interpretations of the book of revelation. Of all the books in the bible, the book of revelation is one of the most difficult to understand. The book of revelations, a gnostic gospel excommunicate. For 800 years the prophecies in the book of revelation have captured the collective western imagination. 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. God reveals a basic framework for understanding future events. The book of revelation is perhaps the most mysterious book in sacred scripture. The book of revelation was likely written between a.
The greek name of the bible book of revelation, apoka. Lastly, since revelation is a jewish book, many of the symbols in the text allude to events and language of the old testament. The book of revelation, the last book of the bible, has fascinated and puzzled christians for centuries. Through the prophet joseph smith, the lord has given us vital keys to understanding the book of revelation, particularly the meaning of the seven seals. Numerous verses in the book of mormon and the doctrine and covenants aid our understanding of the apocalypse. An overview of revelation multimedia training kit covers the book of revelation verse by verse. Any passage from the bible can mean anything but the value of the interpretation is to be judged in terms of its impact upon the world and upon human beings. But understanding the apocalyptic genre, the history of the early christians, the persecutions. Alan hultberg, associate professor of bible exposition and new testament, shares from the book of revelation in this talbot chapel at biola.
Reagans video program, revelation revealed, presents a sweeping overview of the entire book of revelation. Revelation 1, modern english version mev the bible app. Interesting facts about the book of revelation only one hope. The revelation of saint john the apostle geneva bible 1599. So, the divine author of revelation is jesus christ and the human author is the apostle john. Nov 10, 2014 since the book of revelation is considered in the apocalyptic genre, the text can be extremely difficult to understand.
The revelation research foundation is dedicated to the discovery and preservation of the history, archaeology, and literature of the bible. The metaphor of babylon as harlot would be wrongly construed if interpreted. The key to bible interpretation, especially for the book of revelation, is to have a consistent hermeneutic. It is the final warning that the world will surely end and judgment will be. March lecture at getty center with elaine pagels, professor of religion at princeton and author of revelations, on the book of revelation. Book of revelation explained a testimony of jesus christ. The real meaning of the bibles book of revelation is a popular, ongoing debate. This can be traced back to the book of revelation written by john the beloved, a disciple of jesus christ. This book is filled with mysteries about things to come. Seeing the book of revelation as a book of revelation.
And there has been much speculation about it some of it bordering on offthewall, but some of it serious and scholarly. Also, a possible interpretation will be given for select sections of the book, as well as an examination of some of these sections parallels with the hebrew bible. Revelation often seems bizarre and incomprehensible. 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. This framework is primarily laid out in daniel and.
But recognizing this comes from understanding how to read this kind of apocalyptic literature. Study the bible online using commentary on revelation 7 and more. How to interpret the secret meaning of the book of revelation. Some of the sections in bold are important apologetical evidence for the historicity of the resurrection. And then the third kind of literalist interpretation is one that says that all the events in the book of revelation are literally historically true, but that almost all of them have been completed. Tyndale, 1983, 14 implies that other literalists have employed figurative interpretations where literalisms rules of interpretation at least allow for a literal interpretation. Aug 04, 2009 revelation the dragon pursuing a woman, from the bamberg apocalypse. Through this book, the reader sees a joyous picture. One will interpret revelation according to ones method of interpretation. In other words, the two witnesses are two witnesses. The greek word for revelations is apokalupsis which literally means unveiling or taking off the cover a we are meant to understand the book of revelation.
The interpretation of the book revelation lamb and. One of elaine pagelss great gifts is much in abundance. Apr 28, 2015 what can we do to understand the book of revelation. Interpreting the book of revelation as an allegory of living. Different schools of interpreting revelation evidence unseen. Despite our various views, there are some common threads upon which christians agree. This view also ignores revelations prophetic character and, if carried to its logical conclusion, severs the book from any connection with actual historical events.
Death and resurrection passages in the new testament. The revelation of jesus christ was given to john by god to show his servants what must soon take place. An apocalypse is a very specific kind of literature with no modern equivalent. Book of revelation overview church of jesus christ. 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. 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 apocalypse, or revelation to john, the last book of the bible, is one of the. Futurist occurs in the future the futurist school holds that everything after chapter 4 is yet to happen in the future. Hermeneutics is the study of the principles of interpretation. The book of revelation often called the book of revelations, 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. Understanding the book of revelation news amazing facts. Revelation 7 commentary a testimony of jesus christ. 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.
Some of these bold references either contain allusions to witnesses of the resurrection or preserve very. But just how is one to understand the book of revelation. One of our most fascinating exercises in scriptural interpretation. Revelation then becomes merely a collection of stories designed to teach spiritual truth. May 02, 2007 this is because it is one of the only gnostic gospels that actually made it into the bible. Key to understanding commentaries on revelations is knowing the position of the commentator. The book of revelation is a fascinating book, and the debate regarding its interpretation will continue. A testimony of jesus christ is a commentary that explains some of the mysteries of revelation. Another book, ibm and the holocaust, fills in the details of what corporations such as the german bible society had to do, in order to operate in germany during wwii. It is not by any means exhaustive, but should cover most of the instances.
The book of revelation, the last book in the bible, is often misunderstood because there is so much symbolism in it. 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. Mar 28, 2017 look at the book how to read revelation revelation 4. Read revelation 7 commentary using a testimony of jesus christ. Jeske immanuel lutheran church saratoga, california let s study the book of revelations, the adult bible class suggested to the new pastor.