4 interpretation of the book of revelations

For 33 years, he served as pastor of bethlehem baptist church, minneapolis, minnesota. The futurist would say that nothing in the book of revelation past chapter 4 has yet been fulfilled. The interpreters of revelation are divided into three main schools. There are only two centuries between the writing of the book and the fall of rome. 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.

That book allowed the proponents of each of four different views to present an overall summary of their approach to the book of revelation. So, the divine author of revelation is jesus christ and the human author is the apostle john. Particularly useful is the list of old and new testament allusions in revelation. Revelation 4 bible commentary matthew henry concise.

Early tradition unanimously identified him as john the apostle, author of the fourth gospel and three epistles. In other words, the two witnesses are two witnesses. Nov 14, 20 bishop robert barron on the book of revelation bishop robert barron. 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. Cayces symbolic interpretation about the book of revelation can be contained in a book all by itself. You will start understanding the book of revelation. Youll find four major interpretive approaches to the book of revelation that can.

An apocalypse is a very specific kind of literature with no modern equivalent. The four major schools of prophetic interpretation if we are to have any success in being free of the inertia of preconceived ideas, if we hope to be aware of our. This revelation was given to him by god the father, and it was communicated to the apostle john by an angel 1. Futurist occurs in the future the futurist school holds that everything after chapter 4 is yet to happen in the future. This book by gregg, on the other hand, is a detailed, versebyverse commentary, with the text divided into paragraphs, and each paragraph followed by four parallel columns. 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 is a lot in the book that will not be found in the standard commentaries. 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 interpretation of the book revelation lamb and. Study revelation 4 using matthew henrys bible commentary concise to better understand scripture with full outline and verse meaning. Kindly explain in detail about revelation chapter 4 and 5. One will interpret revelation according to ones method of interpretation. When interpreting the book of revelation there are two important elements to remember.

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. The discipleapostle john, who followed jesus christ and witnessed his crucifixion, authored it. Please check the reference to make sure it is correct. The radical discipleship interpretation asserts that the book of revelation is best understood as a handbook for radical discipleship.

The book of revelation explained takes you on a easy to understand and eyeopening journey through the book of revelation. The historicist view follows a straight line of continuous fulfillment of prophecy. Many have wondered if the third temple will ever be built. Exegetical analysis of the four horsemen of the apocalypse. Is the modern interpretation of the book of revelation. This view also ignores revelations prophetic character and, if carried to its logical conclusion, severs the book from any connection with actual historical events. And many religious people believe that the book of revelation offers no help anyway, because it cannot be understood. The interpretation of the book of revelation has often proven difficult throughout the history of the christian church. Look at the book how to read revelation revelation 4. First, revelation is a fulfillment of the sixtyfive books that came before it.

Bible scholars have taken one of four interpretations concerning the book of revelation. Reagans video program, revelation revealed, presents a sweeping overview of the entire book of revelation. The book, itself, states that its message is directed at the first century christians in asia minor, and that the events it describes would happen soon revelation 1. A testimony of jesus christ is a commentary that explains some of the mysteries of revelation. The transition to the fourth chapter of the book of revelation. There have traditionally been four or five schools of thought on the interpretive framework of the book of revelation. Some will interpret the how, what, and even the timing in the book of revelation differently depending on their method of interpretation. 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.

Book of revelation for dummies cheat sheet dummies. 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. Johnson says that, as a system of interpretation it is more. 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. Revelation in popular culture the book of revelation, the rapture and. Edgar cayces amazing interpretation of the book of revelation duration. 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. The interpretation of revelation has always been a subject of debate among bible interpreters. And there has been much speculation about it some of it bordering on offthewall, but some of it serious and scholarly. Four times the author identifies himself as john 1. Here are brief definitions of the four major interpretive approaches.

Unlike most books of the bible, revelation contains its own title. The second method of interpretation is known as the idealist method. That there are differing views on the interpretation of the apocalyptic writings in the book of revelation is no secret. Come explore the works of temple scholar frank shallieu. Book of revelation explained a testimony of jesus christ. In this view, the book contains neither historical allusions nor predictive prophecy. The greek name of the bible book of revelation, apoka. Four horsemen of the apocalypse, saintsever beatus, 11th century. The following is the forward and a portion of a chapter from a forthcoming book which, in my view, falls in. Another mode of literalist interpretation is what is referred to as the futurist school.

The best example of joseph smiths providing an explanation of the book of revelation is in doctrine and covenants 77. So we dont look to specific events to happen a specific time in history. This lovely book is an illustrated interpretation of the book of revelation based on bahai sources revealing the apocalypse as the story of seven faiths and empires whose materialism and militarism have caused the mess the world is in, specifically the apocalyptic war now waging between the muslim militarism of the middle east and the malignant materialism of the christian west. Introduction to the book of revelations of st john 3. Around the throne was a halo as brilliant as an emerald. The idealist interpretation could also be called the symbolic or spiritual interpretation. The book is well laid out with headings and subheadings etc. Book of revelation read, study bible verses online. The visions in this book run parallel to one another. John wrote revelation while a prisoner on the island of patmos, approximately 8595 a. The book of revelation in the bible is one of the more difficult books of the bible to understand. A commentary of the book of revelation bible truth.

There are several other articles available on biblical interpretation. Since the book of revelation is considered in the apocalyptic genre, the text can be extremely difficult to understand. Interpretive models for the book of revelation as a whole. Cayce revealed that the book of revelation is the symbolic story of how humanity in general and a human in particular attains this manifestation of the divine. The book of revelation is the final book of the new testament, and.

The literary genres of the book of revelation are an apocalypse, a prophecy, and an epistle or letter. So religion gives us a distorted understanding of this book or ignores it altogether. The four major schools of prophetic interpretation if we are to have any success in being free of the inertia of preconceived ideas, if we hope to be aware of our own hidden biases, we must first try to identify them. The interpreters using the historicist approach for revelation had their origins in the jewish apocalyptic writings such as we see in the book of. 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. A 21st century interpretation of the book of revelation. An introduction to the book of revelation, including issues in interpretation, ways to. There will be differences of opinion about exactly what and the timing of events that take place in the book of revelation. The interpretation of the book revelation lamb and lion. 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. Revelation 422, reveals the future end time events that extend into the future unto eternity and establishes this as the end of gods revelation to man. Bishop robert barron on the book of revelation youtube. Enduring word bible commentary revelation chapter 4. A vision of god, as on his glorious throne, around which were twentyfour elders and four living creatures.

The most natural interpretation is the two witnesses are two men god has commissioned as servants to reveal him and oppose the antichrist. The book of revelation, a prophecy of warning and hope. If one is looking to study the book of revelation, this is a great place to start. What is the idealist interpretation of the book of revelation. Revelations four horses of the apocalypse esoteric meanings. When i chose to read this book i had no idea what i was in for. Those events are subject to interpretation but they are not a salvation issue. This book is especially helpful when comparing eschatological systems and how they influence the interpretation of the book of revelation. A throne was there in heaven, and on the throne sat 3 one whose appearance sparkled like jasper and carnelian.

David guzik commentary on revelation 4 describes how john has a vision of the heavenly throne surrounded by the 24 elders and the 4 creatures. The very first verse in the book says that what the book will describe are things that will shortly take place. For example, an anonymous scottish commentary of 1871. Revelation then becomes merely a collection of stories designed to teach spiritual truth. The book of revelation is the blessings or reward for obedience rev 11. But just how is one to understand the book of revelation. God is showing the past, present, and the unfolding of future history. The versebyverse commentary on revelation introduction this commentary on revelation will prove, contrary to what most people think, that the revelation, the last book of the bible, is not difficult to understand if we will take a simple, facevalue, commonsense approach to interpreting it. Nov 10, 2014 since the book of revelation is considered in the apocalyptic genre, the text can be extremely difficult to understand. There are four major schools of interpretation for the book of revelation. These indepth versebyverse studies harmonize the holy bible from genesis to revelation. An overview of revelation multimedia training kit covers the book of revelation verse by verse. Book of revelation explained scripture by scripture. But god is working out a supreme master plan, involving every human being.

Lastly, since revelation is a jewish book, many of the symbols in the text allude to. And the voice i had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, come up here, and i will show you what must take place after this. Sincere bible scholars, in fact, disagree about the meaning of some of the symbolic passages. The revelation research foundation has completed work on a 3d version of ezekiels temple, utilizing the drawings of mr. It can perhaps be best understood in distinction from the other major interpretations of revelation. He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant john. Key to understanding commentaries on revelations is knowing the position of the commentator. Historicist interpretations of the book of revelation wikipedia. The book of revelation, often called the book of revelations, revelation to john, apocalypse of john, the revelation, or simply revelation, the revelation from jesus christ from its opening words or the apocalypse, is the final book of the new testament, and therefore also the final book of the christian bible. Revelation 4 new international version niv the throne in heaven.

Different schools of interpreting revelation evidence unseen. Received in march 1832, this revelation consists of a questionandanswer about specific verses in revelation, chapters 411. Under this view, the book of revelation is mostly a book of future prophecy. In revelation 2 and 3 there is reference to the persecutors as a synagogue of satan and it is stated that they consider themselves jews. 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 word revelation means an uncovering, unveiling, a disclosure of truth. But that should not keep us from reading it and understanding its main message.

Also the list of symbols used and their interpretation, and the numerology of revelation. This sea symbolizes the perfect way of salvation which contains the living water that gives access to eternal life. See the 7 chapters where the 4th seal origionates for gods interpretation. Revelation 4 niv the throne in heaven after this i. Reagans book, wrath and glory, covers the book of revelation chapter by chapter. The book of revelation is perhaps the most mysterious book in sacred scripture. Like all books of the bible, revelation was written in a particular time and place to particular people. It agrees with the most direct references to the identity of the persecutors in the book of revelation. It is about things that will happen soon in their lives. 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. The plethora of views, however, can be distilled into essentially four main categories. In fact, the opening passage contains a blessing to everyone who reads, hears, and keeps the words of this prophecy.