Understanding the book of revelation truth magazine. It is a book of sign and symbol showing events which would occur from the 1st century right up until our day and beyond. A brief overview of the book of revelation the rise and. Understanding the book of revelation and the book of. Understanding the book of revelation kindle edition by rose publishing. Book of revelation explained scripture by scripture. Yet most people believe that this final book of the bible cannot be understood at allthat its language and symbols are too.
Understanding the book of revelation is a timely book as we approach the twentyfirst century. And many religious people believe that the book of revelation offers no help anyway, because it cannot be understood. The book of revelation seems to be completely beyond the comprehension of many. Carlson explained that the apostle john, who wrote the book of revelation, was limited to using the language of his day. Revelation the dragon pursuing a woman, from the bamberg apocalypse. Yet most people believe that this final book of the bible cannot be understood at allthat its language and symbols are too confusing to make sense.
It started when hal lindsey ii and coauthor carole c. The book of revelation was written sometime around. A testimony of jesus christ is a commentary that explains some of the mysteries of revelation. Im a pastor, seminarian, collectorofbooks, and lover of all things revelation.
It is a revelation that was received by the apostle john while he was in romanimposed exile on the island of patmos in the eastern mediterranean around 90 a. Whether were looking for gospel meaning or struggling with understanding revelations in the bible, historical bible study can help us find our way. It starts out simply enough, it is a revelation in greek, apocalypse from jesus christ, it is a prophecy, and it comes as a letter to seven churches. In other words, it is the way you interpret scripture. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The a5 booklet of 166 pages, divided into 7 topics, is accompanied by two dvd discs mounted into the covers and linked to the book by numbered slides. R evelation is a confusing book to most people despite the many commentaries written. Of course, the writer of the book, the apostle john, tells us that the prophetic book is.
The real meaning of the bibles book of revelation is a popular, ongoing debate. The discipleapostle john, who followed jesus christ and witnessed his crucifixion, authored it. Of course, even after going over the books content, it can still be difficult to know what revelation is all about. Hes just a mildmannered christian guy living in exile whenpow. Some believe the bibles last prophetic book is closed, meaning no one as yet can understand it. 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. Seiss, jesus of the apocalypse by barbara thiering. This is part of mel lawrenz how to understand the bible series.
Understanding the book of revelation november 12, 2016 kenneth l. This book deeply enriched my study as i read the book of revelation. In the first verse of the book, the apostle john recorded christs words, the revelation of jesus christto show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass. The book of revelation is a teachers delight, yet the preacher must tread softly here. 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.
A very, very insightful and helpful commentary on the book of revelation in the new testament which provides a great deal of clarity to the symbolism and many of the difficult passages of the book. The book of revelation has much to teach us about the events of the end times, and about our own hearts. To provide christians worldwide with carefully researched information and wellreasoned answers that encourage them in their faith and equip them to intelligently represent it to people influenced by ideas and teachings that. Understand the connection between the old testament and the end times, what to expect during the last days, and how to stand firm in christ in the face of opposition. Exploring the book of revelation, prophecy, and apocalyptic literature.
The rise and fall of the antichrist appendix four a brief overview of the book of revelation. The book of revelation also called the revelation of john or the revelation of st. Its language is highly symbolic and to be regarded as apocalyptic revealing the future. Understanding the book of revelation kindle edition by rose. 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. In this discussion of the book of revelation we look at. If you hang around long enough, youll quickly realize my theological perspective but just to make it easy, ill lay out the basics here. While revelation offers many details on the tribulationeven if they are often couched in the mystery of symbolic languageit is the final four chapters that dictate the overall message of the book.
Join us on a journey through the pages of this letter from christ to his people. The book of revelation, the last book of the bible, has fascinated and puzzled christians for centuries. However, earth clocks and heavenly clocks are not usually in lockstep. Understanding the book of revelation t he book of revelation, or the apocalypse, has been the center of more speculation by scholars and casual readers than any other book of the bible. The overcomers understanding the book of revelation.
Keys to understanding revelation united church of god. John the divine in some translations of the bible without comparing what it says to the rest of sacred scripture, can be a confusing experience. The book of revelation is a source of hope and encouragement for christians because the book tells about the triumphant return of our lord, jesus christ. The theme of the book is the events leading up to the jesus second coming. Free download understanding the book of revelation pdf. The book of revelation is not a book of doom and gloom but the victory of the lamb of god and those who follow him the overcomers. Understanding the book of revelation introduction reading the book of revelation, also called the apocalypse of st. 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 understand and that it is possible to understand it. Understanding the book of revelation news amazing facts. Chapter 1 introduction to understanding the book of revelation. 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. Revelation is a glorious book but is frequently obscure and difficult for many to understand. Richard booker helps you understand the book of revelation by explaining johns vision within its intriguing original historical, literary, and biblical context. The book of revelation is similar to other literature of the time thats called.
Understanding the book of revelation steps to bible. Understanding the book of revelation christian research. 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. White is professor of classics and christian origins at the university of texas at austin, and acted as historical consultant for apocalypse. Revelation is a confusing book to most people despite the many commentaries written.
John wrote revelation while a prisoner on the island of patmos, approximately 8595 a. Schneider decodes the book of revelation, showing how the endtime events prophesied in the new. Understanding the book of revelation kindle edition by. There are four common views regarding how revelation applies to us today. As mentioned before, the books very name means to reveal to unveil, to open to understanding what otherwise could not be comprehended. 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. Around the world, leading members of the religious community debate its content and offer theories about every aspect of its message. A word list at the end explains words with a star by them. 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.
The greek name of the bible book of revelation, apoka. The book of revelation, or the apocalypse as it is also called, is the last book of the bible. Its meaning is positive, not fearful or terrifying to those who serve god. Understanding revelations in the bible biblical archaeology society. If we did not realize already that it takes a lifetime to understand the bible and thats a good thing, the point is driven home when we get to the last book in the bible revelation. Book of revelation overview insight for living ministries. To unlock the symbols in the book, other parts of gods word need to be studied. It is, of course, the cryptic symbolism of revelation that makes it challenging to understand. Revelation, as it is written, describes events occurring in the heavenly realm and then jumps to consider events happening on earth. 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 book of revelation in the bible is one of the more difficult books of the bible to understand. It is often approached by some like a giant jigsaw puzzle, in which they become so bogged down looking at the individual pieces that they completely lose sight.
A need exists for good, ldsoriented commentaries on the scriptures, especially biblical texts, and these two volumes begin to meet that need. Understanding the book of revelation, pamphlet ebook. It does belong to a tradition of apocalyptic writing, which began in judaism in the second temple period. Revelations symbolic visions are similar to what youd see in the old testament prophecies of ezekiel, daniel, and zechariah. A trend which began with two bestselling books i on bible prophecy way back in the 1970s has continued to impact the christian world to this day. We find, however, a key verse which refutes this claim which. In the book s last chapter god reiterates that his words were given to reveal and not to be sealed revelation 22. An easyenglish bible version and commentary 2800 word vocabulary on the book of revelation. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading understanding the book of revelation. So this book is a revelation of jesus christ, not in the sense that matthew, mark, luke and john revealed him, but rather than the humiliated christ, we have. Book of revelation for dummies cheat sheet dummies.
Over the centuries, the church has presented countless interpretations and. Like all books of the bible, revelation was written in a particular time and place to particular people. In 30 minutes, understanding the book of revelation ebook will help you understand the different ways christians have interpreted revelation throughout the centuries. 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. Truths about him and his final victory, that the rest of scripture merely allude to, become clearly visible through revelation about jesus christ see historical and theological themes. The book of the revelation pastor david legge 4 reign of righteousness. It provides a broad overview in sequence of the whole of the. If you want to understand the book of revelation, this podcast will send you off in the right direction. Book of revelation explained a testimony of jesus christ. Keys to understanding revelation the book of revelation. The key to understanding is the mysterious book of revelation is comprehending its story flow.
Years ago i heard some preach this book of revelation as we do the gospel. There are many symbols in the book of the revelation, but most of. In this podcast episode, i give you 7 keys to understanding the book of revelation. The key to bible interpretation, especially for the book of revelation, is to have a consistent hermeneutic. Parts of the old testament, particularly in the book of daniel, are also written in the apocalyptic genre. What this book reveals or unveils is jesus christ in glory. The literary genres of the book of revelation are an apocalypse, a prophecy, and an epistle or letter. Its title is derived from the first word of the koine greek text. Hermeneutics is the study of the principles of interpretation. The reason most commentaries fail to enlighten the books contents is because they violate one or more of the three basic principles of sound biblical interpretation.
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