Is the modern interpretation of the book of revelation. The interpretation of revelation has always been a subject of debate among bible interpreters. Interpretive models for the book of revelation as a whole. Book of revelation explained a testimony of jesus christ. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant john, 2 who testifies to everything he saw. The book of revelation also called the revelation of john or the revelation of st. To illustrate this tension i am going to show some differences in popular revelation scholars 1 dr. 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 following is the forward and a portion of a chapter from a forthcoming book which, in my view, falls in. Many major entities and symbols in the book of revelation are introduced. The book of revelation, a prophecy of warning and hope. 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. With an uninterrupted printing history since it was first published in 1939, this treasured interpretation of the book of revelation has served as a solid resource and source of inspiration for generations. The preterist approach to revelation the unfolding of.
Answers to a variety of questions on the book of revelation including, the meaning of the first horseman, the timing of the bowl judgments, the application of the churches of laodicea and thyatira to history, and the meaning of nation against nation. The book of revelation is very simple it starts in the book of genesis. The greek name of the bible book of revelation, apoka. It can perhaps be best understood in distinction from the other major interpretations of revelation. The holy scriptures start with a revelation on the past genesis 1 and they end with a revelation on the future. The idealist approach is held by many in the present day, but it is fundamentally flawed as a method of interpreting the book of revelation. The interpretation of the book the interpretation of the book. John the divine is an example of apocalyptic writing a form that delivers a message using symbols, images and numbers. If we do not prove what we are saying, then we are not teaching anything.
The book of revelation is perhaps the most mysterious book in sacred scripture. The revelation is the only prophetic book of the nt and it is the keystone of the word of god. Key to understanding commentaries on revelations is knowing the position of the commentator. In all its uses, revelation refers to something or someone, once hidden, becoming visible. When interpreting the book of revelation there are two important elements to remember. He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant john. What this book reveals or unveils is jesus christ in glory. Some christian scholars in later centuries questioned its authorship, objected to some of its doctrines for instance, its teachings about the millennium or its teaching that people would be judged according to their works, and found its. The key to bible interpretation, especially for the book of revelation, is to have a consistent hermeneutic. Day of the christ pantocrator sky august 11th, 1999.
The revealing is done by the commentators, who know nothing. Under this view, the book of revelation is mostly a book of future prophecy. A testimony of jesus christ is a commentary that explains some of the mysteries of revelation. The book of revelation, quipped ambrose bierce, is a famous book in which st. Interpretation of the book of revelationpastor bob stidham. A 21st century interpretation of the book of revelation. Reagans book, wrath and glory, covers the book of revelation chapter by chapter. The interpretation of the book of revelation has often proven difficult throughout the history of the christian church.
It is also a book of glory, depicting the continue reading is the modern interpretation of the book of revelation flawed. While there is only one old testament apocalyptic book daniel and one new. Reagans video program, revelation revealed, presents a sweeping overview of the entire book of revelation. He holds to a preteristic view and interpretation of revelation until he hits the 2nd coming and the millennium he. Revelation with book summary versebyverse bible commentary.
Book of revelation explained scripture by scripture. Historicist interpretations of the book of revelation. It talks about a time when god will dwell with men and he will wipe every tear from their eyes and there will be no more death, or mourning or crying or pain for the old order i. Although a christian work, the apocalypse belongs to a class of literature dealing with eschatological subjects and much in vogue among the jews of the first century before, and after, christ. This very powerful and dynamic teachingtool on the book of revelation shines a light on the symbolism and the mysteries of god revealed to. 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. This is the prevailing view among modern scholars who arent aligned with orthodox christianity. There will be differences of opinion about exactly what and the timing of events that take place in the book of revelation. In daily mass we have recently been reading from the book of revelation. The real meaning of the bibles book of revelation is a popular, ongoing debate. Keys to understanding the book of revelation its meaning is positive, not fearful or terrifying to those who serve god. The interpretation of the book is it symbolic or literal in nature. Futurist occurs in the future the futurist school holds that everything after chapter 4 is yet to happen in the future.
The idealist interpretation could also be called the symbolic or spiritual interpretation. Parts of the old testament, particularly in the book of daniel, are also written in the apocalyptic genre. In it, john1 talks about the ultimate defeat of evil and the glorious return and reign of the lord jesus christ. The encyclopedia of christianity in the book of revelation. This view maintains that the words in the entire book have. Book of revelation for dummies cheat sheet dummies. The interpretation of the book of revelation by apostolos makrakis. An overview of revelation multimedia training kit covers the book of revelation verse by verse. An interpretation of the book of revelation hendriksen, william on. 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 revelation is a very solemn book speaking much about divine judgments but it is also a. In revelation, johns visions reveal that jesus has overcome evil by. Watch our overview video on the book of revelation, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Apocalypse, from the verb apokalypto, to reveal, is the name given to the last book in the bible. John the divinean alternative name for the book of revelationwas written by a prophet, it makes perfect sense that its interpretation is best given by another prophetespecially by the prophet who fulfills the prophecies in the book of revelation. Introduction the book of revelation is one of the most encouraging books of the new testament. What is the idealist interpretation of the book of. This is the word of god and the testimony of jesus christ. There are four major schools of interpretation for the book of revelation.
Please dont be deceived by those people who come along and say, the book of revelation is apocalyptic. If you want to understand how the current events of today are coinciding with biblical prophecy, then purchase a copy of this book. The result is that the basic historicist interpretation of the book changes from one generation to the next. The book of revelation in the bible is one of the more difficult books of the bible to understand. Another key to understanding the book of revelation. Prweb november 07, 2019 in his debut publication, pastor bob stidham shares an interpretation of the book of revelation published by westbow press, in an aim to turn humanity back to the bible so they can see the truth the word of god. An apocalypse is a very specific kind of literature with no modern equivalent. You will find references all through the bible to help us understand the interpretation. Revelation uses many signs, or symbols, that are not to be understood literally revelation 1. Revelation speaks of things that are already history. And there has been much speculation about it some of it bordering on offthewall, but some of it serious and scholarly.
Introduction revelation is a confusing book to most people despite the many commentaries written. Pastor bob stidham pens an interpretation of the book of. In other words, it is the way you interpret scripture. 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. What is the idealist interpretation of the book of revelation. 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. Grant osborne of trinity evangelical divinity school holds a pretty unique view. There are several other articles available on biblical interpretation. Hermeneutics is the study of the principles of interpretation. Different schools of interpreting revelation evidence unseen. Some will interpret the how, what, and even the timing in the book of revelation differently depending on their method of interpretation. 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. The book of revelation was written in the first century a. So, the divine author of revelation is jesus christ and the human author is the apostle john.
The interpretation of the book of revelation home facebook. 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. The interpreters of revelation are divided into three main schools. It is commonly read at this, the end of the liturgical year, because it speaks to the passing quality of the things of this world and to the end of the world itself. 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. Since the book of revelation offers a prophetic look into the future, its fulfillment is also prophetic.
212 948 638 915 292 365 1494 15 1173 1219 429 710 1328 1440 616 1446 840 340 923 53 1396 14 1281 1384 99 1211 330 507 143 1197 95 1121 936 567