I thought it might be useful to give seven principles for helping understand the book of revelation taken from the book, the triumph of the lamb by dennis johnson. Only this view does justice to revelations claim to be prophecy and interprets the book by the same grammaticalhistorical method as chapters, and the rest of scripture. Here are brief definitions of the four major interpretive approaches. To protect the christians, john had to write the book in a special way. Yet it has a clear message for all who would devote themselves to its pages. Language changes across generations and culture but pictures. The one thing every christian should be doing but most are not. It was, after all, written to be read and heard by its original audience rev. In the first chapter, the risen and exalted christ is speaking to john. Gentry draws from over 20 years of expertise in the historical and biblical background of the book to present the surprisingly easy to understand meaning of.
To understand either group, one must interpret their writings by considering the respective literary form that they used. It is somewhat optimistic to think that in one hundred and fifty pages someone is going to make the book of revelation easy to understand. The book of revelation is the last book of the bible in our canon for good reason. The book of revelation, the final book of the canon, has confused readers of the bible for centuries. 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. The book of revelation is notoriously difficult to understand.
In addition to the book of daniel and the book of revelation, a wealth of apocalyptic writing exists in the apocrypha and the pseudepigrapha of the old testament. The best way to understand revelation is to read the text and let the words tell us if this is a prediction for the future, something about the past, or something we can apply to our own lives. Individual subjects become easier to understand and believe as you research. This is the latest edition, which is expanded and contains some important changes regarding the millennium passage in revelation 20 that resulted from deeper research into revelation. Without these keys, many have bogged down into either arguments about whether the lords day vs. These are found in chapter one, entitled a strategy for seeing. Some have become quite well known to the public, particularly in the late twentieth century. Its meaning is positive, not fearful or terrifying to those who serve god. People who were not christians would not understand the book. Asia in this book is part of the country that we now call turkey.
We need to understand these descriptions in order to understand the book. And christ sent his angel to show it to his servant john, 2 who has told everything he saw. If you want to better understand the book of revelation. A simple outline for the book of revelation is found in revelation 1. 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 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 testimony of jesus christ is a commentary that explains some of the mysteries of revelation. The theme of the book is the events leading up to the jesus second coming. Book of revelation explained a testimony of jesus christ.
There are many layers of interpretation to uncover in this wonderful book. It is, of course, the cryptic symbolism of revelation that makes it challenging to understand. Unlike most books of the bible, revelation contains its own title. John and the book of revelation a bible study in easy. Verse 2 what john writes in this book has no human origin. Over the centuries, the church has presented countless interpretations and. God will cause this river to dry up, enabling the kings of the east to easily cross. In revelation the message is that god is coming to judge and. Book of revelation explained scripture by scripture. Christ tells john to write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.
In short, the book of revelation is arguably the most important book you will read in your life time. The liberal theologian has tried to make it a difficult book, and the amillennialist considers it a symbolic and hard tounderstand book. It is the final expression of and complement to the prophecies of the jewish prophets. The book of revelation was written during the times of great church persecution. Book of revelation for dummies cheat sheet dummies. And no other book of the bible promises blessings to those who read it, hear it and take to heart what is written in it. Most believe that the book of revelation is sealed, closed from understanding.
God would not give us revelation if he didnt want us to understand it. The things john had already seen are recorded in chapter 1. There is perhaps no more misunderstood book of the bible than revelation. Interpreters of revelation normally fall into four groups. 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. By connecting revelation to the old testament prophecies i believe we can understand the book as the first century audience did.
In our study of the book of revelation, we must start out with the clear understanding that. Many christians find it hard to study the book of revelation, while others believe it is impossible to interpret. Revelation made clear walks through the book of revelation looking for the clearest and most natural understanding of the book. How and where did we get the book of revelation all other books of. Revelation 1 easy english bible easy 1 this book describes the things that god showed to jesus christ. The new view, therefore, began to argue that none of the events described in the book of revelation after chapters i. Revelation never describes itself as a symbolic code of future events plotted on a timeline. Grab our free introduction to revelation lessons here.
He describes himself as their brother in the family of god. This web site explains the book of revelation, each individual scripture. Cutting through traditions that cloud the clear message of revelation, dr. Others think they understand the prophecies of the bibleand this is probably. Revelation made simple and easy to understand this last book of the bible bears the title revelation, meaning unveiling and, yet, it presents visions of. But when we connect many of the symbols with elements that appear earlier in the old testament prophets isaiah, jeremiah, ezekiel, and daniel, the message emerges from the details. The book of revelation is difficult to understand and inspires a wide range of questions, especially since there are many competing interpretations. Historicists take it as describing the long chain of events from patmos to the end of history. Revelation speaks of things that are already history. Ask the holy spirit to help you understand what you. Can you lose your salvation what is the meaning of worship. The book of revelation explained in under 5 minutes youtube. You can understand bible prophecy second edition 157 pp.
The characteristics of apocalyptic writing are fairly well known. The book of revelation closes its awful description of the judgments which are coming upon the earth by inviting to the sinner, come to christ, and, after one reads and understand the book of revelation, he too will close the book and invite the sinner to, come, and receive, jesus christ as you savior. By doing so, youll better understand this final book of the bibles new testament. Do you struggle to understand the book of revelation. People have shied away from this book because of its use of symbolism and its cryptic references. The book of revelation explained takes you on a easy to understand and eyeopening journey through the book of revelation. Revelation gives a birds eye view of the entire sweep of christian church history. The book of revelation was gods answer to this situation. The images in revelation have a foundation in prophetic books of the scriptures. The book of revelation in the bible is one of the more difficult books of the bible to understand.
I encourage you to bring your insights to class to share with others. When people read the book of revelation they encounter this vast array of symbols. Revelation made clear bible study in the book of revelation. Were here to help you teach kids about the love of jesus found in the book of revelation. Book of revelation read, study bible verses online. Understanding who is the actual author of the revelation and understanding the critically important theme, the centerpiece of the book, is vital. Reviewed by alex soto when a marriage covenant has been breached by harlotry, offended spouses can pursue divorce. Like the books of prophecy in the old testament, revelation proclaims a message. Futurists place the book primarily in the end times. Revelation for kids the book of revelation made simple. Revelation reveals the events of the day of the lord revelation 1. I used this book to help guide our youth group through the book of revelation and we learned a lot. Revelation 1 study of the book of chapter by chapter and verse by verse.
How to understand the book of revelation without feeling. The key to understanding is the mysterious book of revelation is comprehending its story flow. Preterists understand the book exclusively in terms of its firstcentury setting. The book of revelation is a book many people read but few truly understand. Summary in the book of revelation, the apocalyptic hopes of the early. Revelation greek apokalupsis means an uncovering, an unveiling, or a disclosure.
70 1566 283 64 1026 131 1460 1460 1000 171 1215 1333 1200 683 689 947 634 1412 519 718 27 1030 1585 1347 626 1619 379 988 434 762 1429 1076 485 404 448 1545 775 1636 774 499 408 1276 357 941 314 1189 1288 1454