The images, the visions, the symbols have been a rich field for bizarre interpretations. Current events in the united states have provided a catalyst for the already intense fascination many have had with revelation. Revelation was written when christians were entering a time of persecution. It is the only book of the new testament classified as apocalyptic literature rather than didactic or historical, indicating thereby its extensive use of visions, symbols, and allegory, especially in connection with future events. The strange visions of the book of revelation provide some of the most difficult passages of the new testament, yet christians have long been fascinated by its power and provocative. Many verses in revelation apply to life today, whether we are living in the midst of one of the. In revelation, johns visions reveal that jesus has overcome evil by.
We read about several johns in the new testament, including john the baptist and john the apostle, the son of zebedee. Kummel provides the following information on dating the apocalypse of john introduction to the new testament, pp. Revelation is filled with obscure and fantastic symbolism, and it teems with mystical references. Get an answer for who is john s audience in the book of revelation which he writes while on patmos. The text of revelation states that john was on patmos, a greek island where. The book of revelation is unique, in that it describes a series of visions that may or may be taken literally. I believe it would be fair to say that many christians look at the book of revelation in a similar way. The book of revelation is the revelation of jesus christ in the sense that it belongs to him, he is the one doing the revealing. It may come as a surprise to some people when they read the literally progression jesus used to write the book of revelation. Note that each of them required some additional designation to distinguish them from others with the same name. It is likely that the word used here is not identical to our modern jasper, but instead refers to a clear stone like crystal.
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 apostle john is the author of the book of revelation. The author of revelation identifies himself as a man named john rev 1. In conclusion, it is evident that the apostle john adopts portions of the song of songs in his composition of the book of revelation. John the baptist was the son of elizabeth, marys cousin.
Watch our overview video on the book of revelation, which breaks down. He makes sure the reader understands that the book was forged in the fires of persecution and gives first priority to what it meant to the early church that lived through the times in which revelation was written. Revelation 1 niv prologue the revelation from jesus. The real meaning of the bibles book of revelation is a popular, ongoing debate. The two periods most often mentioned are the latter part of neros reign a. In most cases they prophesy about the same time period, and they deal with the same events. The reason for this difference in style could possibly be that, the book of revelation was revealed to john the apostle at his old age and was possibly penned with the help of someone who was not good in greek language.
Four times the author identifies himself as john 1. John and the book of revelation a bible study in easy. Eusebius also records that, in the persecution under domitian, john the apostle and evangelist was banished to the island patmos for his testimony of the divine word. It is the message that the apostles took everywhere in the book of acts. Traditionally, the book of revelation has been dated near the end of the first century, around a. John, the revelation to oxford biblical studies online.
John, the revelation has particularly strong external evidence in its favour. Was this person the same john that wrote 1, 2, and 3 john. Relates to the things which are, that is, the then present state of the church, and contains the epistle of john to the seven churches, and his account of the appearance of the lord jesus, and his direction to the apostle to write what he beheld, ch. This is a book that jesus gave to show his servants something. The book of revelation is the work of a specific writer, who wrote under specific circumstances, to specific recipients, and in a specific literary genre. Patmos was a quarry mine for the roman empire, and was home to many political and religious prisoners or slaves. Revelation 1 new international version niv prologue. 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. The author was probably a christian from ephesus known as john the elder. The book most quoted as the basis of, and authority for, this fervor is the book of revelation. Johns description of gods throne advent bible study.
John of patmos could be the author named as john in the book of revelation, the apocalyptic text forming the final book of. Book of revelation explained scripture by scripture. Get an answer for who is johns audience in the book of revelation which he writes while on patmos. The other john was also a cousin of jesus, through marys sister salome and so was als. He wrote it when he was about 92 years old, while a prisoner of rome on the remote desert penal. How, they ask, are we to understand a book that is filled with so much. 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. The revelation to john often reflects imagery found in hebrew scripture, our old testament of the bible, such as the books of job, daniel, and ezekiel. Returning the book of revelation to its historical context. The book of revelation, a prophecy of warning and hope. The greek name of the bible book of revelation, apoka. The revelation of jesus christ, which god gave to him, to show to his servants what things must soon take place, and which he signified when he sent it via his angel to his servant john. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant john, 2 who testifies to everything he sawthat is, the word of god and the testimony of jesus christ.
What this book reveals or unveils is jesus christ in glory. 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. This comparison is easy to prove by simply reading the book of revelation along side the book of ezekiel. Nov 20, 2015 the book of revelation is one of the most mysterious books in the bible but thats no reason not to read it because john writes, blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy. Revelation was written to give encouragement to christians at the end of the 1st cent. Book of revelation read, study bible verses online. 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.
He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant john. It is often called the apocalypse, which is its title in greek, signifying revelation, canonical authority and authorship. Dec 17, 2019 the book of revelation is unique, in that it describes a series of visions that may or may be taken literally. So, the divine author of revelation is jesus christ and the human author is the apostle john. People who were not christians would not understand the book. This is the word of god and the testimony of jesus christ. It is a foundational doctrine of the christian church.
Jesus first described a scene, then the events that occurred in that scene. The terrible plagues and judgments seen and described by john in the book of revelation might be a first century mans description of a thermonuclear war. This is a very thorough treatment of revelation with a view toward the suffering church. He wrote it when he was about 92 years old, while a prisoner of rome on the remote desert penal colony of patmos, an island in the aegean sea. The political and religious circumstances can be somewhat deduced from the text, and johns concern that his readers know that.
It is populated by winged and wild creatures, locust plagues, and sevenheaded beasts. The author of the book of revelation identifies himself only as john. Only revelation and the gospel of john describe jesus as the lamb 5. He makes sure the reader understands that the book was forged in the fires of persecution and gives first priority to what it meant to the early church that lived through the times in. To protect the christians, john had to write the book in a special way. Revelation to john, last book of the new testament. From the outset, we are given the most important truth about the book of revelation. And the same voice that spoke to me before, that sounded like a trumpet, said, come up here, and i will show you what must happen after this. John had a series of visions which described things which would take place in the last days, recorded in the book of revelation. It is the only book of the new testament classified as apocalyptic literature rather than didactic or historical. The first vision which john is given is, appropriately, a vision of the risen and glorified christ who now lives in heaven revelation 1. John and the book of revelation a bible study in easy english. Is john the baptist different from john of the book of.
John writes to encourage the faithful to resist staunchly the demands of emperor worship. Apr 20, 2014 mix the book of revelation full movie youtube. It is also jesus revelation in the sense that he is the object revealed. However literal the prophecies may or may not be, the point is clear. First, we believe that the book of revelation must mean something. The book of revelation is strikingly different from the rest of the new testament. Book of revelation for dummies cheat sheet dummies. That is, the book of revelation was almost certainly written by someone other than the author of the gospel according to john. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant john, 2 who testifies to everything he saw. The emotionally evocative power of the book of revelation has been often noted and even experienced by interpreters, but until now it has never been systematically explored. In all its uses, revelation refers to something or someone, once hidden, becoming visible.
Gods throne is the governmental center of the universe. Watch our overview video on the book of revelation, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Revelation to john, also called book of revelation or apocalypse of john, last book of the new testament. It has drawn the attention of numerous scholars throughout the ages, all trying to interpret the meaning of it. Seven churches of revelation bible study david jeremiah blog. 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. Some writers, however, have advanced the preterist from a latin word meaning that which is past view, contending that the apocalypse was penned around a. Yes, they are two different people who shared a very common name. The book of revelation was written sometime around 96 ce in asia minor. If you can readsay these words without a sense of awe and wonder, then you havent really got them. We can know the book of revelation speaks with clarity about the end times because of two central principles drawn from revelation 1. 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.
The book of revelation, what god revealed to the apostle john, is a great prophecy mystery. The book of revelation by john the apostle bible probe. 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. By means of quotations, elusive allusions and themes from the ot revelation, john supports a christological interpretation of the song. The book should be rightfully called the revelation according to jesus christ. The books of revelation and ezekiel are basically the same books written with the same biblical imagery. The revelation of christ revelation 15 the prologue the vision of christ his appearance. Revelation is a mosaic of a book, exceptionally difficult for modern readers to disentangle, but with a clear message. Revelation has long been attributed to the author of johns gospel, in spite of the differences in style of writing. Winston churchill once described the soviet union as a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma. Johns use of the song of songs in the book of revelation. Dec 14, 2016 watch our overview video on the book of revelation, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. One gospel, three letters, and the book of revelation are all attributed to john. The book of revelation was gods answer to this situation.
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