The interpretation of revelation has always been a subject of debate among bible interpreters. This is the prevailing view among modern scholars who arent aligned with orthodox christianity. 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. 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. A 21st century interpretation of the book of revelation.
Under this view, the book of revelation is mostly a book of future prophecy. Another key to understanding the book of revelation. Its most serious problem is that it brushes over the specificity found within the text. 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. In revelation, johns visions reveal that jesus has overcome evil by. The revelation is a very solemn book speaking much about divine judgments but it is also a. Watch our overview video on the book of revelation, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. The interpreters of revelation are divided into three main schools.
The book of revelation is very simple it starts in the book of genesis. This view maintains that the words in the entire book have. The book of revelation was written in the first century a. 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. Pastor bob stidham pens an interpretation of the book of. The idealist interpretation could also be called the symbolic or spiritual interpretation. Many major entities and symbols in the book of revelation are introduced. Different schools of interpreting revelation evidence unseen. He holds to a preteristic view and interpretation of revelation until he hits the 2nd coming and the millennium he. 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. 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 interpretation of the book of revelation home facebook. Futurist occurs in the future the futurist school holds that everything after chapter 4 is yet to happen in the future.
The revelation is the only prophetic book of the nt and it is the keystone of the word of god. What this book reveals or unveils is jesus christ in glory. Introduction revelation is a confusing book to most people despite the many commentaries written. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant john, 2 who testifies to everything he saw. Introduction the book of revelation is one of the most encouraging books of the new testament. This is the word of god and the testimony of jesus christ. Book of revelation explained scripture by scripture.
Those events are subject to interpretation but they are not a salvation issue. What is the idealist interpretation of the book of revelation. Please dont be deceived by those people who come along and say, the book of revelation is apocalyptic. The book of revelation, a prophecy of warning and hope. The encyclopedia of christianity in the book of revelation. This very powerful and dynamic teachingtool on the book of revelation shines a light on the symbolism and the mysteries of god revealed to. 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. In all its uses, revelation refers to something or someone, once hidden, becoming visible. It can perhaps be best understood in distinction from the other major interpretations of revelation. The book of revelation in the bible is one of the more difficult books of the bible to understand. The book of revelation is perhaps the most mysterious book in sacred scripture.
While there is only one old testament apocalyptic book daniel and one new. The interpretation of the book the interpretation of the book. An overview of revelation multimedia training kit covers the book of revelation verse by verse. You will find references all through the bible to help us understand the interpretation. 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. Revelation with book summary versebyverse bible commentary.
First, revelation is a fulfillment of the sixtyfive books that came before it. There are several other articles available on biblical interpretation. The interpretation of the book of revelation has often proven difficult throughout the history of the christian church. He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant john. The following is the forward and a portion of a chapter from a forthcoming book which, in my view, falls in. When interpreting the book of revelation there are two important elements to remember. Interpretive models for the book of revelation as a whole. Book of revelation explained a testimony of jesus christ. The book of revelation, quipped ambrose bierce, is a famous book in which st. In other words, it is the way you interpret scripture. The greek name of the bible book of revelation, apoka. If we do not prove what we are saying, then we are not teaching anything. Interpretation of the book of revelationpastor bob stidham. An interpretation of the book of revelation hendriksen, william on.
The preterist approach to revelation the unfolding of. To illustrate this tension i am going to show some differences in popular revelation scholars 1 dr. John the divine is an example of apocalyptic writing a form that delivers a message using symbols, images and numbers. If you want to understand how the current events of today are coinciding with biblical prophecy, then purchase a copy of this book. The real meaning of the bibles book of revelation is a popular, ongoing debate. Parts of the old testament, particularly in the book of daniel, are also written in the apocalyptic genre.
The interpretation of the book is it symbolic or literal in nature. There will be differences of opinion about exactly what and the timing of events that take place in the book of revelation. The holy scriptures start with a revelation on the past genesis 1 and they end with a revelation on the future. In it, john1 talks about the ultimate defeat of evil and the glorious return and reign of the lord jesus christ. Is the modern interpretation of the book of revelation. The book of revelation also called the revelation of john or the revelation of st. There are four major schools of interpretation for the book of revelation. So, the divine author of revelation is jesus christ and the human author is the apostle john. Since the book of revelation offers a prophetic look into the future, its fulfillment is also prophetic. Revelation uses many signs, or symbols, that are not to be understood literally revelation 1. Reagans video program, revelation revealed, presents a sweeping overview of the entire book of revelation. It is also a book of glory, depicting the continue reading is the modern interpretation of the book of revelation flawed.
Historicist interpretations of the book of revelation. Reagans book, wrath and glory, covers the book of revelation chapter by chapter. Keys to understanding the book of revelation its meaning is positive, not fearful or terrifying to those who serve god. In daily mass we have recently been reading from the book of revelation. The revealing is done by the commentators, who know nothing. 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. 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 interpretation of the book of revelation by apostolos makrakis. What is the idealist interpretation of the book of.
Grant osborne of trinity evangelical divinity school holds a pretty unique view. 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. Book of revelation for dummies cheat sheet dummies. Apocalypse, from the verb apokalypto, to reveal, is the name given to the last book in the bible. Key to understanding commentaries on revelations is knowing the position of the commentator. 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. 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 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. 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. The key to bible interpretation, especially for the book of revelation, is to have a consistent hermeneutic. A testimony of jesus christ is a commentary that explains some of the mysteries of revelation. And there has been much speculation about it some of it bordering on offthewall, but some of it serious and scholarly. Day of the christ pantocrator sky august 11th, 1999. Hermeneutics is the study of the principles of interpretation. An apocalypse is a very specific kind of literature with no modern equivalent. 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. Revelation speaks of things that are already history.
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