 |
| The Revelation Book of Revelation |
Revelation to John,
also called Book of Revelation or Apocalypse of
John, abbreviation Revelation, last book of the New Testament. 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. Revelation to John appears to be a
collection of separate units composed by unknown authors who lived during the
last quarter of the 1st century, though it purports to have been written by an
individual named John—who calls himself “the servant” of Jesus—at Patmos, in the Aegean Sea. The text
includes no indication that John of Patmos and St. John the
Apostle are the same person.
The book comprises two main parts, the first of which (chapters 2–3) contains moral admonitions (but no visions or symbolism) in individual letters addressed to the seven Christian churches of Asia Minor. In the second part (chapters 4–22:5), visions, allegories, and symbols (to a great extent unexplained) so pervade the text that exegetes necessarily differ in their interpretations. Many scholars, however, agree that Revelation is not simply an abstract spiritual allegory divorced from historical events, nor merely a prophecy concerning the final upheaval at the end of the world, couched in obscure language.
Rather, it deals with a
contemporary crisis of faith, probably brought on by Roman persecutions. Christians
are consequently exhorted to remain steadfast in their faith and to hold firmly
to the hope that God will ultimately be victorious over his (and their)
enemies. Because such a view presents current problems in an eschatological context, the
message of Revelation also becomes relevant to future generations of Christians
who, Christ forewarned, would likewise suffer persecution. The victory of God
over Satan and
his Antichrist (in
this case, the perseverance of Christians in the face of Roman persecution)
typifies similar victories over evil in ages still to come and God’s final
victory at the end of time.
Although Christ is clearly
the central figure of Revelation, an understanding of the text presupposes
familiarity with Old
Testament language and concepts, especially those taken from the books
of Daniel and Ezekiel. The
author uses the number seven, for example, in a symbolic sense to signify
“totality” or “perfection.” References to “a thousand years” (chapter 20) have
led some to expect that the final victory over evil will come after the
completion of some millennium (see Millennialism).
.jpg) |
| Introduction to the Book of Revelation |
Summary
This summary of the book of Revelation provides information about the title, author(s), date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the Book of Revelation.
Author
Four times the author identifies himself as John (1:1,4,9; 22:8). From as early as Justin Martyr in the second century a.d. it has been held that this John was the apostle, the son of Zebedee (see Mt 10:2). The book itself reveals that the author was a Jew, well versed in Scripture, a church leader who was well known to the seven churches of Asia Minor, and a deeply religious person fully convinced that the Christian faith would soon triumph over the demonic forces at work in the world.
In the third century, however, an African bishop named Dionysius compared the language, style and thought of the Apocalypse (Revelation) with that of the other writings of John and decided that the book could not have been written by the apostle John. He suggested that the author was a certain John the Presbyter, whose name appears elsewhere in ancient writings. Although many today follow Dionysius in his view of authorship, the external evidence seems overwhelmingly supportive of the traditional view.
Date
Revelation was written when Christians were entering a time of persecution. The two periods most often mentioned are the latter part of Nero's reign (a.d. 54-68) and the latter part of Domitian's reign (81-96). Most interpreters date the book c. 95. (A few suggest a date during the reign of Vespasian: 69-79.)
Occasion
Since Roman authorities at this time were beginning to enforce emperor worship, Christians -- who held that Christ, not Caesar, was Lord -- were facing increasing hostility. The believers at Smyrna are warned against coming opposition (2:10), and the church at Philadelphia is told of an hour of trial coming on the world (3:10). Antipas has already given his life (2:13) along with others (6:9). John has been exiled to the island of Patmos (probably the site of a Roman penal colony) for his activities as a Christian missionary (1:9). Some within the church are advocating a policy of compromise (2:14-15,20), which has to be corrected before its subtle influence can undermine the determination of believers to stand fast in the perilous days that lie ahead.
Purpose
John writes to encourage the faithful to resist staunchly the demands of emperor worship. He informs his readers that the final showdown between God and Satan is imminent. Satan will increase his persecution of believers, but they must stand fast, even to death. They are sealed against any spiritual harm and will soon be vindicated when Christ returns, when the wicked are forever destroyed, and when God's people enter an eternity of glory and blessedness.
 |
| The Endtime Mystery Book of Revelation |
Literary Form
For an adequate understanding of Revelation, the reader must recognize that it is a distinct kind of literature. Revelation is apocalyptic, a kind of writing that is highly symbolic. Although its visions often seem bizarre to the Western reader, fortunately the book provides a number of clues for its own interpretation (e.g., stars are angels, lampstands are churches, 1:20; "the great prostitute," 17:1, is "Babylon" [Rome?], 17:5,18; and the heavenly Jerusalem is the wife of the Lamb, 21:9-10).
Distinctive Feature
A distinctive feature is the frequent use of the number seven (52 times). There are seven beatitudes (see note on 1:3), seven churches (1:4,11), seven spirits (1:4), seven golden lampstands (1:12), seven stars (1:16), seven seals (5:1), seven horns and seven eyes (5:6), seven trumpets (8:2), seven thunders (10:3), seven signs (12:1,3; 13:13-14; 15:1; 16:14; 19:20), seven crowns (12:3), seven plagues (15:6), seven golden bowls (15:7), seven hills (17:9) and seven kings (17:10), as well as other sevens. Symbolically, the number seven stands for completeness.
Interpretation
Interpreters of Revelation normally fall into four groups:
- Preterists understand the book exclusively in terms of its first-century setting, claiming that most of its events have already taken place.
- Historicists take it as describing the long chain of events from Patmos to the end of history.
- Futurists place the book primarily in the end times.
- Idealists view it as symbolic pictures of such timeless truths as the victory of good over evil.
Fortunately, the fundamental truths of Revelation do not depend on adopting a particular point of view. They are available to anyone who will read the book for its overall message and resist the temptation to become overly enamored with the details.
.jpg) |
| The hidden truth, the book of Revelation |
Outline
- Introduction (1:1-8)
- Jesus among the Seven Churches (1:9-20)
- The Letters to the Seven Churches (chs. 2 - 3)
- The Throne, the Scroll and the Lamb (chs. 4-5)
- The Seven Seals (6:1;8:1)
- First Seal: The White Horse (6:1-2)
- Second Seal: The Red Horse (6:3-4)
- Third Seal: The Black Horse (6:5-6)
- Fourth Seal: The Pale Horse (6:7-8)
- Fifth Seal: The Souls under the Altar (6:9-11)
- Sixth Seal: The Great Earthquake (6:12-17)
- The Sealing of the 144,000 (7:1-8)
- The Great Multitude (7:9-17)
- Seventh Seal: Silence in Heaven (8:1)
- The Seven Trumpets (8:2;11:19)
- Introduction (8:2-5)
- First Trumpet: Hail and Fire Mixed with Blood (8:6-7)
- Second Trumpet: A Mountain Thrown into the Sea (8:8-9)
- Third Trumpet: The Star Wormwood (8:10-11)
- Fourth Trumpet: A Third of the Sun, Moon and Stars Struck (8:12-13)
- Fifth Trumpet: The Plague of Locusts (9:1-12)
- Sixth Trumpet: Release of the Four Angels (9:13-21)
- The Angel and the Little Scroll (ch. 10)
- The Two Witnesses (11:1-14)
- Seventh Trumpet: Judgments and Rewards (11:15-19)
- Various Personages and Events (chs. 12-14)
- The Seven Bowls (chs. 15-16)
- Introduction: The Song of Moses and the Seven Angels with the Seven Plagues (ch. 15)
- First Bowl: Ugly and Painful Sores (16:1-2)
- Second Bowl: Sea Turns to Blood (16:3)
- Third Bowl: Rivers and Springs of Water Become Blood (16:4-7)
- Fourth Bowl: Sun Scorches People with Fire (16:8-9)
- Fifth Bowl: Darkness (16:10-11)
- Sixth Bowl: Euphrates River Dries Up (16:12-16)
- Seventh Bowl: Tremendous Earthquake (16:17-21)
- Babylon: The Great Prostitute (17:1;19:5)
- Praise for the Wedding of the Lamb (19:6-10)
- The Return of Christ (19:11-21)
- The Thousand Years (20:1-6)
- Satan's Doom (20:7-10)
- Great White Throne Judgment (20:11-15)
- New Heaven, New Earth, New Jerusalem (21:1;22:5)
- Conclusion and Benediction (22:6-21)
 |
| The Mystery book of Revelation |
What do you know? Please Comment below......
.jpg)
.jpg)
