Much of what we find in the book of revelation couched in the fantastic imagery are descriptions of events that for john were very close. Four times the author identifies himself as john 1. We dont know why john was exiled to patmos, but it may have been for refusing to worship the roman emperor domitian, who had declared himself a god. The opulence and the prominence of the city along with the mention of the seven hills on which it rests, its persecution of christians, and the use of euphemisms such as babylon are generally presented as evidence. Where is mankinds race to develop evermoredestructive weapons taking us.
Various outbreaks of pandemic diseases, such as the coronavirus, have prompted many to ask why god allowsor even causespandemic diseases and whether such illnesses are a sign of the end times. The book of the revelation pastor david legge 4 reign of righteousness. Book of revelation read, study bible verses online. Aug 11, 2014 a good friend asked me what i thought about the suffering of christians in the middle east and other nations such as north korea, and i said, i think we are living under the fifth seal of the revelation. Hitchcock said we are not in the end times yet, since the tribulations dont. Nov 19, 2012 this is the holy book of revelation, known as the revelation of st. He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant john nlt. The book was written around 96 ad by apostle john when titus domitian was the emperor of the roman empire. Preterism offers greater faith and confidence in the accuracy of the bible and a much more assured hope of heaven. The book of revelation is the revelation of jesus christ to apostle john thus to us christians. Take a look at the basic structure of the book of revelation. What we can gather from the book itself the preference of most scholars is not to make claims for the book of revelation that it does not make for itself.
Amazing bible signs of the end times for 2020, showing that we are living in the. So this book is a revelation of jesus christ, not in the sense that matthew, mark, luke and john revealed him, but rather than the humiliated christ, we have. So, the divine author of revelation is jesus christ and the human author is the apostle john. To understand the book of revelation, we need the same things that help us to understand the rest of the bible, including wisdom from god and assistance from those who. The book of revelation speaks about seven seals that represent different eras in church history. But the viral epidemic could yet spiral out of control if outrageous claims. If youre befuddled by the book of revelation in the bible, dont fret. There was actually an outpouring of books of revelation at the time. The book does not claim to be written by the apostle john, and so we should not make that claim for it or imply that its authority somehow rests on the establishment of such a claim.
Many have wondered if the third temple will ever be built. Prophecy of seven plagues to come the book of revelation may hold vital clues about the coronavirus epidemic if. We will not have a chance of understanding the details if we cannot see the big picture of this controversial book. The church is warned about sin and exhorted to holiness. Daniel contains a mixture of history, prophecy that has been fulfilled, prophecy soon to be fulfilled, and a few elements of prophecy that will be fulfilled centuries in the futureat the time of revelation. Apr 17, 2010 no, you are headed in the right direction. Johns apocalypse we are we should always be vigilant. And today we are talking about the book of revelation, a book.
The book of revelation closes with the bright and morning star, which is a figure of christ at his coming to take the church out of the world. How to study the book of revelation christian truth center. As we journey through this study of revelation, well focus on five aspects of the book that are important in helping us understand the message of what we are to expect in the future, and how we are to live now because of it. In fact, a whole book has been written about cayces interpretation of revelation. Cayces symbolic interpretation about the book of revelation can be contained in a book all by itself. The word comes from the greek word apokalupsis, which is used in the first verse.
Revelation s primary theological contribution is to eschatology, i. Of any book that has been purposely overlooked, revelation is it. Revelation 1 1599 geneva bible gnv the revelation of saint john the apostle. The holy bible book 66 revelation kjv dramatized audio. The name of the book, revelation, is a translation of the title in the original new testament greek, apocalypsis the origin of the other name by which the book is now known, the apocalypse. And when he opened the sixth seal, i looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake there are five major earthquakes here in the book of revelation. A series of visions, each one leading into the next. Mar 07, 2012 but before we explore these, lets look at what we find in the new testament book of revelation.
Turn with me to revelation 21 please, revelation chapter 21. Pray the rosary and receive the sacraments for the glory of god in the highest. The book of revelation is johns record of that vision revelation 1. The book of revelation explained in under 5 minutes youtube. And the book of revelation will complete the revelation of. Augustine uses the sense of a final resurrection and a final judgment as we find it in the book of revelation, especially in chapter 21, as the occasion we re talking about.
May 10, 2016 the book of revelation explained in under 5 minutes. And the place where its elaborated is chapter 17, the vision of the great harlot. It speaks about future or past events but has nothing to say for today s christian. There are a total of 66 books in our bible, but there is only one book that promises some kind of a special blessing for those who will attempt to try and read it and keep the words, revelation, and knowledge that is contained in it and that one book is the very last book of the bible, the book of revelation. John was the youngest disciple of the twelve disciples of jesus who became an apostle of the church. Have you ever wondered what the book of revelation is all about. The revelation research foundation has completed work on a 3d version of ezekiels temple, utilizing the drawings of mr.
The book of revelation, a prophecy of warning and hope. Aug 04, 2009 the book of revelation certainly contains some vivid and disturbing imagery and many have called it an angry text. There is not just one place in the book of revelation to accurately pinpoint exactly where we are. In this 14session study, you will examine the entire book of revelation, looking closely at johns apocalyptic vision and considering how it speaks to our faith and life as we await the advent. From christ revealing himself in revelation 1,1415 to the famines, plagues, pestilences, earthquakes, etc. The lord jesus christ began opening the seals shortly after he went into heaven to sit with his father on the throne.
So, enter david mathewsons new book, and we ll get to his eschatology as the series progresses, but for now i want to zero in on a wonderful chapter that explains the main stage players of. The revelator said, there was war in heaven rev 12. Historicism is the belief that revelation is always in the process of being fulfilled. If you had asked me this question when i was a young christian, i might have said, to help us discover when jesus will return to earth, to help us make sense of events in the middle east, to give us nightmares about the tribulation so that we dont get lax and miss the rapture, to give christians something to argue about, or. The book of revelation can be daunting and confusing to read, with its vivid imagery and sounds. Even in today s age we can see whats going on from the book of revelation in the bible. John was a christian leader of jewish origin who was in exile on the roman prison island of patmos. Dec 28, 2018 blessed are those who read and study from the book of revelation. So where are we now in the timeline or progression of prophetic events. The book of revelation describes how we will ultimately reap what we have sown. In addition, the following articles may offer more encouragement for all to remember as we face the trials of covid19 together. The first seal represents the early church and the seventh seal points to the second coming of jesus. 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. Hitchcock said we are not in the end times yet, since the tribulations dont appear until later chapters, the time when hitchcock.
In verse one of chapter 4 we move into the future, the prophetic part of the book of revelation. Stephanie hertzenberg is a writer and editor at beliefnet. Signs of the end times 2020 biblical end time prophecy. What revelation tells us will happen love worth finding. Revelation 1 gnv the revelation of saint john the bible.
Johns vivid pictures of worship in heaven both exhort and instruct believers. Just as the old testament trials of the nation of israel are a metaphor for the individuals relationship with god, the warnings in the book of revelation speak to every christfollower today. The seven churches of revelation the seven churches mentioned in the book of revelation were actual physical churches in the names of the locations john gives, so the letters that john writes to these churches. Tonight, michael rood begins a 6week teaching series on how to unravel the mysteries of the book of the revelation starting with how the torah is. John the divine, although the godgiven title is at the very beginning of the text, the revelation of jesus christ, which god. In few other books of the bible is the ministry of angels so prominent. The theology of the book of revelation new testament. Nov 01, 2005 farley andersons book, the book of revelation today, provides some very interesting insights and thoughts to consider as to what john the revelator was talking about, i.
Coronavirus disease covid19 could kill a quarter of the worlds population if a chilling prophecy in the bibles book of revelation comes to pass, christian evangelists have claimed. While were at it, how did the book of revelation get dispersed and enter the cannon of scriptures. We must not make the mistake, however, of automatically assuming that everything in the book of revelation has yet to take placeto do so would be to miss out on the overall message of the book. What does the bible say about pandemic diseasessicknesses. Revelation 3 niv bible to the angelof the church in. These letters act as a gauge to reveal each believers faithfulness. The stage players for the book of revelation jesus creed. However, below are a few things that have occurred. However, johns aim is not to confuse the reader, but rather to bless them revelation 1. If we cant tunnel through the earth, how do we know whats at its center. Satan is described in the revelation as a great red dragon who is enraged at israel and christians.
Book of revelation for dummies cheat sheet dummies. I would say thats where we are in the book of revelation today. As christs servants, let us examine his revelation to us about the future, and our place in it. It is a different language than we are used to, therefore it is obscure. Today, lets discuss the relevancy of the book of revelation to today s christian. End time notes of reference as to where we are now in the book of revelation. Yet it is a tough nut to crack, not only because of its intrinsic difficulty but because of the myriad interpretations that have grown up around the book. Hermeneutics is the study of the principles of interpretation.
We hope it can direct you toward scriptural truths about plagues and a study of the book of revelation. May you be encouraged and inspired by these 19 quotes from the book of revelation. Book of revelation explained scripture by scripture. Are the seven seals of the book of revelation unfolding today. When we understand the book s scope and the intent, we will be in a better position to divide its contents rightly and catch a glimpse of the future. In other words, it is the way you interpret scripture. Eastern christians became skeptical of the book as doubts concerning its authorship and unusual style were reinforced by aversion to its acceptance by montanists and other groups considered to be heretical. This book opens as its author, john often called john of patmos, since he says he wrote it on the. The book of revelation is dealing with what is going one today. The new view, therefore, began to argue that none of the events described in the book of revelation after chapters i. The novel coronavirus has infected more than 82,000 people and killed at least 2,801. It here signifies an opening up of hidden knowledge to understanding.
The book of revelation provides some of the keenest insights in scripture concerning the big picture of work. Having been a pastor for over four decades, ive seen theres not a church problem thats not addressed in. Many verses in revelation apply to life today, whether we are living in the midst of one of the prophecies or not. Ultimately, there is of course some treatment of eschatological issues. The 7 churches in the book of revelation exist today, in one form or another, because some things never change. Revelation is one of the most popular books to discuss among christians. The greek term denotes an unveiling or uncoveringthus, a revelation. This summary of the book of revelation provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of revelation. Today, it is generally believed that the harlot city referred to in the book of revelation is rome. The key to bible interpretation, especially for the book of revelation, is to have a consistent hermeneutic. The relevancy of the book of revelation to todays christian.
As we journey through this study of revelation, we ll focus on five aspects of the book that are important in helping us understand the message of what we are to expect in the future, and how we are to live now because of it. Now, it is an utter impossibility, as it has been week after week as we have scaled, at times, several chapters, but tried to go through the book systematically which i think is the best way, because you can get bogged down in a lot of detail otherwise and yet its impossible to deal with everything in each of these portions that. Sep 17, 2008 we need to pray and remember to ask our lords forgiveness for our sins. The book of revelation is the final book of the new testament, a stark account. I thought being exiled meant that there was nobody around. He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant john. Come explore the works of temple scholar frank shallieu. If you open the book of revelation and simply begin reading it as an. The last book of the bible, revelation, is also sometimes called the apocalypse. Seiss, jesus of the apocalypse by barbara thiering. Jesus christ has prevailed and has revealed this, and we are now seeing these. This spiritual war is seen in the persecution of gods people. One key component we now know is that the antichrist will be a follower of. Apr 21, 2014 where are we now in the book of revelation.
In addition, the majority of the endtime puzzle pieces are appearing and its just a matter of. Let me begin with the question as to whether or not the seven seals of the book of revelation are happening today. These are the words of him who holds the seven spiritsof god and the seven stars. The book of revelation endtime ministries irvin baxter. Keen insights into the nature of and relationship between father and son. We are to live righteously, pleasing god, worshiping god, and knowing that through jesus we have the ultimate victory. 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. Those visions didnt start with the book of revelation, but for almost 2,000 years, the trippy images and fiery rhetoric that blaze away at the back of the new testament have dominated how we.
If i said we are at the top of revelation 7, it might lead you to assume that rev. The book of revelation and work bible commentary theology. Second, we must address the question how the book of revelation especially the warrior jesus in revelation 19gets used by american fundamentalist christians to justify war and conquest, whether in iraq or in israel. Revelation is the dramatization of the unveiling of jesus christ. Revelation chapters 2 and 3 speak to the churches from the first century throughout the church age, which is the age we are in today as this study is being written. Cayce revealed that the book of revelation is the symbolic story of how humanity in general and a human in particular attains this manifestation of the divine. We only get one life, one chance to glorify our souls in immortal eternal salvation, regardless of where in the book of st. Is coronavirus one of the plagues in the book of revelation.
The majority of the book of revelation relates johns vision of a scroll that is written on both sides and then sealed. Revelation 2 niv bible to the angelof the church in. The rapture is the hope of the new testament, just as the revelation of christ was the hope of the old testament. These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. Since john was exiled to patmos, how did the letters to the seven churches get distributed. It records the events that are currently leading up to the second coming of our lord and savior back to this earth. We will look at one chapter of the bible to see how that chapter alone unseals those.
The book of revelation describes how we will ultimately reap what we have sown, bringing on ourselves unimaginable human suffering before god intervenes. Just as easily we can read in chapter 21 of a time at the very least a thousand years into the future from today. I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. In fact, a large portion of the bible contains prophecy. Johns anger has traditionally been understood to be directed at the romans for. This word means disclosure or revelation and conveys the idea of laying bare or uncovering. Revelation was the last book accepted into the christian biblical canon, and to the present day some churches that derive from the church of the east reject it. The revelation of john is the one book in the new testament that claims john as its author. This book highlights the theology of the book of revelation, as opposed to focusing solely on eschatology. Others, however, argue that revelation is happening now. I am ignoring those that cant see the year reign of christ in our future.
Everyone has an opinion on when the famous events of the book of revelation will take place. But we now know that johns book of revelation wasnt, by any means, the only book of revelation written at the time. The fourth and final major interpretation of the book of revelation is historicism. She is a graduate of the college of william and mary where she majored in. By the time the writings that are now included in the new testament were assembled in their present form, three letters and one gospel were also attributed to john.