I have spoken with this deacon about the book of revelation and he wanted to be sure i understand the catholic churchs interpretation. Sincere bible scholars, in fact, disagree about the meaning of some of the symbolic passages. For each, he presents the basic approach, strengths of the approach and weaknesses of the approach. Like scorpions, they have stings in their tails verse 10. 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. And so what we have to realize is that in some interpretations of the book of revelationin fact most of themthe interpretation is created by bringing things into. We hope to find such a key verse from the book of revelation that we might see the structure of this book. I do not write this with the intention of upsetting anyone but instead i do it in the tradition of all good teachers including jesus who inspire their students to think for themselves.
Parts of the old testament, particularly in the book of daniel, are also written in the apocalyptic genre. This view also ignores revelations prophetic character and, if carried to its logical conclusion, severs the book from any connection with actual historical events. This description has prompted many different interpretations. The book of revelation in the bible is one of the more difficult books of the bible to understand. In this view, the book contains neither historical allusions nor predictive prophecy. Each letter, as proclaimed by jesus and recorded by john the apostle, declares the triumphs and failings of the recipient churches and warns each congregation to repent. Its title is derived from the first word of the koine greek text. In other words, it is the way you interpret scripture. The book of revelation also called the revelation of john or the revelation of st. So, the divine author of revelation is jesus christ and the human author is the apostle john. Patrick zukeran presents a summary of four of the major approaches to interpreting the book of revelation and its meaning for the end times.
We can see how the lord jesus commanded john to write the book of revelation and how john. 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. That book allowed the proponents of each of four different views to present an overall summary of their approach to the book of revelation. Over the centuries, the church has presented countless interpretations and. The answers sought and received by the prophet joseph smith place various speculative interpretations out of bounds and generally help us see how johns. The interpretation of the book of revelation has often proven difficult throughout the history of the christian church. 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. Of all the books in the bible, the book of revelation is one of the most difficult to understand. It is also a book of glory, depicting the continue reading is the modern interpretation of the book of revelation flawed. These four horsemen of the apocalypse appear to symbolically portray four disastrous occurrences that will take place before the second coming of jesus christ. Then go into each of the twenty two chapters of the book of revelation one by one.
Most christians dont even realize other interpretations exist, but there are actually 5 different approaches to interpreting the book of revelation, maybe you knew. Reagans video program, revelation revealed, presents a sweeping overview of the entire book of revelation. The book elijah by michael obrien is faithful to the catholic point of view, while speculating on the events described in the book of revelation, but as mentioned before, there is no actual official interpretation of the book of revelation. The word apocalypse means unveiling and thats exactly what the book of revelation isit is a prophetic book that discusses the unveiling of what is going to happen in the nearing end times and what will come with the final revelation of jesus christ. The obscure and extravagant imagery has led to a wide variety of christian interpretations. Interpreting the symbolism in the book of revelation. Historicism, a method of interpretation in christian eschatology which associates biblical prophecies with actual historical events and identifies symbolic beings.
But that should not keep us from reading it and understanding its main message. One of our most fascinating exercises in scriptural interpretation is to study the book of revelation, to ponder its truths, and to discover. The bible indicates in revelation that seven trumpets will sound before the end of the age and the second coming of jesus christ. The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of waterthe name of the star is wormwood.
Book of revelation overview church of jesus christ. There are four major schools of interpretation for the book of revelation. The interpretation of the book revelation lamb and. In fact, there is actually a lot of repetition in the book that operates like different chapters of a book or scenes of a movie. The greek name of the bible book of revelation, apoka. The key to understanding the specific meaning of the ten horns and seven heads of the beast of revelation chapter is an image of the wild beast identified later in revelation a brightred beast that has seven heads. The real meaning of the bibles book of revelation is a popular, ongoing debate. The book of revelation can be confusing to the modern reader because much of it was written using a symbolic style of language that is not used today. In a comment, posted on february 16, 2019, a reader asked me to offer a bahai interpretation of chapter 20 of the book of revelation. For most the only question about eschatology that exists is whether you think the rapture is pre, mid, or posttribulation. Book of revelation biblical interpretations, pictures.
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. Hope you will be addressing the meaning of these images in revelation. Alan hultberg, associate professor of bible exposition and new testament, shares from the book of revelation in this talbot chapel at biola. The following interpretation, offered here, is by special request. The book of revelation, a prophecy of warning and hope. In daily mass we have recently been reading from the book of revelation.
In the final analysis one gets the sense that we that is, the ancient reader are. A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had. The advice in these letters is prophetic, forewarning presentday christian communities of the snares that. 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. Revelation then becomes merely a collection of stories designed to teach spiritual truth. Take a look at the basic structure of the book of revelation. What are the seven trumpet judgments recorded in revelation chapters 8 and 11. Consequently, there are a wide variety of interpretations about the meaning of the book, particularly in the traditional christian world. Most churches today teach the futurist interpretation of the book of revelation.
Historicist interpretations of the book of revelation wikipedia. Five of the seven have already sounded as evidenced by critical moments in recent history, and a third world war, which is the triggering event of the sixth trumpet, may have already begun. The primary meaning of the revelation, or at least the anchor point of any meaning, is what john intended it to mean, which in turn must also have. Four horsemen of the apocalypse meaning in revelation.
It will prepare you for the rest of the material contained here. This key verse can be used to unlock the meaning of the book. Historicist interpretations of the book of revelation. When i chose to read this book i had no idea what i was in for. This book by gregg, on the other hand, is a detailed, versebyverse commentary, with the text divided into paragraphs, and each paragraph followed by four parallel columns. However someone else told me the catholic church does not claim to know what the book of revelation means. I thought it was a discussion of revelation in general, only to find out it was an interpretation of the book of revelation as found in the new testament, and also known as the book of the revelation of saint john the divine. John the divine is an example of apocalyptic writing a form that delivers a message using symbols, images and numbers. 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. Is the modern interpretation of the book of revelation.
The book of revelation is notoriously difficult to understand. The book of revelation addresses seven letters to seven churches in asia minor modernday turkey revelation 23. Book of revelation explained a testimony of jesus christ. Book of revelation for dummies cheat sheet dummies. Different schools of interpreting revelation evidence unseen.
And many religious people believe that the book of revelation offers no help anyway, because it cannot be understood. The book of revelation was written sometime around 96 ce in asia minor. Lets look at the characteristics of each horsemen and how they all play an important role in the end times from the bible book of revelation. The book of revelation bold type and underlining of scripture text have been added for emphasis your questions and comments are welcome note. The historicist view follows a straight line of continuous fulfillment of prophecy which starts in daniels time and goes through john. Under this view, the book of revelation is mostly a book of future prophecy. Also, a possible interpretation will be given for select sections of the book, as well as an examination of some of these sections parallels with the hebrew bible. Returning the book of revelation to its historical context st. He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant john.
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. Futurist occurs in the future the futurist school holds that everything after chapter 4 is yet to happen in the future. The preterist approach to revelation the unfolding of. The key to bible interpretation, especially for the book of revelation, is to have a consistent hermeneutic. The book of revelation is a series of visions, but not every vision represents the same thing, nor are they in any strict chronological order. A 21st century interpretation of the book of revelation. Each page of scripture is from the king james bible, and is immediately followed by the meaning of that scripture. The book of revelation often called the book of revelations, 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. Key to understanding commentaries on revelations is knowing the position of the commentator.
Yet the book of revelation need not remain closed, at least for latterday saints who accept modern revelation. A commentary of the book of revelation bible truth. Book of revelation explained scripture by scripture. Five common misinterpretations of the book o f revelation, the here are five of the most common fallacious statements propagated in the name of john the revelator. It fittingly has the last place ending the scriptures and gods revelation to man. And so what we have to realize is that in some interpretations of the book of revelation in fact most of themthe interpretation is created by bringing things into the book of revelation, into. What is the sevenheaded wild beast of revelation chapter. An overview of revelation multimedia training kit covers the book of revelation verse by verse. But understanding the apocalyptic genre, the history of the early christians, the persecutions. Im going to propose what i think is a rather novel and perhaps disturbing interpretation of the book of revelation. Hermeneutics is the study of the principles of interpretation. It is most important to understand that the book of revelation does not list the scenes and events in the same order in which they will actually occur.
A testimony of jesus christ is a commentary that explains some of the mysteries of revelation. Reagans book, wrath and glory, covers the book of revelation chapter by chapter. Several principles need to guide any study of the book of revelation. Revelation often seems bizarre and incomprehensible. If youre befuddled by the book of revelation in the bible, dont fret.