Book of revelations interpretation

Through his otherworldly journeys, cayce learned the true interpretation of the bible. The book depicts him as the risen, glorified son of god ministering among the churches 1. 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. Although its visions often seem bizarre to the western reader, fortunately the book provides a number of clues for its own interpretation e. 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. 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 apocalypse, or revelation to john, the last book of the bible, is one of the. It does not accept the literal interpretation of the book of revelation and instead spiritualizes or allegorizes most of prophesy to make it fix into their interpretation. Please dont be deceived by those people who come along and say, the book of revelation is apocalyptic. According to cayce, the bible is the symbolic account of the fall of the human soul from its divine origins as symbolically described in the book of genesis and restoration of the human soul to heaven as symbolically. Revelation is first and foremost a revelation about jesus christ 1. The book of revelation also called the revelation of john or the revelation of st. So, then, what sort of documents do we have in the new testament.

There will be differences of opinion about exactly what and the timing of events that take place in the book of revelation. The metaphor of babylon as harlot would be wrongly construed if interpreted. In the 1970s there was an extremely popular book titled the late great planet earth which allegedly interpreted the book of revelation. In fact, the opening passage contains a blessing to everyone who reads, hears, and keeps the words of this prophecy. Apocalypticism was not a new phenomenon among christians. So, the divine author of revelation is jesus christ and the human author is the apostle john. Are the seven seals of the book of revelation unfolding. I have some thoughts on this, but i would like to hear what others believe.

Mar 18, 2019 a bahai interpretation of the book of revelation, after acknowledging the existence of a previous, and immediate, historicalcontemporary context, can then apply the prophetic patterns in the book of revelation to a presentday context. Revelation 1 new international version niv prologue. In this approach to the book the symbols and content therein relate only to events and happenings at the time of the author. But he saw beyond the symbolism of earthly matters, seeing the text filled with metaphors of mental. Is the modern interpretation of the book of revelation. The apocalyptic book of revelation is a symbolic glimpse. 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. As the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth 1.

Key to understanding commentaries on revelations is knowing the position of the commentator. The book of revelation is perhaps the most mysterious book in sacred scripture. From as early as justin martyr in the second century a. 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. The word revelation means an uncovering, unveiling, a disclosure of truth. Revelation has a wide variety of interpretations, ranging from the simple historical interpretation, to a prophetic view on what will. This false view is held by most protestant denominations, most covenant theologians and. Since the book of revelation offers a prophetic look into the future, its fulfillment is also prophetic. Its meaning is positive, not fearful or terrifying to those who serve god. Reagans video program, revelation revealed, presents a sweeping overview of the entire book of revelation.

A testimony of jesus christ is a commentary that explains some of the mysteries of revelation. This is the word of god and the testimony of jesus christ. The discipleapostle john, who followed jesus christ and witnessed his crucifixion, authored it. The interpretation of the book is it symbolic or literal in nature. The interpretation of the book revelation lamb and lion. Book of revelation explained scripture by scripture. Reagans book, wrath and glory, covers the book of revelation chapter by chapter. And there has been much speculation about it some of it bordering on offthewall, but some of it serious and scholarly.

I make this broad declaration, that whenever god gives a vision of an image, or beast, or figure of any kind, he always holds himself responsible to give a revelation or interpretation of the meaning thereof, otherwise we are not responsible or accountable for our. A 21st century interpretation of the book of revelation. An apocalyptic letter, it relies on visions, symbols, and old testament references to reveal the ultimate fulfillment of gods promise given to abraham in genesis. 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. The following is the forward and a portion of a chapter from a forthcoming book which, in my view, falls in the latter category. The book of revelation, often called the revelation to john, or the apocalypse of john, is a book of the new testament that occupies a central place in christian eschatology. Feb 23, 2020 edgar cayce approaches the revelation most closely to the traditional symbolic interpretation. Book of revelation explained a testimony of jesus christ. In my opinion, we have 1 three ancient biographiesmatthew, mark and john. Here are brief definitions of the four major interpretive approaches. A less wellknown historicist interpretation is the medieval churchs identification of the beast from the sea in revelation with the rise of islam.

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. In daily mass we have recently been reading from the book of revelation. Its purpose is to give encouragement and hope for all. He sent an angel to present this revelation 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. John wrote revelation while a prisoner on the island of patmos, approximately 8595 a. Revelation then becomes merely a collection of stories designed to teach spiritual truth. Revelation 1 niv prologue the revelation from jesus. Are the seven seals of the book of revelation unfolding today.

This view also ignores revelations prophetic character and, if carried to its logical conclusion, severs the book from any connection with actual historical events. The greek name of the bible book of revelation, apoka. Interpretive models for the book of revelation as a whole. The book of revelation, quipped ambrose bierce, is a famous book in which st. Those events are subject to interpretation but they are not a salvation issue. However in my opinion theres problems with trying to apply the entire book of revelation to that one historical time period because revelation seems to. This book takes the view that for the most part revelation is talking about historical events that happened during christianitys earliest years. He follows the directives of the second vatican councils constitution on divine revelation and. Edgar cayces amazing interpretation of the book of. According to some, and i am relieved that it has only been a few, covid19 is proof that the plagues of the book of revelation, in particular the. The bible is the word of god given in the words of men in history.

He made it known by sending his angel to his servant john, 2 who testifies to everything he saw. The interpretation of the book revelation lamb and. Introduction to cayces interpretation of the revelation. This view maintains that the words in the entire book have almost been fulfilled. 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 interpretation of revelation has always been a subject of debate among bible interpreters. This mode of interpretation, which sees later events in christian history as fulfilling predictions in the book of revelation, is known as the continuous history view. Four times the author identifies himself as john 1. In other words, it is the way you interpret scripture. Revelation speaks of things that are already history. Book of revelation overview church of jesus christ. A third method of interpretation is the preterist method.

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 interpreters of revelation are divided into three main schools. The beasts of chapter, for example, are related to imperial rome and the imperial priesthood. Alan hultberg, associate professor of bible exposition and new testament, shares from the book of revelation in this talbot chapel at biola. 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. The literary genres of the book of revelation are an apocalypse, a prophecy, and an epistle or letter. Book of revelation read, study bible verses online. It is also a book of glory, depicting the continue reading is the modern interpretation of the book of revelation flawed. In the book of revelation, the apocalyptic hopes of the early christian community find their clearest and most complete expression. While many associate the word apocalypse with great disaster, the book of revelation begins and ends by saying that those who read, understand, and apply its message would be happy for doing so. The book of revelation is by far one of the most challenging books in the bible, yet well worth the effort to study and comprehend.

Its title is derived from the first word of the text, written in koine greek. There are several other articles available on biblical interpretation. An apocalypse is a very specific kind of literature with no modern equivalent. 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. You will start understanding the book of revelation. Nov 27, 2018 in daily mass we have recently been reading from the book of revelation. Book of revelation biblical interpretations, pictures. The key to bible interpretation, especially for the book of revelation, is to have a consistent hermeneutic.

Edgar cayce approaches the revelation most closely to the traditional symbolic interpretation. In this view, the book contains neither historical allusions nor predictive prophecy. For an adequate understanding of revelation, the reader must recognize that it is a distinct kind of literature. John the divine is an example of apocalyptic writing a form that delivers a message using symbols, images and numbers. A wellknown illustration of an historicist reading of the book of revelation is the reformation identification of the harlot babylon in revelation 17 with the roman catholic church and the papacy. The real meaning of the bibles book of revelation is a popular, ongoing debate. The book of revelation, a prophecy of warning and hope. In the first verse of the book, the apostle john recorded christs words, the revelation of jesus christto show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass. Doyle tries to clear up the confusion over the interpretation of the last book of the bible.

The revealing is done by the commentators, who know nothing. Historicism, a method of interpretation in christian eschatology which associates biblical prophecies with actual historical events and identifies symbolic beings. The historicist view follows a straight line of continuous fulfillment of prophecy. Over the centuries, the church has presented countless interpretations and. The book of revelation, often called the book of revelations, revelation to john, apocalypse of john, the revelation, or simply revelation, the revelation from jesus christ from its opening words or the apocalypse, is the final book of the new testament, and therefore also the final book of the christian bible. The book of revelation was written to seven churches as both encouragement and challenge.

Historicism has produced many different, and often conflicting, interpretations of the actual historical events contained in revelation. The book of revelation in the bible is one of the more difficult books of the bible to understand. Mar 24, 2020 according to some, and i am relieved that it has only been a few, covid19 is proof that the plagues of the book of revelation, in particular the seven seals of revelation 6. Among the things found in this book was the idea that revelation was speaking about such things as the soviet union, nuclear attacks between the ussr and the us, etc. Some will interpret the how, what, and even the timing in the book of revelation differently depending on their method of interpretation. The interpretation of the book of revelation has often proven difficult throughout the history of the christian church. Hermeneutics is the study of the principles of interpretation. Book of revelation for dummies cheat sheet dummies. When i chose to read this book i had no idea what i was in for. We purposely give very little interpretation of johns metaphors, except as is made available in the book of revelation.

As to these difficult portions of the book of revelation, joseph smith said. 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. 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. An overview of revelation multimedia training kit covers the book of revelation verse by verse. Outline for this study of the book of revelationpages 1, 2, and top of page 3. The way the book of revelation is actually written is as a series of kind of unfolding revelations, each one of which gets to something deeper in the story. Revelation is apocalyptic, a kind of writing that is highly symbolic. Symbolic language, however, is one of the chief characteristics of apocalyptic literature, of which. Historicist interpretations of the book of revelation wikipedia. Mar 19, 2019 the book of revelation is by far one of the most challenging books in the bible, yet well worth the effort to study and comprehend. The book of revelation is notoriously difficult to understand.