The following facts and principles of interpretation should be understood in order for one to arrive at a correct understanding of the book of revelation. In order to understand it, you must interpret the bible correctly or you will end up with a symbolic mess that does not flow with the rest of scripture. High school, and a brand new christian, i made this mistake in a big way. Hence, it allows readers to experience some of the impact revelation originally was intended to have.
The symbols of the book of revelation and their sources. It will be important to keep in mind that although it. Because of the diversity of theological approaches, it is impossible to present a theology of revelation that can claim to be the african approach. The book of revelation is an uncovering or unveiling of jesus christ in his. Naturally we would like to know when they happened or when they will happen, but these questions divide the greatest specialists in biblical interpretation, so we mustnt imagine that we. Another argument for revelation s babylon being rome is the babylon used in 1 peter 5. The classical historicist view of the vision of the angel with the little book, in revelation 10, represents the protestant reformation and the printing of bibles in the common languages. The book of revelation is a revelation, the revelation of jesus christ 1. Three periods of sda interpretation of apocalypsei suggest that the history of the seventhday adventist interpretation of the book of revelation may be divided into three periods. The adventists take a unique view applying it to the millerite movement.
Its most serious problem is that it brushes over the specificity found within the text. I wanted to show one of my friends the seriousness of his lack of interest in jesus. Charts on the book of revelation is a useful supplement to. Revelation is meant to produce in you comfort, courage, hope, and praise. Related with the book of revelation the spiritual exodus. 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. Part onethe interpretation of revelation why study the book of revelation. 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. The futurist school regards most of the book of revelation, from chapter 4 on, as applying to events far removed from. By the way, scripture is the best interpreter of scripture, so you and i will be looking at other scripture passages. An apocalypse is a very specific kind of literature with no modern equivalent. And he saith unto me, seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
Paher, the book of revelation s mystery babylon rome, a. The revelation of jesus christ webberville church of christ. As to these difficult portions of the book of revelation, joseph smith said. The book is not a conceal ment, a puzzle, a riddle, as some people think. It fittingly has the last place ending the scriptures and gods revelation to man. It is dated in the middle of the last half of the first century. Not to be outdone, one catholic saw the beast as protestantism. It is at this point that christ, and christ alone not any human being, is deemed to be worthy to unseal the book. Craig koester s most recent book is symbolism in the gospel of john. Not because john or the angel sealed it, although it is the most dif.
The magnificence of this book has often been overshadowed by the many false views put forth concerning this book. It interprets scripture literally, wherever possible. The book of revelation brings to us great changes in the course of the history of the world. Beale, the book of revelation, for many allusions to the old testament, and merrill c. This series is a bit of my testimony of coming into a further understanding of the truth as a result of studying the most important book for our timethe revelation. Revelation explained verse by verse, chapter by chapter. The purpose of revelation many people either fear the book of revelation or have an unhealthy interest in it. The vision which opens the book and the verse that organizes it. Although prophecy is scattered all through the bible, two books focus almost entirely on symbolic representations. Perhaps because of these attractive features, such interpretation of revelation has. A study guide by kay arthur and the staff of precept. 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.
Some general comments about the book of revelation and its uniqueness. Unfortunately, the discussion of revelation 20 text has been muddled by statements such as. Sermons from the book of revelation 3 the book of revelation introduction part one introduction 1. Myth and history in the book of revelation no access. The golden rule of interpretation when the plain sense of scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense. Ad 120202 irenaeus made numerous references to the book of revelation, though apparently did not write a commentary on it. Pdf the apocalypse in seventhday adventist interpretation. The revelation of jesus christ, which god gave him to show his servantsthings which must shortly take place. The historical school regards most of revelation describing events beginning chronologically close to its date of origin but extending through history to the end of time. Historicist interpretations of the book of revelation wikipedia. Spiritual interpretation of the hidden mysteries and symbolism recorded in the book of revelation could add. Approaches to interpreting the book of revelation scholars have approached interpreting the book of revelation through four major methods. Jun 25, 2012 the result is that the basic historicist interpretation of the book changes from one generation to the next. Biblical interpretation is a rational and spiritual process that attempts to understand an ancient inspired.
The book ends with confirmations of authenticity by god, christ and john. The date of the book of revelation is important for ones interpretation of the book. Approaches to interpreting the book of revelation devan c. So begins the book of revelation, one of the most challenging books of the bible 3. The book of revelation is one of the most misunderstood and misused books in the bible.
But god designed this book for a very different purpose. The individual partschapters, paragraphs, or versescannot mean what the whole unit does not mean. We need some keys to unlock its special apocalyptic message. This view has been held almost exclusively by protestants and has seen the beast of revelation as the papacy. This study will seek merely to identify the strengths and the difficulties in african interpretation. This chapter attempts an overview of the use and interpretation of the book of revelation up to the end of the fourth century. Outline for this study of the book of revelation pages 1, 2, and top of page 3. It makes revelation obviously relevant and, therefore, interesting.
Author of revelation in the new cambridge bible commentary series. Paul tanner the book of revelation history of interpretation apr 25, 2002 appendix d. Pdf contemporary analysis of the world that produced the book of revelation suggests. Why would god write to comfort christians in the first century by telling them about events.
Revelation means an unveiling, a disclosure, a display of who god is and what he promises to do. 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. Pdf the book of revelation outline, page 5 interpretation rules for understanding prophecy. The more you observe, the greater your understanding of gods word. Those following the continuoushistorical method of interpretation believe that the book describes all of the history of man until the end of time. Dec 20, 2016 studies in the book of revelation an introduction, analysis, and notes containing a concise interpretation according to the symbolic view, numerous references to authorities, and general mention of other interpretations, with the text of the american revised version edited in paragraphs, for the use of bible students. The book as a prophecy is a revelation from god that invites a response of trust. The interpreters of revelation are divided into three main schools. A commentary of the book of revelation bible truth. Interpretation must move from a deductive approach of the whole to an inductive approach to the parts. So as we study the book of revelation together, our careful observation will lead to interpretation discovering what the text means. Allusions, exegetical method, and the interpretation of revelation 8.
The historicist view follows a straight line of continuous fulfillment of prophecy which starts in daniels time and goes through john. Revelation s first readers shared with its author a marginalized status in the roman world and naturally tended to interpret its images, which spoke to them of both their current and future situations, in the light of present circumstances. The bible is a history book, it tells the pastbut like no other history book it tells the present and future just as clearly. Individual notes are also free under each video within the pages listed below. Professor of new testament interpretation asbury theological seminary author of revelation in the new cambridge bible commentary series charts on the book of revelation is a useful tool for teachers and a helpful guide for students to many complex and disputed issues related to the interpretation of that biblical book. The preterist approach to revelation the unfolding of. The book of revelation apocalypse euclid university. There are several other articles available on biblical interpretation. This view maintains that the words in the entire book have. Charts on the book of revelation is a useful supplement kregel. The book of revelation, also called the apocalypse which means that which has been disclosed, and also called the revelation to saint john, is traditionally considered to be the work of the lords apostle who later wrote the fourth gospel and the letters. 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. Pdf interpreting the book of revelation and its apocalyptic. This paper seeks to define and present the problems or rationale behind each view.
The interpretation of revelation has always been a subject of debate among bible interpreters. The book of revelation robert boyd, 1948 sage journals. It holds a unique place in biblical interpretation. This is the word of god and the testimony of jesus christ. Interpretation of scripture everything must have a proper foundation. In fact, from genesis to revelation, the books of the bible fit together. The preterist interpretation, after the latin word preater, meaning past, views the book as dealing only with events in the early history of the 1barclay, 1. These methods will not truly explain the interpretation of revelation because. The book of revelation is the only book in the new testament that begins by specifically stating its source, the revelation of jesus christ, which god gave to himand signified it by his angel to his servant john rev. Studies in the book of revelation project gutenberg. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant john, 2 who testifies to everything he saw. So begins the book of revelation, one of the most challenging books.
First, be careful not to give people the wrong impression about the book. Every statement is to be taken to mean for exactly what is written unless such interpretation is highly. Historicist interpretations of the book of revelation. Let us say at once that we believe, and must believe 1, that god means what he says. He was previously principal of spurgeons college in london 195872. Furthermore, many future events in the old testament including passages from the books of daniel, zechariah, isaiah, ezekiel, etc.
Ten keys for interpreting the book of revelation adventist. Thank you for the concern, and pray that i will continue to present the truth as fully as god reveals it to me, hiding nothing. Reading the book of revelation politically scielo sa. This biblical view is based on a literal interpretation of scripture and sees the rapture, tribulation, second coming and the. The first principle is to note the historical setting in which a biblical book was written and the particular. This paper seeks to define and present the problems or rationale behind. The first five seals described in the book of revelation are dealt with in 11 verses see revelation 6. This work is by a professor of new testament interpretation at southern baptist theological seminary louisville, ky. One of the most intriguing books of the bible is the book of revelation. All 101 pages of the revelationwithdaniel notes can be purchased and downloaded here as a printable pdf.
1135 41 1439 818 1427 1507 120 1352 986 1304 1617 168 1600 1436 694 278 550 1479 701 783 238 510 1552 980 1124 1215 933 377 1368 715 1075 976 351 373 1362 312 491