Idealism also called the spiritual approach, the allegorical approach, the nonliteral approach, and many other names in christian eschatology is an interpretation of the book of revelation that sees all of the imagery of the book as nonliteral symbols. Each page of scripture is from the king james bible, and is immediately followed by the meaning of that scripture. Interpretation bible studies ibs offers solid biblical content in. Key to understanding commentaries on revelations is knowing the position of the commentator. Id go along with that the last chapter in daniel also says it is sealed until the end times. He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant john.
The true message of the book is one of hope, looking ahead toward gods ultimate victory over evil. Greek lay theologian, preacher, ethicist, philosopher and writer. A testimony of jesus christ is a commentary that explains some. Preterism, a christian eschatological view, interprets some partial preterism or all full preterism prophecies of the bible as events which have already happened. If youre befuddled by the book of revelation in the bible, dont fret. Its purpose is to give encouragement and hope for all. Revelation is first and foremost a revelation about jesus christ 1.
Three approaches youll learn more about in this video are a historical view, a prophetic view, and a symbolic interpretation. Revelation speaks of things that are already history. The idealist interpretation could also be called the symbolic or spiritual interpretation. Revelation the dragon pursuing a woman, from the bamberg apocalypse. It is full of strange and often scary imagery, confusing numbers, time references, and much more.
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. Reagans video program, revelation revealed, presents a sweeping overview of the entire book of revelation. What is the idealist interpretation of the book of. In fact, the opening passage contains a blessing to everyone who reads, hears, and keeps the words of this prophecy. In this sense the word apocalyptic has a slightly broader meaning, and it refers to. The book of revelation is a personal book although it encompasses much of prophecy, revelation is a very personal book the apostle john wrote to the seven churches regarding the vision he received from christ. What is the idealist interpretation of the book of revelation. Matt tully so it seems like the history of christian interpretation of the book of revelation can be broken down into four broad categories. The interpretation of revelation has always been a subject of debate among bible interpreters. The real meaning of the bibles book of revelation is a popular, ongoing debate. Conventional understanding until recent times was that the book of revelation was written to comfort beleaguered christians as. The contrast in literary form between the direct address of the letters and the symbolic drama of the remainder of the book is startling, but no more so than the fact that an apocalyptic.
Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it. The interpretation of the book of revelation has often proven difficult throughout the history of the christian church. The discipleapostle john, who followed jesus christ and witnessed his crucifixion, authored it. Ten keys for interpreting the book of revelation digital commons.
Here is my verse by verse interpretation of the book of revelation chapter 1. The book of revelation is johns record of that vision revelation 1. Book of revelation explained a testimony of jesus christ. Book of revelation for dummies cheat sheet dummies. As the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth 1. The first blessing is in the first chapter of revelation in verse 3. The book of revelation, the last book of the bible, has fascinated and puzzled christians for centuries. An overview of revelation multimedia training kit covers the book of revelation verse by verse. The new jerusalem the book of revelation the great white throne judgement of jesus duration. The greek name of the bible book of revelation, apoka. For most the only question about eschatology that exists is whether you think the rapture is pre, mid, or posttribulation.
Its meaning is positive, not fearful or terrifying to those who serve god. This view maintains that the words in the entire book have almost been fulfilled. A 21st century interpretation of the book of revelation. The conclusion could be that the full meaning of the book of revelation is still. 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. Most mainstream christian churches dont have anything resembling a formal interpretation of the revelation of st. The revelation of the holy trinity and hypostatic union in daniels seventy weeks prophecy. This view maintains that the words in the entire book have. John was a christian leader of jewish origin who was in exile on the roman prison island of patmos. Johns apocalypse chapter 9 major christological crisis in the church. The book of revelation is the only book in the bible, that i know of, that has a blessing associated with it for those who will read itnot once but twice.
The book of revelation also called the revelation of john or the revelation of st. A redemptivehistorical, modified idealist approach to the. However, with just a few tips for understanding certain confusing elements, the book opens up as an important and helpful book for christians. The interpretation of the book revelation lamb and. It is full of strange and often scary imagery, confusing numbers, time references, and much. In the face of apparently insuperable evil, either from within or from without, all christians are called to trust in jesus promise, behold, i am with you always, until the end of the age mt 28. The text has been influential in various ways, and there have been diverse opinions and interpretations. So, the divine author of revelation is jesus christ and the human author is the apostle john. I have read god,dreams, and revelation a couple of times, found it to be very meaningful and bought the last one as a gift. It can perhaps be best understood in distinction from the other major interpretations of revelation. It will prepare you for the rest of the material contained here. The images that are seen in the book of revelation are explained by the author. The key to bible interpretation, especially for the book of revelation, is to have a consistent hermeneutic. We dont know why john was exiled to patmos, but it may have been for refusing to worship the roman emperor domitian.
The book of revelation had its origin in a time of crisis, but it remains valid and meaningful for christians of all time. There will be differences of opinion about exactly what and the timing of events that take place in the book of revelation. When people read the book of revelation they encounter this vast array of symbols. The interpreters of revelation are divided into three main schools. The book is the most controversial in the new testament canon. Book of revelation explained scripture by scripture. John wrote revelation while a prisoner on the island of patmos, approximately 8595 a.
The endless love of jesus ministries 1,226,206 views 29. Bible for many christians, yet one of the most difficult books to understand. John the divine is an example of apocalyptic writing a form that delivers a message using symbols, images and numbers. The book of revelation in the bible is one of the more difficult books of the bible to understand. The real meaning of the bibles book of revelation is a popular, ongoing. A testimony of jesus christ is a commentary that explains some of the mysteries of revelation. Interpreting the symbolism in the book of revelation. On the contrary, revelation intends to encourage its readers, using a type of literature that was common at the time it was written. This is the prevailing view among modern scholars who arent aligned with orthodox christianity. The beast, the false prophet, who has the number 666, the antichrist. The following is an excerpt from interpretation of the book of revelation by apostolos makrakis 1881 ad, translated from the greek to english in 1948 ad by the orthodox christian education society, chicago, il apostolos makrakis 18311905.
Most churches today teach the futurist interpretation of the book of revelation. Unlike most books of the bible, revelation contains its own title. The book of revelation, a prophecy of warning and hope. The author, kelsey morton has researched dreams though out history, as for example the ones found is found in the bible. For instance, the lamb, having seven horns and seven eyes, that took the book from god is christ because the image of the lamb appears as if it was. The book of revelation is filled with extravagant images that some believe forecast gloom and doom. Revelation often seems bizarre and incomprehensible. The book of revelation is at once one of the most important books of the. Most christians dont even realize other interpretations exist, but there are actually 5 different approaches to interpreting the book of revelation, maybe you knew.
But understanding the apocalyptic genre, the history of the early christians, the persecutions. The theme of the book is the conflict of christ and his church with antichristian powers the devil, the beast, the false prophet, revelation 16. Take a look at the basic structure of the book of revelation. Parts of the old testament, particularly in the book of daniel, are also written in the apocalyptic genre. Like all books of the bible, revelation was written in a particular time and place to particular people. In a similar way everybody is guessing and arguing what the full interpretation of revelation is. 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. There are many images found in the book of revelation and these images are explained by the writer with much detail. 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. This school of thought interprets the book of daniel as referring to events that happened from the 7th century bc until the first century ad, while seeing the prophecies of revelation as events that happened in the first century ad. Some will interpret the how, what, and even the timing in the book of revelation differently depending on their method of interpretation. The book of revelation as a whole has the external form of a letter in that it begins with an opening salutation 1. Reagans book, wrath and glory, covers the book of revelation chapter by chapter. The literary genres of the book of revelation are an apocalypse, a prophecy, and an epistle or letter.
Paul spilsburys book is a close runnerup for my go to book for an introduction to revelation. In other words, it is the way you interpret scripture. Then go into each of the twenty two chapters of the book of revelation one by one. The book of revelation is full of symbols, and that means that its been interpreted in a lot of different ways over the years. Not an exposition in itself, the text avoids eschatological controversy by focusing on teaching the reader how to apply proper hermeneutical principles. 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. Bauckhams book will guide you into a richer understanding of the symbolism and their significance and literary art of johns prophetic imagination. Knowing god an extraterrestrial message chuck missler. Interpreting the book of revelation city christian.
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