| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| | [[Image:Dürer Fourhorsemen.jpg|thumb|''The Four horsemen of the Apocalypse'' by [[Albrecht Dürer]]]] | | [[Image:Dürer Fourhorsemen.jpg|thumb|''The Four horsemen of the Apocalypse'' by [[Albrecht Dürer]]]] |
| − | The '''Book of Revelation''' (formal title '''The Revelation of St. John the Divine''', also called '''The Revelation to John''', '''The Apocalypse of John''', or simply '''Revelation''') is the final book of the [[Christian]] [[Bible]] (The [[New Testament]]). It records a series of visions received by the [[John the Divine]] while he was imprisoned on the island of Patmos. In ancient writings as going back as early as [[Justin Martyr]], it was held that John the divine was [[John the Apostle]].<ref>The NIV Study Bible, Zondervan Press, 1985, Pg. 1923</ref> The visions describe the end times and the second coming of [[Jesus Christ]]. ([[Preterists]] disagree, believing the book describing events fulfilled at other points in history.) | + | The '''Book of Revelation''',<ref>It's formal title is '''The Revelation of St. John the Divine''', also called '''The Revelation to John''', '''The Apocalypse of John'''.</ref> , or simply '''Revelation''', is the final book of the [[Christian]] [[Bible]] (The [[New Testament]]). It records a series of visions received by [[John]], an Apostle of [[Christ]], while John was imprisoned on the island of Patmos.<ref>In ancient writings as going back as early as [[Justin Martyr]], it was held that the author of this book was [[John the Apostle]].</ref><ref>The NIV Study Bible, Zondervan Press, 1985, Pg. 1923</ref> The visions describe the end times and the second coming of [[Jesus Christ]].<ref>[[Preterists]] disagree, believing the book describing events fulfilled at other points in history.</ref> |
| | | | |
| | Revelation also describes the final rebellion of [[Satan]] (at [[Armageddon]]), the final defeat of Satan by [[God]], and the return of peace to the world. | | Revelation also describes the final rebellion of [[Satan]] (at [[Armageddon]]), the final defeat of Satan by [[God]], and the return of peace to the world. |
| | + | |
| | + | Works and concepts based on Revelation include "666" as the number of the [[devil]], the great writing by [[Dante]] in his ''Inferno'', and [[Michaelangelo]]'s [[Last Judgment]] in the [[Sistine Chapel]].<Ref>http://danteworlds.laits.utexas.edu/circle3.html</ref> |
| | | | |
| | ===Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse=== | | ===Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse=== |
| | Revelation first describes the arrival of the [[Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse]]: Pestilence, War, Famine, and Death. However, the Bible itself only directly names one horseman, "death". | | Revelation first describes the arrival of the [[Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse]]: Pestilence, War, Famine, and Death. However, the Bible itself only directly names one horseman, "death". |
| | | | |
| − | There is wide agreement concerning the identity of the first horseman, which many interpret to represent the Antichrist. Some equate it to worldwide gospel preaching, as many postmillennialists believe. | + | There is wide agreement concerning the identity of the first horseman, which many interpret to represent the Antichrist. Some equate it to worldwide gospel preaching, as many post-millennialists believe. |
| | | | |
| | The four horsemen are synonymous to the first four seals, and there is a direct correlation between the events of the seals and the list of events found in the Olivet Discourse, as found in Matthew 24. According to this view, the first four seals are usually perceived as being the ''beginning of birth pangs'' (Matthew 24:4-8). | | The four horsemen are synonymous to the first four seals, and there is a direct correlation between the events of the seals and the list of events found in the Olivet Discourse, as found in Matthew 24. According to this view, the first four seals are usually perceived as being the ''beginning of birth pangs'' (Matthew 24:4-8). |