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Line 6: − + − Chapters 2 and 3 consist of seven letters written to congregations located in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey): the congregations at Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.+ − Four of the seven churches (Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, and Thyatira) are commended for their actions but also warned that if they did not repent of certain deeds done, punishment would come upon them. The church at Philadelphia is commended only and not admonished; the churches at Sardis and Laodicea are not commended at all but only admonished (the wording for the Laodicean church differs from the others in that they are either told or warned of impending punishment -- the KJV says that he "would spew them out of his mouth", while other translations state that it was a warning of future punishment -- then told to repent). + + + + + + + + + + + + − − It is commonly believed that the visions describe events taking place at the End Times and the second coming of [[Jesus Christ]]; however, some groups such as [[Preterists]] disagree, believing that the book describes events fulfilled at other points in history. Line 51:
Line 60: − ==Interpretations== − There is much modern emphasis that Revelation prophesizes the future and the end times. These views usually consider the end times to be relatively close to being fulfilled. Other views postulate that the writing describes a period of persecution in the early church either during the reign of [[Nero]] (54 - 68) or [[Domitian]] (81 - 96). − − ==History== − − The Book of Revelation was one of the last books to be fully accepted into the New Testament Canon largely due to its difficulty in being understood.
rearrange sections
Due to its prophetic nature Revelation is considered a difficult book to understand (though its imagery has made it a popular one). It has also given rise to a cottage industry of sorts with the almost endless number of books attempting to interpret the prophecies in light of modern-day political events.
Due to its prophetic nature Revelation is considered a difficult book to understand (though its imagery has made it a popular one). It has also given rise to a cottage industry of sorts with the almost endless number of books attempting to interpret the prophecies in light of modern-day political events.
==Letters to the Churches==
==Acceptance as Canonical==
The Book of Revelation was one of the last books to be fully accepted into the New Testament Canon largely due to its difficulty in being understood. To this day the Eastern Orthodox church does not include it in its Divine Liturgy (though it is included in Roman Catholic and Protestant ones). [[Martin Luther]] did not consider it to be apostolic or prophetic in 1522 (though by 1530 he had largely changed his view); [[John Calvin]] did not write a commentary on it (the only Biblical book on which he did not).
==Interpretations==
===Letters to the Churches (Chapters 2-3)===
There are three historical interpretations for the letters, all of which could be simultaneously true:
There are three historical interpretations for the letters, all of which could be simultaneously true:
*The most common interpretation is that the letters were to the congregations directing them of certain actions needed (all seven cities historically existed and each was known to have a local congregation in it).
*The most common interpretation is that the letters were to the congregations directing them of certain actions needed (all seven cities historically existed and each was known to have a local congregation in it).
*Another interpretation posits that it is intended to describe different types of churches which exist (the Ephesus church being one doing a lot of good and commendable works but not doing them with a love for God, for example).
*Another interpretation posits that it is intended to describe different types of churches which exist (the Ephesus church being one doing a lot of good and commendable works but not doing them with a love for God, for example).
*The third interpretation is that each congregation represents various periods within the Church Age (in order from Ephesus to Laodicea, the latter being either the church just before or during the prophetic events described beginning in Chapter 4).
*The third interpretation is that each congregation represents various periods within the Church Age (in order from Ephesus to Laodicea, the latter being either the church just before or during the prophetic events described beginning in Chapter 4).
===Visions of John (Chapters 4 and following)===
The most common interpretation of this section is that the visions prophesy events to take place during the End Times. These views frequently attempt to interpret current geo-political events in light of the text<For example, the view that the European Union is a precursor to the forthcoming one-world government.</ref>.
Those primarily of the [[Preterist]] view postulate that the writing describes a period of persecution in the early church either during the reign of [[Nero]] (54 - 68) or [[Domitian]] (81 - 96) and therefore the events have already taken place.
==Letters to the Churches==
Chapters 2 and 3 consist of seven letters written to congregations located in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey): the congregations at Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.
Four of the seven churches (Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, and Thyatira) are commended for their actions but also warned that if they did not repent of certain deeds done, punishment would come upon them. The church at Philadelphia is commended only and not admonished; the churches at Sardis and Laodicea are not commended at all but only admonished (the wording for the Laodicean church differs from the others in that they are either told or warned of impending punishment -- the KJV says that he "would spew them out of his mouth", while other translations state that it was a warning of future punishment -- then told to repent).
==Prophetic Visions==
==Prophetic Visions==
From Chapter 4 through the end of the book are shown the numerous prophetic visions for which Revelation is best known, even in the secular world.
From Chapter 4 through the end of the book are shown the numerous prophetic visions for which Revelation is best known, even in the secular world.
The events of the book are largely centered around two periods: a seven-year period widely known as The [[Tribulation]] (during which the judgments revealed will take place), followed immediately thereafter by a 1,000-year period widely known as The [[Millennium]] ("millennium" means "1,000 years") when Jesus Christ will reign as King over all the Earth.
The events of the book are largely centered around two periods: a seven-year period widely known as The [[Tribulation]] (during which the judgments revealed will take place), followed immediately thereafter by a 1,000-year period widely known as The [[Millennium]] ("millennium" means "1,000 years") when Jesus Christ will reign as King over all the Earth.
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>
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>
== See also ==
== See also ==