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Line 8: − − ==Interpretations== − ===Letters to the Churches (Chapters 2-3)=== − 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). − *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). − − ===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.<ref>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. Line 69:
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move Interpretations section to after commentary
==Acceptance as Canonical==
==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).
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).
==Introduction==
==Introduction==
The last two chapters describe the holy city (New Jerusalem) wherein the saints will reside forever and ever. The book ends with a warning not to add to or take away from it (due to its placement at the end of the Bible, the verses are commonly interpreted to not do so to the entire Bible itself).
The last two chapters describe the holy city (New Jerusalem) wherein the saints will reside forever and ever. The book ends with a warning not to add to or take away from it (due to its placement at the end of the Bible, the verses are commonly interpreted to not do so to the entire Bible itself).
==Interpretations==
===Letters to the Churches (Chapters 2-3)===
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).
*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).
===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.<ref>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.
==In Popular Culture==
==In Popular Culture==