Difference between revisions of "Book of Revelation"
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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. | 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. | ||
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| + | 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. | ||
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| + | ===Tribulation=== | ||
| + | There is wide disagreement among religious scholars as to the fate of Christians before the Tribulation period.<ref>The three main views are the Pre-Tribulation [[Rapture]] (where Christians are taken out of the world beforehand; the [[Left Behind]] series is based on this view); the Mid-Tribulation Rapture (where Christians are taken out when the Antichrist reveals his true nature; this view is the least-held), and the view that there will not be any Rapture at all and Christians will go through the Tribulation.</ref> Revelation itself does not discuss this topic. | ||
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| + | What is understood is that, at the outset of the Tribulation, a figure called the [[Antichrist]] (or the Beast) will rise on the scene. He will establish a one-world government to which all must pledge allegiance, by taking on themselves a mark consisting of the [[Number of the Beast]] (best-known by its numerical designation of '''666''') in order to buy or sell. He is accompanied by a religious figure, the False Prophet, who will establish a one-world religion in direct opposition to Christianity, to which all must adhere. Though there will be those who resist (notably the Two Witnesses and a group of 144,000 evangelists, often believed to be Jewish), the Antichrist will largely be successful in opposing and killing those who resist him. | ||
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| + | The Antichrist will establish a peace treaty with [[Israel]] for seven years, allowing Israel to rebuild its long-awaited Temple and restore the Jewish sacrificial system. Once the Temple is completed at the mid-way point of the treaty, the Antichrist will reveal his true nature: he will enter the Temple and proclaim himself to be the awaited Messiah. At this point, the world will be subject to a series of ever-harsher judgments. | ||
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| + | Ultimately world events will lead to a final battle between the nations of the world (led by the Antichrist) and Israel culminating at the Battle of [[Armageddon]]. Israel will find itself on the brink of extinction when Jesus Christ Himself will return with an army (commonly believed to consist of all Christians from all of history) and defeat the Antichrist and False Prophet. | ||
===Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse=== | ===Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse=== | ||
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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). | ||
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===Plagues=== | ===Plagues=== | ||
Revision as of 18:36, January 25, 2018
The Book of Revelation,[1] or simply Revelation, is the final book of the Christian Bible (The New Testament).
It records a series of visions dealing with the End Times which were received by John, an Apostle of Christ, while John was imprisoned on the island of Patmos.[2][3] Jesus Christ Himself provided the visions to John.
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
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).
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).
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.
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.
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.
Tribulation
There is wide disagreement among religious scholars as to the fate of Christians before the Tribulation period.[4] Revelation itself does not discuss this topic.
What is understood is that, at the outset of the Tribulation, a figure called the Antichrist (or the Beast) will rise on the scene. He will establish a one-world government to which all must pledge allegiance, by taking on themselves a mark consisting of the Number of the Beast (best-known by its numerical designation of 666) in order to buy or sell. He is accompanied by a religious figure, the False Prophet, who will establish a one-world religion in direct opposition to Christianity, to which all must adhere. Though there will be those who resist (notably the Two Witnesses and a group of 144,000 evangelists, often believed to be Jewish), the Antichrist will largely be successful in opposing and killing those who resist him.
The Antichrist will establish a peace treaty with Israel for seven years, allowing Israel to rebuild its long-awaited Temple and restore the Jewish sacrificial system. Once the Temple is completed at the mid-way point of the treaty, the Antichrist will reveal his true nature: he will enter the Temple and proclaim himself to be the awaited Messiah. At this point, the world will be subject to a series of ever-harsher judgments.
Ultimately world events will lead to a final battle between the nations of the world (led by the Antichrist) and Israel culminating at the Battle of Armageddon. Israel will find itself on the brink of extinction when Jesus Christ Himself will return with an army (commonly believed to consist of all Christians from all of history) and defeat the Antichrist and False Prophet.
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".
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).
Plagues
Twenty-one judgements are pronounced on the earth: the seven Seal Judgements, the seven Trumpet Judgements, and the seven Bowl Judgements. The sequence of the order of these plagues are disputed among prophecy teachers. The concurrent or overlapping interpretation postulates that the judgements overlap each other while the 7 Seals are the longest in duration, while the Trumpet plagues are shorter, and while the Bowl plagues are the shortest. The consecutive or crescendo interpretation teaches that the next set of plagues occur after the previous set of plagues. Therefore, the 7 Seals occur first, the 7 Trumpets next, and the 7 Bowls afterwards.
In Popular Culture
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.[5]
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.
See also
- Whore of Babylon
- Great Apostasy
- Chiliasm
- Christianity in Conservapedia
- Revelation, Book of (historical exegesis)
- Revelations to John (Translated)
- Post Apocalyptic World
- Homosexuality and Revelation controversy
References
- ↑ It's formal title is The Revelation of St. John the Divine, but it has also called The Revelation to John, The Apocalypse of John, and is often misquoted as Revelations.
- ↑ In ancient writings as going back as early as Justin Martyr, it was held that the author of this book was John the Apostle.
- ↑ The NIV Study Bible, Zondervan Press, 1985, Pg. 1923
- ↑ The three main views are the Pre-Tribulation Rapture (where Christians are taken out of the world beforehand; the Left Behind series is based on this view); the Mid-Tribulation Rapture (where Christians are taken out when the Antichrist reveals his true nature; this view is the least-held), and the view that there will not be any Rapture at all and Christians will go through the Tribulation.
- ↑ http://danteworlds.laits.utexas.edu/circle3.html