Nunderstanding the book of revelation in the bible

The novice will find clarity, the studious will find insight and challenge, but all will find comfort and promise. The apocalypse, or revelation to john, the last book of the bible, is one of the most difficult to understand because it abounds in unfamiliar and extravagant symbolism, which at best appears unusual to the modern reader. I still thought revelation was about the end of the world, right. More than one person has abandoned trying to make sense. The book of revelation was written sometime around 96 ce in asia minor. The literary genres of the book of revelation are an apocalypse, a prophecy, and an epistle or letter. This article on revelation 4 and 5 is an excerpt from the book unveiling daniel and revelation by roy allan anderson. In revelation the message is that god is coming to judge and to redeem, and that the powers of evil and empires will clash before god establishes the fullness of his kingdom. Bible study courses revelation bible study courses.

It starts out simply enough, it is a revelation in greek, apocalypse from jesus christ, it is a prophecy, and it comes as a letter to seven churches. The book of revelation also called the revelation of john or the revelation of st. Understanding the book of revelation news amazing facts. We can understand the book even though we might not understand every signsymbol. Like the books of prophecy in the old testament, revelation proclaims a message. Chapter 10 provides an intermission after the description of the events of sixth trumpet the second woe to give us more details about what is happening during the. The greek name of the bible book of revelation, apoka. The book of revelation study student bible baptist church. This commentary has been through advanced checking. Live online bible study of revelation randy white ministries. Book of revelation for dummies cheat sheet dummies. The book of revelation provides some of the keenest insights in scripture concerning the big picture of work.

Onethird of the bible is prophecythe future written in advance. Starting your free trial of bible gateway plus is easy. Your credit card wont be charged until the trial period is over. If we did not realize already that it takes a lifetime to understand the bible and thats a good thing, the point is driven home when we get to the last book in the biblerevelation. Symbolic language, however, is one of the chief characteristics of apocalyptic literature, of which. The book of revelation is a teachers delight, yet the preacher must tread softly here. The real meaning of the bible s book of revelation is a popular, ongoing debate. The book of revelation and you free bible study guides. Its purpose is to give encouragement and hope for all. Perhaps the most important thing is for us to determine the original meaning the book would have had to the recipients. The key to understanding is the mysterious book of revelation is comprehending its story flow. Many believe these churches represent christians from the time of christ to the end time, or symbolize groups of believers that will all exist before he returns.

Those three sections are the things which john has seen, the things which are currently, and the things which will be in the future. The last book of the bible, revelation, is also sometimes called the apocalypse. The book is presented in the form of a great drama. Although revelation is often described as the revelation of john meaning that it is a revelation to john, 1 it is actually a revelation of christ 1. Key to understanding commentaries on revelations is knowing the position of the commentator. Written by the apostle john, revelation was a letter to churches in asia minor who were feeling the overwhelming effects of persecution from all sides. You might want to read maurice a williams new book revelations. This idea has a strong tie to the book of revelation, as the gospel of jesus christ is the good news that he brought.

Ten bible studies that include brief background notes and open questions. This workbook was designed for bible class study, family study, or personal study. Dragons and beasts, wrath and grace what does it mean. Our current study is a versebyverse walk through the book of revelation. Mike newman has taken a very complex, daunting, and down right scary book of the bible and made it accessible. It is from this word that we get the english translation revelation. An easyenglish bible version and commentary 2800 word vocabulary on the book of revelation. This name indicates the meaning of revelation it uncovers matters that had been hidden and discloses events that would happen long after it was written. Youre already logged in with your bible gateway account. Hes just a mildmannered christian guy living in exile whenpow. The second key to understanding the book of revelation is to follow the out line that the book provides you with. Jan 02, 2020 a simple outline for the book of revelation is found in revelation 1. Intro to revelation biblica the international bible. A testimony of jesus christ is a commentary that explains some of the mysteries of revelation.

The book of revelation has much to teach us about the events of the end times, and about our own hearts. There are those such as thiessen who understand the genitive to be objective referring to a revelation about christ, 2 but it is more probably a subjective genitive referring to a revelation by. The book of revelation and work bible commentary theology. The next step is to enter your payment information. For an adequate understanding of revelation, the reader must recognize that it is a distinct kind of literature.

Strange work a verse by verse commentary on the bible book of revelation. The things john had already seen are recorded in chapter 1. Intro to revelation biblica the international bible society. This course is designed as an expository study of the book of revelation, taking the student through the entire book with cross references to other portions of scripture. What is the best workbook to study the book of revelation. Domitian is no longer viewed as a despot imposing an imperial cult, and it is no longer believed that there was any systematic empirewide persecution of christians in his time. Why do catholic bibles not include the book of revelation. Walking through revelation biblical prophecy revelation. What historical reasons resulted in revelation being. We used this book to guide an 8week message series on revelation at our church, and made the book available to our members. This commentary on revelation will prove, contrary to what most people think, that the revelation, the last book of the bible, is not difficult to understand if we will take a simple, facevalue, commonsense approach to interpreting it.

Revelation reveals the events of the day of the lord revelation 1. The book of revelation in the bible is one of the more difficult books of the bible to understand. Verse 19 of the book tells us that the book is a letter broken up in to 3 sections. 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. It fittingly has the last place ending the scriptures and gods revelation to man. I heard or read somewhere that the book of revelation isnt included in catholic bibles, but that they have 73 books instead of the protestant 66, which protestants know as the apocryp. Join us on a journey through the pages of this letter from christ to his people. I saw heaven opened, by michael wilcock part of the bible speaks today series.

The key to understanding the book of revelation is to interpret it as literally as possibleit says what it means and means what it says. If you enjoy bible study and the book of revelations you will enjoy reading revelations. As a source, the book of revelation is something of an outlier for a book of the bible that got accepted into the canonical new testament of most branches of christianity. Each thursday participants from across the country and around the world meet together for free, live, and interactive bible study with randy white. 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. Apr 28, 2015 a commentary that many have found very helpful is the message of revelation.

Revelation is apocalyptic, a kind of writing that is highly symbolic. The questions contain minimal human commentary, but instead urge students to study to understand scripture. Christ tells john to write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. The theme of the book is the events leading up to the jesus second coming. God hits him with a doozy of a revelation hey, thats not a bad idea for a title. And he sent and signified it by his angel to his servant john, who bore witness to the word of god, and to the testimony of jesus christ, to all things that he saw. Tom constables expository notes on revelation this is also available in the net. Preterists understand the book exclusively in terms of its firstcentury setting, claiming that most of its events have already taken place historicists take it as describing the long chain of events from patmos to the end of history futurists place the book primarily in the end times idealists view it as symbolic. Like the other commentaries in this series, the focus is on the message of the book. A workbook suitable for bible classes, family studies, or.

The word comes from the greek word apokalupsis, which is used in the first verse. The bible is approximately 750,000 words, with about 250,000 devoted to many, many prophecies. The discipleapostle john, who followed jesus christ and witnessed his crucifixion, authored it. Book of revelation study guide what does the bible. Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the lambs book of life. Almost half the books of the old testament are included in. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy. The first blessing is in the first chapter of revelation in verse 3. The purpose is to assist the student in gaining a greater comprehension of the biblical teaching contained in the book. Years ago i heard some preach this book of revelation as we do the gospel. It is only when we start to overallegorize it or to force its interpretation according to our preconceived ideas or doctrines about the end. So if this book is revealing something, what exactly is being revealed. An index page with links to commentaries on the individual chapters of the book of revelation.

Interpreters of revelation normally fall into four groups. Ttws audio guides walk you through each passage in just 5 minutes. The book of revelation unveils jesus christ in glory. The book of revelation is the last book of the bible in our canon for good reason. Tips for understanding the book of revelation in the bible. John is told to write down everything god shows him, and boy is god going to show him some strange things. God would not have given it to us if its meaning were entirely a mystery. This book was written by john, the last surviving apostle revelation 1.

Those who remain steadfast in their faith and confidence in the risen lord need have no fear. The purpose is to assist the student in gaining a greater comprehension of the biblical teaching contained in the book of revelation with an emphasis on. Its bible on your screen pastor in your headphones with clear, relatable teaching so you can understand. John wrote revelation while a prisoner on the island of patmos, approximately 8595 a. The entire bible is the book of revelation the revealing of god through his son the lord jesus christ. Of course, the writer of the book, the apostle john, tells us that the prophetic book is, in fact, a revelation of jesus christ himselfone often. 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. Reading the book of revelation can be a frustrating and perplexing study experience, with all its amazing cast of characters, its extraordinary symbolic imagery, and its deeply spiritual prose. In the first chapter, the risen and exalted christ is speaking to john. A word list at the end explains words with a star by them.

The book contains prophetic visions of the future given by god to john rev. Here is how wilcock outlines the flow of revelation. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it. A simple outline for the book of revelation is found in revelation 1.

The scroll and the lamb read revelation 5 kjv along with a helpful commentary. Although its visions often seem bizarre to the western reader, fortunately the book provides a number of clues for its own interpretation e. Events are building to a final culminationa tremendous climax. The book of revelation had its origin in a time of crisis, but it remains valid and meaningful for christians of all time. The book of revelation this course is designed as an expository study of the book of revelation, taking the student through the entire book with cross references to other portions of scripture.

John the divine is an example of apocalyptic writing a form that delivers a message using symbols, images and numbers. What is the best workbook to study the book of revelation in. Parts of the old testament, particularly in the book of daniel, are also written in the apocalyptic genre. Revelation is the finale of the entire bible bringing gods word to a dramatic conclusion. Introduction seven churches heaven gods judgement gods witnesses. The author was probably a christian from ephesus known as john the elder. Conventional understanding until recent times was that the book of revelation was written to comfort beleaguered christians as they underwent persecution at the hands of a megalomaniacal roman emperor, but much of this has now been jettisoned. This word means disclosure or revelation and conveys the idea of laying bare or uncovering. The books second and third chapters contain vital warnings to the seven churches that existed in asia minor in the first century a. The versebyverse commentary on revelation introduction this commentary on revelation will prove, contrary to what most people think, that the revelation, the last book of the bible, is not difficult to understand if we will take a simple, facevalue, commonsense approach to interpreting it. The prophetic book of the new testament david malick. Yet it is a tough nut to crack, not only because of its intrinsic difficulty but because of the myriad interpretations that have grown up around the book. Of course, the writer of the book, the apostle john, tells us that the prophetic book is, in fact, a revelation of jesus christ himselfone often given through dramatic visions and dreams.