If youre befuddled by the book of revelation in the bible, dont fret. Take a look at the basic structure of the book of revelation. So, the divine author of revelation is jesus christ and the human author is the apostle john. The revelation is the only book in the nt mentioning john as author. Have you ever wondered what the book of revelation is all about. The seven churches of revelation, also known as the seven churches of the apocalypse and the seven churches of asia, are seven major churches of early christianity, as mentioned in the new testament book of revelation.
Pack staggering events foretold in your bible will shock the whole world. The book of revelation closes its awful description of the judgments which are coming upon the earth by inviting to the sinner, come to christ, and, after one reads and understand the book of revelation, he too will close the book and invite the sinner to. John mentions his name four times in the book revelation 1. To rightly interpret the book, we should seek to find the meaning the book had in. The author of revelation mentioned his name, john, four times throughout the book revelation 1. But where is the church from chapters 4 through 19. In discussing the war on earth between good and evil, it is mentioned that there was also a war in. Revelation with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. What do the seven churches in revelation stand for. A pretrib argument says that since the church is conspicuously missing on earth, she must be in heaven. Each letter, as proclaimed by jesus and recorded by john the apostle, declares the triumphs and failings of the recipient churches and warns each congregation to repent. Revelation the dragon pursuing a woman, from the bamberg apocalypse. Seven churches of revelation bible study david jeremiah blog.
Studying the book of revelation oak ridge church of christ. These jewish converts, in turn, evangelize the gentiles who make up the great multitude in white robes in v. The book of revelation addresses seven letters to seven churches in asia minor modernday turkey revelation 23. Understanding the book of revelation the church of jesus christ. In this special prophetic update we will discuss how we are seeing prophetic preludes in the earth with unprecedented disasters around the globe and how this is. What this book reveals or unveils is jesus christ in glory.
Some note that although the term church ekklesia is not found in chapters 618 of the book of revelation, saints hagion, rev. Christians throughout history have given almost unanimous affirmation to the identity of the books author as john the apostle, who had been exiled to the island of patmos by the authorities for preaching the gospel in asia. The advice in these letters is prophetic, forewarning presentday christian communities of the snares that. The book of revelation also called the revelation of john or the revelation of st. About the first of march, while engaged in this work, questions arose in regard to the meaning of some of the figurative. The revelation is a very solemn book speaking much about divine judgments but it is also a. Daniel 11 timeline condensed one page commentary video overview daniel 11 explained condensed one page commentary revelation 7. David aune notes three types of books mentioned in the old testament and early noncanonical jewish and christian literature. John the divine is an example of apocalyptic writing a form that delivers a message using symbols, images and numbers. Organized by chapter, this panorama of bible prophecy will let you catch a birdseye view of the prophetic timeline described in the book of revelation.
Instead, these elders are part of the universal church, believers from all ages in the shed blood of christ for the forgiveness of their sins, that one day, at the resurrection, will all be together in heaven. The book of revelation starts with this is a revelation from jesus christ, which god gave him to show his servants the events that must soon take place. Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a. But the posttrib argument counters that the church is. The book of revelation, the last book of the bible, has fascinated and puzzled christians for centuries. Unlike most books of the bible, revelation contains its own title. Letters from jesus to 7 churches in asia minor and each church b. Five common misinterpretations of the book of revelation, the here are five of the most common fallacious statements propagated in the name of john the revelator.
This is an excellent bible study to disprove the claims that the church is not in revelation after chapter 3, and we will. All of them are located in the asia minor, presentday turkey. The endtime prophetic events recorded in the book of revelation that will occur before and at the time of christs return to earth are outlined by. Established in 1974, way of life literature is a fundamental baptist preaching and publishing ministry based in bethel baptist church, london, ontario, of which wilbert unger is the founding pastor. Interestingly, jesus used some of the characteristics of each city to spiritually evaluate its congregation and to prophesy the history of his church up to his second coming. During the time when the church is gone, a remnant of 144,000 ethnic jews is converted 12,000 from each tribe. The rapture is the hope of the new testament, just as the revelation of christ was the hope of the old testament. The church that is left, regardless of how small, will be lined up with the will of god. And the book of revelation will complete the revelation of christ. Yet this does not prove that the church is present at that time because saints is a generic term which describes believers of all ages.
In the 1970s there was an extremely popular book titled the late great planet earth which allegedly interpreted the book of revelation. The church, as such, is never mentioned in any passage dealing with the tribulation. As mentioned before, the books very name means to reveal to unveil, to open to understanding what otherwise could not be comprehended. Truths about him and his final victory, that the rest of scripture merely allude to, become clearly visible through revelation about jesus christ see historical and theological themes. Among the things found in this book was the idea that revelation was speaking about such things as the soviet union, nuclear attacks between the ussr and the us, etc. Book of revelation explained scripture by scripture. The church and the book of revelation commentary a. Nowhere does the bible identify these two witnesses by name, although people through the. The seven churches described in the book of revelation.
John, or the book of revelation, is the last book of the bible, and in most traditions is believed to cover those events which surround the end of the world, and the last judgement. The holy scriptures start with a revelation on the past genesis 1 and they end with a revelation on the future. To rightly interpret the book, we should seek to find the meaning the book had in the day of its origin. The book of revelation is not so intimidating once you understand what the author was up to. Second, when one examines the historical discussion concerning the book of revelation in the early church both east and west, these are not the terms of the debate.
The book of revelation, a prophecy of warning and hope. The book of revelation addresses seven letters to seven churches in. Yet most people believe that this final book of the bible cannot be understood at allthat its language and symbols are too confusing to make sense. He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant john. The book is addressed to the seven churches which are in asia. In them, he mentions the revelation of the birth of jesus christ romans 16. How accurate are the descriptions of these seven cities mentioned in the book of revelation according to archaeology and history. First, there are the exceptions previously mentioned, in which canonical orthodox churches read revelation publicly as scripture. While chapters 119 use immediate language now, at hand, near chapter 20 introduces the concept of a thousand years. You encounter these fantastic figures who play some role in the drama of the end, whether it be. Justin the martyr around 100 to 165 ac, irenaeus around 140 to 220 ac and the muratori canon end of 2 nd century confirm that the apostle john is the author. All christians from all time will reign physically on earth with jesus.
This very powerful and dynamic teachingtool on the book of revelation shines a light on the symbolism and the mysteries of god revealed to mankind in this great book. The reference to the 24 elders in the book of revelation can be first found in revelation 4. So if the word church is not mentioned in revelation after chapter 3, does that mean it isnt there. It was a time in which many christians were imprisoned, beaten, banished to desolate islands, burned at the. The advice in these letters is prophetic, forewarning presentday christian communities. This is to corre spond with the chapters in the revelation. Even some of the churchs greatest and most philosophically sophisticated saints stated that some passages were. Though they were literal churches in that time, there is also spiritual significance for churches and believers today. The books mentioned here were the books of the living and the dead, or the book of life and the book of death. Though the letters are written to the seven churches in asia minor, there are considerable parallels to the. The book of revelation explained volume 4 preface you will notice that the book of revelation explained, volume 4, begins with chapter 12, not chapter 1, and ends at the conclusion of chapter 14. The church is mentioned 19 times in the first three chapters. Is the book of revelation canonical in the orthodox church.
Section 77, questions and answers on the book of revelation, doctrine and covenants student manual 2002, 16771. The greek name of the bible book of revelation, apoka. Is the united states or israel mentioned in revelation. Some general comments about the book of revelation and its uniqueness. Section 77, questions and answers on the book of revelation. Do our minds become confused when we hear all those sevens and l2s, and all those strange titles applied to jesusthe alpha and omega and the bright morning star. Indeed, some might feel revelationssymbols and metaphors are so. Jesus christ writes to his churches in the 1st and 21st centuries. Many scholars believe that the harvest of the earth in revelation 14 is the rapture of the church. These churches were planted and cultivated by the apostle paul, with the church at ephesus being the lead church. Great prophecies in the book of revelation show how and when these catastrophic events will occur. Promises from the book of revelation over the centuries the church of our dear lord has experienced various forms of adversity, but during its early existence there was a period of persecution that was exceptionally severe. The revelation is the only prophetic book of the nt and it is the keystone of the word of god.
End times signs rapture prophecy timelines explained. With this in mind, recognize that the events of revelation described in this. The book of revelation closes with the bright and morning star, which is a figure of christ at his coming to take the church out of the world. And i will never blot out his name from the book of life, but i will confess his name before my father and his angels. Great prophecies in the book of revelation show how and when these catastrophic. The first four seals represent trends and plagues that have been continuing and intensifying through the years to our day. All of these seven churches mentioned in revelation chapters 2 and 3 are literal churches that were located in asia minor. Within the book of revelation it is chapter 20 which forms a natural division between imminent and distant.
Book of revelation overview insight for living ministries. 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. Book of revelation for dummies cheat sheet dummies. Parts of the old testament, particularly in the book of daniel, are also written in the apocalyptic genre. Keys to understanding revelation united church of god. The book of revelation explained in under 5 minutes youtube.
Who are the two witnesses in the book of revelation. I looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one like a son of man with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. The seven churches described in revelation 23 are seven literal churches at the time that john the apostle was writing revelation. This booklet contains vital understanding that will forever change your outlook on the future. I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth verse 3. The rapture solution the church in the book of revelation.
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