Book of Revelation – Read Chapters and Study Meaning

summary of the book of revelation

This summary of the Book of Revelation provides information on the title, author(s), date of writing, chronology, subject, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the Book of Revelation.

author

Four times the author identifies himself as John (1:1,4,9; 22:8). From as early as Justin Martyr in the second century AD. It has been argued that this John was the apostle, the son of Zebedee (cf. Mt 10:2). the book itself reveals that the author was a jew, well versed in the scriptures, a church leader who was well known to the seven churches of asia minor, and a deeply religious person totally convinced that the christian faith would soon triumph over the demonic forces at work in the world.

You are reading: The books of revelation

In the 3rd century, however, an African bishop named Dionysius compared the language, style, and thought of the Apocalypse (Revelation) with that of John’s other writings and decided that the book could not have been written by John. apostle john. He suggested that the author was a certain John the Presbyter, whose name appears in other ancient writings. Although many today follow Dionysius in the view of authorship of him, the external evidence seems to overwhelmingly support the traditional view.

date

the revelation was written when the Christians were entering a time of persecution. The two periods most frequently mentioned are the last part of the reign of Nero (54-68 AD) and the last part of the reign of Domitian (81-96). most interpreters date the book c. 95. (some suggest a date during Vespasian’s reign: 69-79.)

occasion

See Also: 10 Most Expensive Books Ever Sold – TCK Publishing

See also  Rick Campbell - Book Series In Order

As the Roman authorities at the time were beginning to enforce emperor worship, Christians, who held that Christ, not Caesar, was Lord, faced increasing hostility. the believers in smyrna are warned against coming opposition (2:10), and the church in philadelphia is told that the hour of testing will come upon the world (3:10). Antipas has already given his life (2:13) along with others (6:9). John has been exiled to the island of Patmos (probably the site of a Roman penal colony) for his activities as a Christian missionary (1:9). Some within the church advocate a policy of compromise (2:14-15,20), which must be corrected before its subtle influence can undermine believers’ resolve to stand firm in the perilous days ahead.

purpose

juan writes to encourage the faithful to firmly resist the demands of the cult of the emperor. He informs his readers that the final showdown between God and Satan is imminent. satan will increase his persecution of believers, but they must remain steadfast, even to the death. They are sealed from spiritual harm and will soon be vindicated when Christ returns, when the wicked are destroyed forever, and when God’s people enter into an eternity of glory and bliss.

literary form

For a proper understanding of the revelation, the reader must recognize that it is a different kind of literature. the revelation is apocalyptic, a highly symbolic type of writing. although her visions often seem strange to the western reader, fortunately the book provides a number of clues for her own interpretation (e.g., the stars are angels, the lampstands are churches, 1:20; “the great harlot”, 17:1, is “Babylon” [Rome?], 17:5,18; and the heavenly Jerusalem is the Lamb’s wife, 21:9-10).

See also  'The Dark Tower' Movie Vs. Book Differences Show This Isn't Your Typical Adaptation

distinctive feature

See Also: Best HSPT Prep Books

a distinctive feature is the frequent use of the number seven (52 times). there are seven beatitudes (see note at 1:3), seven churches (1:4,11), seven spirits (1:4), seven golden lampstands (1:12), seven stars (1:16), seven seals (5:1), seven horns and seven eyes (5:6), seven trumpets (8:2), seven thunders (10:3), seven signs (12:1,3; 13:13-14; 15: 1; 16:14; 19:20), seven crowns (12:3), seven plagues (15:6), seven golden bowls (15:7), seven hills (17:9), and seven kings (17: 10), as well as other sevens. Symbolically, the number seven represents integrity.

interpretation

The interpreters of the revelation normally fall into four groups:

  1. preterists understand the book exclusively in terms of its first century setting, claiming that most of its events have already occurred.
  2. historicists take it as a description of the long chain of events from patmos to the end of history.
  3. Futurists place the book primarily in the end times.
  4. Idealists see it as symbolic images of eternal truths such as the victory of the good over evil.
  5. li>

Fortunately, the fundamental truths of revelation do not depend on the adoption of a particular point of view. they are available to anyone who reads the book for its overall message and resists the temptation to become too enamored of the details.

scheme

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *