Jun 20, 2009 preparing a top 5 list of commentaries on the book of revelation is extremely challenging in a number of ways. The current view is that revelation was composed in the context of a conflict within the christian community of asia minor over whether to engage with, or withdraw. The interactive counterpoints forum allows each author not only to present his view, but also to offer brief commentary on other views presented. 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 apocalyptic book of revelation uses symbols and old testament references to reveal a pattern of human rebellion and gods plan to overcome evil forever. Revelations symbolic visions are similar to what youd see in the old testament prophecies of ezekiel, daniel, and zechariah. These four views are carefully and evenhandedly analyzed and then applied to each verse and passage in revelation. Some people see it primarily as a political statement. The book of revelation, by all accounts, is the most difficult book in scripture. Why doesnt christianity remove the book of revelation from. Four views of revelation by patrick zukeran the debate one of the most intriguing books of the bible is the book of revelation.
I believe the clear purpose of revelation is exactly what it says it is. The plethora of views, however, can be distilled into essentially four main categories. The imagery of the cosmic battle in heaven and on earth makes it a fascinating book to study. Preterist idealist classical dispensationalist futurist progressive dispensationalist the interactive counterpoints forum allows each author not only to present his view, but also to offer brief commentary on other views presented. 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. Jul 18, 2016 why doesnt christianity remove the book of revelation from the bible.
Bishop myers discusses the truth about the book of revelation and also teaches us how to remember the 10 commandments using a pictorial. Preterist views revelation s prophecies as reflecting actual historical events in apostle johns near future, which have been. The next diagram shows that the seven last plagues, the last of the sequential series in the book of revelation, cannot logically be included along with the previous three series of sevens. The book of the revelation pastor david legge 4 reign of righteousness. These indepth versebyverse studies harmonize the holy bible from genesis to revelation. Preparing a top 5 list of commentaries on the book of revelation is extremely challenging in a number of ways.
So, the divine author of revelation is jesus christ and the human author is the apostle john. It was refreshing to read a book about how to approach revelation in its entirety. Obviously, the first church, seal and trumpet cannot be parallel to the first plague. The book of revelation and work bible commentary theology. To encourage fidelity to christ in the midst of suffering by affirming that god rules history and will surely bring it to a glorious consummation of judgment and blessing in christ. The prophet joseph smith helped remove some of the mystery surrounding. The clear purpose of revelation love worth finding with. The book of revelation page 1 of 4 preterist idealist classical dispensationalist progressive dispensationalist ideology historic. Four parallel columns present the information you need on these key views, and inform you about outstanding commentators on the book of revelation.
Calvinism, reformed theology, presbyterianism, eschatology in general, postmillennialism, preterism, the book of revelation, theonomy, sixday creation, presuppositionalism, predestination, lordship salvation, infant baptism, the christian worldview, christian education, the christian and alcohol, and more. With a book like the book of revelation, you will inevitably have several central messages depending on the angle from which you look at them. Revelation 4 commentary commentary critical and explanatory. This book by gregg, on the other hand, is a detailed, versebyverse commentary, with the text divided into paragraphs, and each paragraph followed by four parallel columns. In this section i will briefly summarize the different approaches as well as commenting briefly on my own approach to the book. The problems of recapitulation in the book of revelation. 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. That there are differing views on the interpretation of the apocalyptic writings in the book of revelation is no secret. I cannot point to a single commentary with which i agree entirely.
Its supposed prophesies of end times and armageddon are not good for modern society. The comforting promise of revelation when you are certain of your future, then you can concentrate on your present. Of all the books of the bible, few are as fascinating or as bewildering as revelation. We look at the theme, purpose statement, and other features of.
Come explore the works of temple scholar frank shallieu. The first christian church historian, eusebius, who reports the views of gaius and dionysius, also. The idealist approach mines the book of revelation for timeless theological truths that. Why doesnt christianity remove the book of revelation from the bible. Historicist interpretations of the book of revelation wikipedia. The book of revelation introduction the revelation of jesus christ, which god gave him to show his servantsthings which must shortly take place. 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. It was only supposed to be 10 pages, and when i finished the first view, i was 6 pages in, so i cut it back a little bit and seriously scaled down the remaining three. He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant john.
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. It differed too radically from the johannine gospel and letters. Obviously, the first church, seal and trumpet cannot be parallel to the first plague because it, like the rest of the plagues, are all future. The book of revelation provides some of the keenest insights in scripture concerning the big picture of work. Heretofore, my discussions on the book of revelation have centered around the rapture if and when it will happen, the millennium, and who the antichrist is. Great for any believer who wishes to deepen their understanding of the book of revelation, this is a great read. Outstanding overview of the four different views of interpretation for the book of revelation. This view uses the allegorical method to interpret the book of revelation. But the futurist view that revelation is predicting events yet to be fulfilled is only one of four traditional christian ways of looking at the bibles most enigmatic book. Revelation books four views on the book of revelation. Marvin pate, in his four views on the book of revelation 231 correctly states, i believe, that how one approaches revelation 1. Essay paper on four views on the book of revelation summarize and evaluate three of the four views presented in four views on the book of revelation, edited by c. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading four views on the book of revelation counterpoints. Some of the key issues for which we have educational materials include.
I am not the only one promoting revelation studies from a nondispensational, propreterist perspective. Four views revelation warnings about sin salvation authority doctrine. The book of revelation powerpoint the beast revelation. Book of revelation overview insight for living ministries. Revelation is indeed sent as a letter with a traditional greeting, direct messages to the recipients re 23, and a sendoff re 22. Four views is an invaluable resource that will help anyone who wants to explore and understand the book of. This book allows proponents of each of the four major interpretive views on revelation to present an overview from their perspective. Reviewed by alex soto when a marriage covenant has been breached by harlotry, offended spouses can pursue divorce. Johns antagonism towards the roman empire is not a view that other christians felt very clearly. How can we understand the book of revelation and its many interpretations. Jan 24, 2011 elements of the differing views can be incorporated beneficially into our understanding of the book. Many have wondered if the third temple will ever be built.
As i read the four views, the preterist view fascinated me. Apr 01, 1998 of all the books of the bible, few are as fascinating or as bewildering as revelation. So the book clearly is to all of gods people in every generation. Chances are, they have never heard any other way to understand this book filled with strange beasts, symbolism and ominous signs of doom. We cannot hope to solve these problems here, but we may perhaps find. However, much debate surrounds the proper interpretation of this apocalyptic work. The book of revelation, a prophecy of warning and hope. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Here we may examine the question by looking at the views of several of the most notable recent scholars on revelation. Preterist views revelations prophecies as reflecting actual historical events in apostle johns near future, which have been. The assignment was to write a paper that explains the four major interpretive views of the book of revelation and explains their strengths and weaknesses. Why doesnt christianity remove the book of revelation.
How one sees the opening phrases like these things, will soon take place and. The revelation research foundation has completed work on a 3d version of ezekiels temple, utilizing the drawings of mr. The four views and their proponents are 1 the preterist view, by kenneth l. His view was subversive of authority, whether it is political.
Revelation 1922 portrays christs future triumph over the forces of evil and his recreation of the world for the redeemed. Four views of the book of revelation due in spring, 1998. I knew basically what revelation meant back in 1977, having been briefly introduced to a sound view of the book in a general eschatology course taught by greg l. Four views is an invaluable resource that will help anyone who wants to explore and understand the book of revelation. There have been many different interpretive approaches to the book of revelation. Preterist, which means gone by, is derived from the latin word praeteritus. Nov, 2016 bishop myers discusses the truth about the book of revelation and also teaches us how to remember the 10 commandments using a pictorial mnemonic device. Watch our overview video on the book of revelation, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought.
For example, the futurists are correct in pointing out that some events described in revelation have yet to be fulfilled 2nd coming of christ, final judgement in chapter 20, renewal of all things in chapter 21,22. Four views on the book of revelation counterpoints. 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. Four views on the book of revelation focuses specifically on the book of revelation and the primary ways in which it is read and understood today. Four views on the book of revelation explores the four main views in which revelation is understood. On the book of revelation and the ten commandments youtube. The author of revelation mentioned his name, john, four times throughout the book revelation 1. Four views on the book of revelation my give on things. So this book is a revelation of jesus christ, not in the sense that matthew, mark, luke and john revealed him, but rather than the humiliated christ, we have.
The first view of revelation is the idealist view, or the spiritual view. While revelation offers many details on the tribulationeven if they are often couched in the mystery of symbolic languageit is the final four chapters that dictate the overall message of the book. The four major schools of prophetic interpretation if we are to have any success in being free of the inertia of preconceived ideas, if we hope to be aware of our. And i heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. Overview of the book of revelation reformed answers to. Because its more of an overview, the only negative is it never went in depth on exegetical matters. Careful, unbiased summaries of the views of over fifty commentaries and commentators put you in touch with outstanding representatives of each view from throughout much of church history. Of course, even after going over the books content, it can still be difficult to know what revelation is all about. The book of revelation powerpoint free download as powerpoint presentation. That book allowed the proponents of each of four different views to present an overall summary of their approach to the book of revelation. 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.
The historicist view follows a straight line of continuous fulfillment of prophecy which starts in daniels time and goes through johns writing of the book of. Seventh trumpet third woe, covers the rest of the week. In the book of revelation chapter 14, there is another, apparently separate group from israel mentioned where john writes on mount zion stood the lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his fathers name written on their foreheads. It is the first book that many new to the bible want to study, while it is often neglected by mature. My own understanding of the book is set forth in a very summary manner in the last chapter of my book from age to age a chapter that is not intended to be read until all of the other chapters have been completed. We look at the theme, purpose statement, and other features of the book of. It looks at four interpretations of revelation, and why those particular interpretations are held. The apocalyptic book of revelation is a symbolic glimpse into.
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