The word apocalypse means unveiling and thats exactly what the book of revelation isit is a prophetic book that discusses the unveiling of what is going to happen in the nearing end times and what. God would not have given it to us if its meaning were entirely a mystery. In other words, it is the way you interpret scripture. Some of it remains secret, for example what the thunders said. Whether were looking for gospel meaning or struggling with understanding revelations in the bible, ben witherington iii, author of the article asking the right question, says historical bible study can help us find our way. It is the final expression of and complement to the prophecies of the jewish prophets. A testimony of jesus christ is a commentary that explains some. At times we will also refer to it as the book of revelation, the revelation, or just revelation.
The book of revelation in the bible is one of the more difficult books of the bible to understand. Oct 29, 20 the book of revelation has been shrouded in mystery for a good portion of the church age. The theme of the book is the events leading up to the jesus second coming. It will prepare you for the rest of the material contained here. Thank you for the concern, and pray that i will continue to present the truth as fully as god reveals it to me, hiding nothing. And we do not yet understand many things that god has said. Jan 02, 2020 the book of revelation is understandable. Although its visions often seem bizarre to the western reader, fortunately the book provides a number of clues for its own interpretation e. Its meaning is positive, not fearful or terrifying to those who serve god. Keys to understanding revelation united church of god.
This series is designed to give you a verse by verse general overview to help you better understand this great book of prophecy. As mentioned before, the books very name means to reveal to unveil, to open to understanding what otherwise could not be comprehended. Daniel, recorded over 600 years earlier, sets the stage for the larger and more detailed book of revelation, which describes events found nowhere else in the bible. Understanding the book of revelation tv program dvd series. A simple study of end times and verse by verse study of revelation. Revelation made simple and easy to understand this last book of the bible bears the title revelation, meaning, unveiling, yet, it presents visions of. Under these circumstances, a versebyverse teaching of revelation would be a challenging endeavor. In this thcentury mosaic in the cupola of the baptistry in florence, a voracious devil devours sinners. The book of revelation explained by pastor allen nolan is a. Key to understanding commentaries on revelations is knowing the position of the commentator. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it. God has even promised a special blessing to those who read it. In the book s last chapter god reiterates that his words were given to reveal and not to be sealed revelation 22. I went into the study as a trinitarian, but left the study out of obvious necessity as a believer in the one true god.
Revelation reveals the events of the day of the lord revelation 1. Ben witherington iii, author of the following article, asking the right question, once hitched a ride from a couple who believed the earth was flat. Its title is derived from the first word of the koine greek text. His plan for the end times is in the scroll revelation 1. 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.
An easyenglish bible version and commentary 2800 word vocabulary on the book of revelation. The first verse of this book announces that it is the revelation of jesus christ, which god gave him revelation 1. One of our most fascinating exercises in scriptural interpretation. Many through the centuries have even suggested that this book of the bible be avoided because of the depth and mystery of its symbolism. Book of revelation for dummies cheat sheet dummies. Together we will explore a complete verse by verse, illustrated commentary on the books of daniel and revelation, supplemented by audio mp3 read by the author. This is a wonderful 3 tv program per dvd series, on understanding the book of revelation. It retains the original bible chapter and verse addresses, and each verse has its own explanation. If you really want to understand this great book, garlands commentary will not disappoint. Clues to understanding the bibles most complicated book 1 feb, 2018 in pastor to pastor by megan leblanc by douglas connelly, adapted from the book of revelation made clear. Although prophecy is scattered all through the bible, two books focus almost entirely on symbolic representations. Book of revelation read, study bible verses online. If you would like to learn how to understand the bible better, please visit us at.
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. 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. The book of revelation has been shrouded in mystery for a good portion of the church age. The book calls itself the revelation of jesus christ. The word revelation means an uncovering, unveiling, a disclosure of truth.
Hermeneutics is the study of the principles of interpretation. The revelation is a very solemn book speaking much about divine judgments but it is also a. The word revelation means that which god now shows. A word list at the end explains words with a star by them. This series is a bit of my testimony of coming into a further understanding of the truth as a result of studying the most important book for our timethe revelation. A testimony of jesus christ is a commentary that explains some of the mysteries of revelation. Book of revelation explained a testimony of jesus christ. This interpretive method robs revelation of any meaning for those to whom it was written. Revelation is apocalyptic, a kind of writing that is.
It is, of course, the cryptic symbolism of revelation that makes it challenging to understand. The revelation of jesus christto show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass. While many associate the word apocalypse with great disaster, the book of revelation begins and ends by saying that those who read, understand, and apply its message would be happy for doing so. Doug batchelor book of revelation study part 1 of 7 youtube.
See all 2 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. The book of revelation is the last book of the bible and a familiarity with the teaching of the other books of the bible for the understanding of gods purpose with the world and its redemption is obviously a prerequisite for fully understanding this remarkable book. The revelation is the only prophetic book of the nt and it is the keystone of the word of god. Dec 20, 2017 the word revelation means an uncovering, unveiling, a disclosure of truth. This book is meant to be a ready reference book, a versebyverse explanation, to be easily used with your own bible.
King james version kjv of the best commentaries available on the book of the revelation. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast. This is the second stage of christs coming, the revelation or appearing. The holy scriptures start with a revelation on the past genesis 1 and they end with a revelation on the future. The first stage of his coming, the rapture, scripture. The reason most commentaries fail to enlighten the books contents is because they violate one or more of the three basic principles of sound biblical interpretation. Revelation is apocalyptic, a kind of writing that is highly symbolic. Book chapters also align with the original short stories that make up the book of revelation.
The first blessing is in the first chapter of revelation in verse 3. Some people are so anxious to get to the prophecy part of revelation that they just skim through the opening verses. This web site explains the book of revelation, each individual scripture. This book of the revelation tells what is in that scroll. 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. A userfriendly look at the bibles most complicated book.
The book of revelation is the final book of the new testament, and consequently is also the final book of the christian bible. This series is a bit of my testimony of coming into a further understanding of the truth as a result of studying the. A userfriendly look at the bibles most complicated book sometimes you can find important clues about a book in the parts most people skip. Others think they understand the prophecies of the bibleand this is probably most true of the book of revelation. Understanding the book of revelation 3 understanding the book of revelation he book of revelation is placed last in the bible for good reason. In the same way that we must read a novel cover to cover before understanding it properly, so must bible students have an understanding of the bibles first 65 books before they can truly understand its final book. The real meaning of the bibles book of revelation is a popular, ongoing debate. Understanding revelations in the bible biblical archaeology. The verse by verse 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. Book of revelation explained scripture by scripture. Without a thorough understanding of the rest of scripture most of revelation will. It should be the last book of the bible that anyone seeks to become an expert on. The book of revelation is the revelation of jesus christ in the sense that it belongs to him, he is the one.
Enduring word bible commentary revelation chapter 1. There is a passage more like this in sense in the same book, xlvii. Apr 28, 2015 the book of revelation is similar to other literature of the time thats called apocalyptic, which typically includes visions, global clashes, endoftheworld warnings, and many, many symbols. Garland approaches the text from a literal perspective and also assesses the weaknesses of various nonliteral interpretations. The book of revelation is the last book of the bible in our canon for good reason.
Revelation made simple and easy to understand this last book of the bible bears the title revelation, meaning unveiling and, yet, it presents visions of. God reveals a basic framework for understanding future events. The book of revelation is similar to other literature of the time thats called apocalyptic, which typically includes visions, global clashes, endoftheworld warnings, and many, many symbols. In the first verse of the book, the apostle john recorded christs words, the revelation of jesus christto show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass. Revelation explained verse by verse, chapter by chapter. Revelation 1 study of the book of chapter by chapter and verse by verse.
Every statement is to be taken to mean for exactly what is written unless such interpretation is highly improbable to spiritual reason, or against scripture elsewhere. Revelation 2020 verse by verse ministry international. But, like its very namerevelationunderstanding of this seemingly complex book is available to all. Introduction revelation is a confusing book to most people despite the many commentaries written. No person could know these things unless god showed them. Likewise, we could see revelation as the final chapter in gods 66chapter novel called the bible. A guide for understanding by vern sheridan poythress prepared for use with the course nt 311, general epistles and revelation, at westminster theological seminary, philadelphia version 2. The book of revelation must be taken literal whenever possible. The time for understanding the book of revelation is now at hand. As pastor mark explains in this verse by verse exposition, however, there is actually very little symbolism in the book. 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. Revelation outlines a long series of events that relate.
The first stage of his coming, the rapture, scripture is not mentioned in this book. Unlike most books of the bible, revelation contains its own title. Our text book for this learning adventure is understanding daniel and the revelation this link provides an entire pdf e book of the latest edition. The key to bible interpretation, especially for the book of revelation, is to have a consistent hermeneutic. This framework is primarily laid out in daniel and revelation. Discovering gospel meaning or understanding revelations in the bible has baffled readers for centuries. Revelation with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. 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. A simple study of end times and verse by verse study of revelation paperback may 29, 2018 by d min david baxley author 4. A simple study of end times and verse by verse study of revelation baxley, d min david on.