Keys to understanding revelation united church of god. Book of revelation explained a testimony of jesus christ. The bible is a history book, it tells the pastbut like no other history bookit tells the present and future just as clearly. 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. 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. The book of revelation in the bible is one of the more difficult books of the bible to understand. Book of revelation for dummies cheat sheet dummies. Whether were looking for gospel meaning or struggling with understanding revelations in the bible, historical bible study can help us find our way. The real meaning of the bibles book of revelation is a popular, ongoing debate.
A userfriendly look at the bibles most complicated book. Jan 02, 2020 the book of revelation is understandable. The book of revelation is the revelation of jesus christ in the sense that it belongs to him, he is the one. A userfriendly look at the bibles most complicated book sometimes you can find important clues about a book in the parts most people skip. At times we will also refer to it as the book of revelation, the revelation, or just revelation. Revelation outlines a long series of events that relate. The key to bible interpretation, especially for the book of revelation, is to have a consistent hermeneutic. 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. The first blessing is in the first chapter of revelation in verse 3. Revelation is apocalyptic, a kind of writing that is highly symbolic. It is, of course, the cryptic symbolism of revelation that makes it challenging to understand.
The book calls itself the revelation of jesus christ. God has even promised a special blessing to those who read it. Revelation with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. This is the second stage of christs coming, the revelation or appearing. And we do not yet understand many things that god has said. In the books last chapter god reiterates that his words were given to reveal and not to be sealed revelation 22. Book of revelation explained scripture by scripture.
If you really want to understand this great book, garlands commentary will not disappoint. It should be the last book of the bible that anyone seeks to become an expert on. I went into the study as a trinitarian, but left the study out of obvious necessity as a believer in the one true god. 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. This series is a bit of my testimony of coming into a further understanding of the truth as a result of studying the. A simple study of end times and verse by verse study of revelation baxley, d min david on. Likewise, we could see revelation as the final chapter in gods 66chapter novel called the bible. The word revelation means an uncovering, unveiling, a disclosure of truth. 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.
Without a thorough understanding of the rest of scripture most of revelation will. Then go into each of the twenty two chapters of the book of revelation one by one. 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 has been shrouded in mystery for a good portion of the church age. There is a passage more like this in sense in the same book, xlvii. 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. Garland approaches the text from a literal perspective and also assesses the weaknesses of various nonliteral interpretations. A simple study of end times and verse by verse study of revelation. An easyenglish bible version and commentary 2800 word vocabulary on the book of revelation. Book of revelation read, study bible verses online.
His plan for the end times is in the scroll revelation 1. The first stage of his coming, the rapture, scripture is not mentioned in this book. Under these circumstances, a versebyverse teaching of revelation would be a challenging endeavor. 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. Although prophecy is scattered all through the bible, two books focus almost entirely on symbolic representations. A simple study of end times and verse by verse study of revelation paperback may 29, 2018 by d min david baxley author 4.
The book of revelation explained by pastor allen nolan is a. Enduring word bible commentary revelation chapter 1. A testimony of jesus christ is a commentary that explains some. In other words, it is the way you interpret scripture. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it. Hermeneutics is the study of the principles of interpretation. Understanding revelations in the bible biblical archaeology.
It retains the original bible chapter and verse addresses, and each verse has its own explanation. King james version kjv of the best commentaries available on the book of the revelation. Under these circumstances, a verse by verse teaching of revelation would be a challenging endeavor. The theme of the book is the events leading up to the jesus second coming. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast. Revelation reveals the events of the day of the lord revelation 1. This book of the revelation tells what is in that scroll. 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. This commentary has been through advanced checking. The book of revelation is the final book of the new testament, and consequently is also the final book of the christian bible. 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.
A testimony of jesus christ is a commentary that explains some of the mysteries 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. 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. Its title is derived from the first word of the koine greek text. The revelation of jesus christto show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass. 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. The holy scriptures start with a revelation on the past genesis 1 and they end with a revelation on the future. 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. 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. See all 2 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Others think they understand the prophecies of the bibleand this is probably most true of the book of revelation. In the book s last chapter god reiterates that his words were given to reveal and not to be sealed revelation 22. Revelation 1 study of the book of chapter by chapter and verse by verse. This book is meant to be a ready reference book, a versebyverse explanation, to be easily used with your own bible.
God reveals a basic framework for understanding future events. As pastor mark explains in this verse by verse exposition, however, there is actually very little symbolism in the book. 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. The word revelation means that which god now shows. 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 book of revelation must be taken literal whenever possible. Dec 20, 2017 the word revelation means an uncovering, unveiling, a disclosure of truth.
Some of it remains secret, for example what the thunders said. The time for understanding the book of revelation is now at hand. This series is designed to give you a verse by verse general overview to help you better understand this great book of prophecy. One of our most fascinating exercises in scriptural interpretation. 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. For an adequate understanding of revelation, the reader must recognize that it is a distinct kind of literature. 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. The first stage of his coming, the rapture, scripture. Unlike most books of the bible, revelation contains its own title. Discovering gospel meaning or understanding revelations in the bible has baffled readers for centuries.
This framework is primarily laid out in daniel and revelation. 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. If you would like to learn how to understand the bible better, please visit us at. The revelation is the only prophetic book of the nt and it is the keystone of the word of god. 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.
Revelation made simple and easy to understand this last book of the bible bears the title revelation, meaning, unveiling, yet, it presents visions of. 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. Introduction revelation is a confusing book to most people despite the many commentaries written. This web site explains the book of revelation, each individual scripture.
Some people are so anxious to get to the prophecy part of revelation that they just skim through the opening verses. Key to understanding commentaries on revelations is knowing the position of the commentator. Book chapters also align with the original short stories that make up the book of revelation. 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. Oct 29, 20 the book of revelation has been shrouded in mystery for a good portion of the church age. A word list at the end explains words with a star by them. Its meaning is positive, not fearful or terrifying to those who serve god. 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. Many through the centuries have even suggested that this book of the bible be avoided because of the depth and mystery of its symbolism. Doug batchelor book of revelation study part 1 of 7 youtube.
The revelation is a very solemn book speaking much about divine judgments but it is also a. Revelation is apocalyptic, a kind of writing that is. 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. But, like its very namerevelationunderstanding of this seemingly complex book is available to all. Revelation explained verse by verse, chapter by chapter. Understanding the book of revelation tv program dvd series. Although its visions often seem bizarre to the western reader, fortunately the book provides a number of clues for its own interpretation e. 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. It will prepare you for the rest of the material contained here. This interpretive method robs revelation of any meaning for those to whom it was written. It is the final expression of and complement to the prophecies of the jewish prophets. Revelation 2020 verse by verse ministry international. No person could know these things unless god showed them.
God would not have given it to us if its meaning were entirely a mystery. In this thcentury mosaic in the cupola of the baptistry in florence, a voracious devil devours sinners. The key to understanding is the mysterious book of revelation is comprehending its story flow. The first verse of this book announces that it is the revelation of jesus christ, which god gave him revelation 1. Understanding the book of revelation 3 understanding the book of revelation he book of revelation is placed last in the bible for good reason. As mentioned before, the books very name means to reveal to unveil, to open to understanding what otherwise could not be comprehended. The book of revelation is the last book of the bible in our canon for good reason.