A testimony of jesus christ is a commentary that explains some of the mysteries of revelation. The first blessing is in the first chapter of revelation in verse 3. Revelation 1 new international version niv prologue. The book of revelation explained volume 4 1 introduction to the revelation revelation 1. The apostle john is the author of the book of revelation. The book of revelation often called the revelation to john, apocalypse of john, the revelation from jesus christ from its opening words, the apocalypse, the revelation, or simply revelation is the final book of the new testament, and consequently is also the final book of the christian bible. He gives a number of reasons why it is important for christians to understand the book of revelation. The revelation is the only book in the nt mentioning john as author. The two witnesses, measuring the temple revelation chapter.
Some christian scholars in later centuries questioned its authorship, objected to some of its doctrines for instance, its teachings about the millennium or its teaching that people would be judged according to their works, and found its. We dont know why john was exiled to patmos, but it may have been for refusing to worship the roman emperor domitian, who had declared himself a god. A series of visions, each one leading into the next. 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 to john, also called book of revelation or apocalypse of john, last book of the new testament. Key to understanding commentaries on revelations is knowing the position of the commentator. Three angels broadcasting network 3abn 3,756,873 views 58. After eating the little book, john is given a measuring stick a reed a variety of cane that grows in the area of the jordan river, which was used for measuring, among its other functions.
The book of revelation explained takes you on a easy to understand and eyeopening journey through the book of revelation. The advice in these letters is prophetic, forewarning presentday christian communities of the snares that. This futuristic approach sees the book outlined as follows. Only john s gospel and revelation refer to jesus christ as the word 19. 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. 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. 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. The other terminology that is sometimes thought to be in revelation is the rapture, that is, the. Four times the author identifies himself as john 1. Book of revelation explained a testimony of jesus christ. Before starting in revelation 1 i want to give plenty of explanations for the authorship, textual design, interpretation, date, themes, and outlines for the book of revelation. The way the book of revelation is actually written is as a series of kind of unfolding revelations, each one of which gets to something deeper in the story.
The author of the book of revelation christopher l. It fittingly has the last place ending the scriptures and gods revelation to man. What john seems to be suggesting in the original meaning of this work is that when the triumph of god comes over the dragon, over the forces of the devil, and the. Verse by verse commentary on revelation precept austin. Its title is derived from the first word of the koine greek text. Before beginning to go through the content of revelation, we recommend that you read through the introduction, overview, and hermeneutical sections to familiarize yourself with the framework concerning this incredible book of god. Chapter 3 beginning in john s day an unfolding of the church history which. Its purpose is to give encouragement and hope for all. Know that the book of revelation deals with things that are to occur after new testament times, particularly in the last days. He wrote it when he was about 92 years old, while a prisoner of rome on the remote desert penal colony of patmos, an island in the aegean sea. Book of revelation for dummies cheat sheet dummies.
John, who wrote the bibles book of revelation, was the longest living apostle. Revelation s mark of the beast exposed 22 revelations ancient discoveries duration. The book of revelation explained by pastor allen nolan is a teaching series on how to unravel the mysteries of the book of the revelation. Jul 04, 2016 this post starts a series through the book of revelation. Enduring word bible commentary revelation chapter 1.
This is the word of god and the testimony of jesus christ. John wrote revelation while a prisoner on the island of patmos, approximately 8595 a. John is explaining visions in terms they could understand 2. Book of revelation overview insight for living ministries. 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. In the study of any book of the bible or any topic of scripture, a certain amount of ground work is needed for understanding, orientation, and motivation. This booklet contains vital understanding that will forever change your outlook on the future.
The book of revelation is the final book of the new testament, and consequently is also the final book of the christian bible. Jeremiah places this captivity in the fourth year of jehoiakim, daniel in the third. Many of the signs and visions of the book of revelation came to john through the supervision of an angel revelation 5. The traditional story of the book of revelation is that it was experienced by john the apostle while he was in exile on the greek island of patmos. Cyril barber the ministers library volume 3 this is not a commentary on the book of revelation, but a wellinformed book that introduces readers to the intricacies of interpretation and theology of john s vision. Under these conditions, a christian named john wrote revelation, addressing it to the seven churches that were in asia minor.
The book of revelation explained by edgar cayce article by kevin williams the final book of the bible is called the book of revelation. Symbolic language, however, is one of the chief characteristics of apocalyptic literature, of which. Yet most people today have never heard of john gill. Since it was known to the church father irenaeus, it must have been written before around 180 ce. 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. Revelation commentary john gills exposition of the bible.
The first commentary on the book of revelation to be preserved, written by victorinus, regards john the apostle as the author. The author of revelation mentioned his name, john, four times throughout the book revelation 1. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant john, 2 who testifies to everything he sawthat is, the word of god and the testimony of jesus christ. The book of revelation explained by pastor allen nolan is a teaching. So, the divine author of revelation is jesus christ and the human author is the apostle john.
According to the book, this john was on the island of patmos, not far from the coast of asia. The book of revelation, quipped ambrose bierce, is a famous book in which st. We can understand the book even though we might not understand every signsymbol. One time in first john and one time in the second john, but not in the book of revelation itself. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it. When was the book of revelation written by the apostle. He describes himself as their brother in the family of god. This is particularly so with the book of revelation or prophecy in general. The author allows us to hear what john heard and see what john saw, so that the sights and sounds of the book mutually interpret and enrich one another.
The book is presented in the form of a great drama. Revelation 4 commentary a testimony of jesus christ. The book concludes with a versebyverse background guide to the contents of the message the risen lord sent to his church. Book of revelation explained scripture by scripture. John mentions his name four times in the book revelation 1. Christians throughout history have given almost unanimous affirmation to the identity of the book s author as john the apostle, who had been exiled to the island of patmos by the authorities for preaching the gospel in asia. The book of revelation was written in the first century a. Written by a man named john possibly john the apostle toward the end of his life, he records a vision he experiences, probably while dreaming or meditating. The book of revelation addresses seven letters to seven churches in asia minor modernday turkey revelation 23. The secret book of john, also called the apocryphon of john or the secret revelation of john, is a secondcentury sethian gnostic christian text of secret teachings. Only johns gospel and revelation refer to jesus christ as the word 19.
The literary genres of the book of revelation are an apocalypse, a prophecy, and an epistle or letter. The discipleapostle john, who followed jesus christ and witnessed his crucifixion, authored it. Read revelation 4 commentary using a testimony of jesus christ. Patmos was a quarry mine for the roman empire, and was home to many political and religious prisoners or slaves. He also describes revelation as a window to gods plan for the world, having spent many years studying this book as a chronological presentation of gods revelation in jesus. This seeming discrepancy is explained by the fact that nebuchadnezzar set out on his expedition near the close of the third year of jehoiakim, from which point daniel reckons. Great prophecies in the book of revelation show how and when these catastrophic events will occur. Study the bible online using commentary on revelation 4 and more. Summary and analysis the book of revelation cliffsnotes.
In its subject matter, and in the majesty and sublimity of its language, which is in harmony with its contents, the book of revelation differs from all other books, and is incomparably above them, thus revealing its divine authorship. The revealing is done by the commentators, who know nothing. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant john, 2 who testifies to everything he saw. John the divine is an example of apocalyptic writing a form that delivers a message using symbols, images and numbers. Patmos was a quarry mine for the roman empire, and was home to.
It provides ultimate assurance of salvation in christ. Description garlands work is one of the best commentaries available on the book of the revelation. Although john literally wrote revelation, the book makes it clear that the source of the revelations is jesus revelation 1. This is unfortunate, since his works contain priceless gems of information that are found nowhere except in the ancient writings of the jews. The text of revelation states that john was on patmos, a greek island where.
This vision contains a tremendous amount of symbolism. John was a christian leader of jewish origin who was in exile on the roman prison island of patmos. The book of revelation also called the revelation of john or the revelation of st. 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. John s anger has traditionally been understood to be directed at the romans for. Aug 04, 2009 the book of revelation certainly contains some vivid and disturbing imagery and many have called it an angry text. Barclay shows, soaked and saturated in the old testament, and most of the imagery he employs is drawn from that source. A summary of the revelation to john revelation in s bible. Revelation to john, last book of the new testament. After reading book of revelation overview, you may wish to consider some of the following questions. Revelation with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. Watch our overview video on the book of revelation, which breaks down. Todays post looks at the evidence for and against john being the author of the book of revelation. Outline for this study of the book of revelation pages 1, 2, and top of page 3.
If you really want to understand this great book, garlands commentary will not disappoint. Pack staggering events foretold in your bible will shock the whole world. In revelation, johns visions reveal that jesus has overcome evil by. As a teenager, i remember being a bit frightened of the book of revelation. The book of revelation, a prophecy of warning and hope.
Resseguies narrative commentary on the book of revelation helps the reader follow in the footsteps of john the narrator. The revelation of john the divine the argument it is manifest, that the holy ghost would as it were gather into this most excellent book a sum of those prophecies, which were written before, but should be fulfilled after the coming of christ, adding also such things as should be expedient, as well to forewarn us of the dangers to come, as to. The smell of acne face cleanser filled the room as i dove into mysterious depictions of fourfaced angels, beasts from the sea and land, of massive angels, and 100pound hailstones being hurled to the earth. The book of revelation, often called the book of revelations, revelation to john, the apocalypse of john, the revelation, or simply revelation, the revelation of jesus christ from its opening words or the apocalypse, is the final book of the new testament, and therefore also the final book of the christian bible. It is only when we start to overallegorize it or to force its interpretation according to our preconceived ideas or doctrines about the end. In fact, there are some striking parallels between revelation and john s other works. You can find the best commentary on revelation for. After the exordium, and the seven epistles to the seven churches of asia minor, to whose angels or bishops the book seems to be dedicated, revelation 1.
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, commonsense approach to interpreting it. Book of revelation overview church of jesus christ. Asia in this book is part of the country that we now call turkey. Early tradition unanimously identified him as john the apostle, author of the fourth gospel and three epistles. God reveals a basic framework for understanding future events. It is the only book of the new testament classified as apocalyptic literature rather than didactic or historical, indicating thereby its extensive use of visions, symbols, and allegory, especially in connection with future events.
In his introduction he examines areas such as the characterstics of apocalyptic literature and the nature of caesar worship, john was, as dr. It was his servant john, and the best evidence points to this being the apostle john, the same writer of the gospel of john and the books of 1, 2, and 3 john. It is the only book of the new testament classified as apocalyptic literature rather than. If you want to better understand the book of revelation. Barclay makes the most difficult book in the bible easier to understand. Revelation to john appears to be a collection of separate.
This revelation was given to him by god the father, and it was communicated to the apostle john by an angel 1. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of bible. Revelation is a book that has been called everything from a hodgepodge of. Revelation 1 niv prologue the revelation from jesus. The following historical events were significant to john the apostle and his audience. John of patmos also called john the revelator, john the divine, john the theologian, and possibly john the apostle. We hope this dynamic commentary is a beneficial study tool in your devotion to the word of god. The lord has given many of his prophets great views of things to come. John macarthur explains the book of revelation paperback march 1, 2007. The time for understanding the book of revelation is now at hand. He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant john. The book of revelation is johns record of that vision revelation 1. Parts of the old testament, particularly in the book of daniel, are also written in the apocalyptic genre. Presented here is a verse by verse exposition of the new testament.
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