This book was written by john, the last surviving apostle revelation 1. Among the 30 or so similar books that appeared in the first through third. This is the solemn pronouncement of the one who has a firm grasp on the seven stars in his right handthe one who walks among the seven golden lampstands. They both tell what will happen between their time and when jesus comes again for us. These things saith he that hath the seven spirits of god, and the seven stars.
These people will be clothed in white garments, symbolic of righteousness revelation 19. The book of revelation, a prophecy of warning and hope. It is a revelation that was received by the apostle john while he was in romanimposed exile on the island of patmos in the eastern mediterranean around 90 a. Pack staggering events foretold in your bible will shock the whole world.
It is the first book that many new to the bible want to study, while it is often neglected by mature. This reference is found in a passage of scripture that describes one of the seven churches described in the book of revelation revelation 2. To properly study the book of revelation, you must look for jesus throughout the book. Later manuscripts usually have the title of the revelation of the theologian. Revelation on frontline heres all kinds of informative coverage from pbs on the last and creepiest book of the bible. Chapter 5 jesus, because of his death on the tree and by his shed blood for all sin, had the right to open the book which is a record of the worlds sins. Smith explores possible interpretations of the endtimes. Here we are getting conflicting answers, all coming from various perspectives. Some people consider revelation to be the most difficult book in the bible. Jun 04, 2016 the structure of the book of revelation page 7 of 31 the outline of revelation there are numerous different ways of outlining the book of revelation. Book of revelation synonyms, book of revelation pronunciation, book of revelation translation, english dictionary definition of book of revelation. The message to sardis is from the lord jesus christ through an angel or messenger possibly a reference to the pastor.
Hes just a mildmannered christian guy living in exile whenpow. Its title is derived from the first word of the koine greek text. Book of revelation definition of book of revelation by. Christ commended them for their good works, for their perseverance, and for their church discipline that guarded against false teaching revelation 2. God hits him with a doozy of a revelation hey, thats not a bad idea for a title. Reading this important book shows us that many events must first occur before jesus christ returns, and makes it clear that the real millennium will not start in the year 2000 or even 2001. The city of sardis and its surrounding area were watered by the river pactolus. Four times the author identifies himself as john 1. Seven reasons for studying the book of revelation ministry. The book of revelation unveiled united church of god. Revelation the dragon pursuing a woman, from the bamberg apocalypse. Jan 26, 2007 revelation s cast of characters the book of revelation, written more than 1,900 years ago in a foreign land, with symbolic language that depends on knowledge of the prophetic literature that went before, can seem mysterious and concealed.
The greek word for revelations is apokalupsis which literally means unveiling or taking off the cover a we are meant to understand the book of revelation. Moments with marleen book of revelation dead works. Book of revelation read, study bible verses online. In the book of revelation, the apocalyptic hopes of the early christian community find their clearest and most complete expression. The book of revelation, though misunderstood by many, unlocks these amazing truths for those to whom god has granted understanding. The literary genres of the book of revelation are an apocalypse, a prophecy, and an epistle or letter. John is told to write down everything god shows him, and boy is god going to show him some strange things. Book of revelation definition of book of revelation by the. The book of revelation was written for a people under pressure a people who knew all too clearly that the world was against them. Book of revelation simple english wikipedia, the free. This booklet contains vital understanding that will forever change your outlook on the future. The little book lists the many punishments poured out on the world for sin of the world from creation until the present time.
Reading this important book shows us that many events must first occur before jesus christ returns, and makes it clear that the real. The discipleapostle john, who followed jesus christ and witnessed his crucifixion, authored it. The book of revelation is addressed to believers, his servants, of the churches in seven citiesof the roman province of asia. What was jesus message to the church in sardis in revelation. The structure of the book of revelation linkedin slideshare. He sent it and signified it through his angel to his slave john, 2 who testified to gods word and to the testimony about jesus christ, in all he saw. The events of revelation are the events that occur in the book of revelation of the new testament.
Over the course of the book the author has two visions. There are many different ways to interpret these visions, and there have been many arguments over which way is right. Yet the saints are mentioned a number of times in the rest of revelation. However, where can we find the right answers other than the very book itself.
Great prophecies in the book of revelation show how and when these catastrophic events will occur. He wrote from the small island of patmos after being banished there for preaching the gospel. The book of revelation was written sometime around 96 ce in asia minor. The second set of 144,000 jews, which were redeemed from the earth. 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. The entire bible is the book of revelation the revealing of god through his son the lord jesus christ. Ghostbusters actually quotes the book of revelation. The structure of the book of revelation page 7 of 31 the outline of revelation there are numerous different ways of outlining the book of revelation. The greek term denotes an unveiling or uncoveringthus, a revelation p. In the book of revelation, the apostle john has penned a picture of what that return will look like and what will take place in the last months of earths history. All of historys events are culminated in this fantastic story of christs ultimate triumph over evil and the restoration of all things to their created design. As i understand dispensationalism, when you look at the book of revelation, the rapture is supposed to happen in rev. John wrote revelation while a prisoner on the island of patmos, approximately 8595 a. Orley berg doesnt think the book of revelation is an incomprehensible mystery.
Chapter 14 deals with new born babies during tribulation. The fifth letter is to the church in sardis revelation 3. The book of revelation is the final book of the new testament, and consequently is also the final book of the christian bible. The revelation is only a part of the inspired word of god. The churches of revelation ruins of sardis bath and gymnasium sardis, located at the foot of mount tmolus, is 51 kilometers 32 miles from pergamos and 44 kilometers 27 miles from philadelphia alasehir. Both books use a lot of symbols, but all the symbols that they use can be defined other places in the bible, so the only book you need to understand revelation is the bible.
The fifth of the seven churches was sardis, which was 50 miles inland from the aegean sea and due east of thyatira modern izmur. 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. Its purpose is to give encouragement and hope for all. Book of revelation the last book of the new testament.
The book is also written to all believers everywhere. I know thy works, that thou has a name, that thou livest, and art dead. What is the best way to study the book of revelation. This framework is primarily laid out in daniel and revelation. Sardius stone gemstones in the bible book of revelation. This is why the authorized king james version calls revelation the revelation of saint john the divine divine was a seventeenth. The book of revelation introduction the revelation of jesus christ, which god gave him to show his servantsthings which must shortly take place. The strangest book of the new testament, filled with visions of the rapture, the whore of babylon, and apocalyptic writing of the end of times, the book of revelation has fascinated readers for more than two thousand years, but where did it come from. Revelation 2 new english translation net bible to the church in ephesus. Aug 04, 2009 revelation the dragon pursuing a woman, from the bamberg apocalypse. It is the only book of the new testament classified as apocalyptic literature rather than.
Today, were going to talk about sardis and before we get into this city, i just want to read the letter to sardis revelation 3. Youll grasp the meaning of each verse, youll understand every important symbol, and youll get the big picture of all that god has promised for those. Revelation 1 niv bible the revelation from jesus christ. Youll grasp the meaning of each verse, youll understand every important symbol, and youll get the big picture of all that god has promised for those who believe in him. In the face of apparently insuperable evil, either from within or from without, all christians are called to trust in jesus promise, behold, i am with you always, until the end of the age mt 28. The book of revelation had its origin in a time of crisis, but it remains valid and meaningful for christians of all time. The same people who believe this believe that revelation is in chronological order, a dubious assumption. God reveals a basic framework for understanding future events. It does belong to a tradition of apocalyptic writing, which began in judaism in the second temple period.
A commentary on the book of revelation chapter 3 letters. When jesus christ gave his message to the church at sardis at the end of the first century, there were congregations in other nearby cities. Johns visions reveal that jesus has overcome evil by his death and resurrection, and will return one day as the true king of the world. Jan 30, 2014 as i understand dispensationalism, when you look at the book of revelation, the rapture is supposed to happen in rev. The book of revelations is about the wrath of the lord poured out in a short period of time 3 and 12 years, just before his second coming. Jesus christ received this revelation from his father and passed it on to the apostle john in a dramatic vision.
The book of revelation is gods message to all who are concerned about the future. Daniel, recorded 600 years earlier, sets the stage for the larger and more detailed book of revelation, which describes many events nowhere else in the bible. Sardis was a city exceedingly fabled for its past wealth and splendor, but it had deteriorated greatly. Sardis had, at one time, been considered to be impregnable because of its ideal physical arrangement and topography for defense. Revelation to john, last book of the new testament. And no guide makes revelation more understandable than the smart guide to the bible. Seven churches of revelation bible study david jeremiah blog. Revelation 2, new king james version nkjv the bible app. The jasper represented reuben, the first of the tribes, since reuben was the firstborn of jacob. Christs message to sardis concludes with the encouraging words that some among this church would remain spiritually faithful. The last book of the new testament is usually called the book of revelation or simply revelation. What was needed was a survival manual, explaining how to survive when the world is against you.
Letters to sardis, philadelphia, and laodicea 1 and unto the angel of the church in sardis write. In future articles the letters to the seven churches as outlined in the first three chapters of the book will be examined. Watch our overview video on the book of revelation, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Known biblically as the home of the church that received the fifth of letters to the seven churches in revelation, sardis was the capital of the lydian empire and one of the greatest cities of the ancient world. The time for understanding the book of revelation is now at hand. And, the voice of the scriptures is the unmistakable voice of the spirit. Those churches were in ephesus, smyrna, pergamum, thyatira, sardis, philadephia, and laodicea. Located on the banks of the pactolus river, sardis was 60 miles inland from ephesus and smyrna. You have a few names even in sardis who have not defiled their garments verse 4.
The jasper and the sardine stone are the first and last of these twelve stones representing the tribes of israel. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the nicolaitans, which i also hate. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man. The end of the first chapter lays out three distinct divisions. The name of the book, revelation, is a translation of the title in the original new testament greek, apocalypsisthe origin of the other name by which the book is now known, the apocalypse.
Who are the nicolaitans mentioned in the book of revelation. From as early as justin martyr in the second century a. Sardis was one of the oldest and best defended cities in the region and the wealthy capital of the ancient kingdom of lydia. This summary of the book of revelation provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of revelation. The apocalyptic book of revelation is a symbolic glimpse into. But the following brief plot summary and cast of characters can begin to reveal its meaning. Are they allegorical or is john recording a literal truth about the future. The book of revelation, written more than 1,900 years ago in a foreign land, with symbolic language that depends on knowledge of the prophetic literature that went before, can seem mysterious and concealed. The book of revelation check out the full text of revelation, so you can relive all the freaky visions firsthand.
Prologue chapter 1 1 the revelation of jesus christ that god gave him to show his slaves what must quickly take place. A profound exploration of the bibles most controversial bookfrom the author of beyond belief and the gnostic gospels. This is the message from the one who has the sevenfold spirit of god and the seven stars. The book of revelation the end and the beginning, the new testament and the bible culminate with this glorious description of the revelation of jesus christ. The book of revelation, the last book of the bible, has fascinated and puzzled christians for centuries. A brief overview of the book of revelation the rise and. The author was probably a christian from ephesus known as john the elder.
The rise and fall of the antichrist appendix four a brief overview of the book of revelation. A commentary on the book of revelation chapter 3 letters to. Revelations cast of characters united church of god. The book of revelation, or the apocalypse as it is also called, is the last book of the bible. Apocalypticism was not a new phenomenon among christians. I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
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