4 interpretations of revelation

The idealist interpretation could also be called the symbolic or spiritual interpretation. Enduring word bible commentary revelation chapter 4. The futurist interpretation is the view which is held by all premillennialists and is the one which i accept and present to you. Certainly this is a marking point for beginning the third division of revelation 1. The real meaning of the bibles book of revelation is a popular, ongoing debate. The transition to the fourth chapter of the book of revelation. This name indicates the meaning of revelation it uncovers matters that had been hidden and discloses events that would happen long after it was written. Chances are, they have never heard any other way to understand this book filled with strange beasts, symbolism and ominous signs of doom. The seven trumpets are sounded by seven angels and the events that follow are described in detail from revelation chapters 8 to 11. An issue that must be addressed before proceeding to an examination of the text of revelation is our basic hermeneutical approach to the book.

The visions in this book run parallel to one another. The olive tree is excellent for its beautiful greenness, for its plentiful fruitfulness, and its abundant fatness. In the book of revelation, seven trumpets are sounded, one at a time, to cue apocalyptic events seen by john of patmos revelation 1. Right at the very beginning he makes a statement that made me want to shout hallelujah. That there are differing views on the interpretation of the apocalyptic writings in the book of revelation is no secret. The theme of the book is the revelation of christ and the outline follows this theme. Second, an interpreting angel is sent from jesus to help john understand what he is seeing. The tr and mt texts indicate the elders are redeemed whereas the nu text does not. A parallel commentary covers the traditional views in an. And i said, i have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof.

Since the book of revelation is considered in the apocalyptic genre, the text can be extremely difficult to understand. He outlined how the seven churches represent the seven ages of the church of christ. A typical historicist view of the church of christ spans several periods of church history, each similar to the original church, as follows. Interpretations of revelation by mike mazzalongo posted.

The interpretation of revelation has always been a subject of debate among bible interpreters. Patrick zukeran presents a summary of four of the major approaches to interpreting the book of revelation and its meaning for the end times. Historicist interpretations of the book of revelation. Revelation 4 bible commentary matthew henry concise. The idealist view teaches that revelation describes in symbolic language the battle throughout the ages between god and satan and good against evil. In other words, it is the way you interpret scripture. Bible scholars have taken one of four interpretations concerning the book of revelation.

In the number, there seems to be an allusion to that of the. Revelation 20, which is the only passage in the entire scripture that mentions a thousandyear period, or the millennium, has its interpretation based on the basic understanding of what entails the millennium, and. Chapters 4 and 5 establish christs right and authority to act as the judge of the earth. The interpreters of revelation are divided into three main schools. Key to understanding commentaries on revelations is knowing the position of the commentator. Ask most people christian or nonchristian what they think the book of revelation is about, and chances are they will tell you it is a book about the end of the world. Four horsemen of the apocalypse meaning in revelation. He says, the book of revelation is not hard to understand. The four main views of revelation church leadership. It sees the book of revelation as primarily prophetic. If youre befuddled by the book of revelation in the bible, dont fret. So we dont look to specific events to happen a specific time in history. Lets look at the characteristics of each horsemen and how they all play an important role in the end times from the bible book of revelation.

Throughout church history, there have been four different views regarding the book of revelation. Thus rise the forever harmonious, thankful songs of the redeemed in heaven. The phrase after this meta tauta in ancient greek in revelation 1. Historicism has produced many different, and often conflicting, interpretations of the actual historical events contained in revelation. Preterist hanegraaff states that this group represents the true bride of christ and is. Another example of allegorical interpretation by preterists is their interpretation of revelation 7. Over the course of the churchs history there have been four main approaches.

It can perhaps be best understood in distinction from the other major interpretations of revelation. Posttribulation believes that christ will come back at the end of the tribulation and those who remain alive through it are raptured. The preterist approach to revelation the unfolding of. There is some question as to whether the elders include themselves among the redeemed mentioned in revelation rev. Book of revelation explained scripture by scripture. In like manner, there is perhaps no other book that is more controversial than the book of revelation either. Most prophecies in the book of revelation were fulfilled during the.

Four views on the book of revelation are presented, critiqued, and defended. How can we understand the book of revelation and its many interpretations. The lamb represents jesus, the lamb of god, who was slain for our sins. What is the idealist interpretation of the book of revelation. The best commentary i have ever read on the book of revelation is one called the revelation record by dr. The format for the main body of revelation, chapters 4 through 19, consists of four columns for the four major views. Material is presented in a series of visions that reveal christ and his relationship and dealings with the church on earth, the church in heaven, as well as the destruction of satan. But just how is one to understand the book of revelation. We also find it in the early church in the works of irenaeus and tertullian who interpreted the fourth kingdom of daniel as the roman empire.

Four views on the book of revelation counterpoints. The key to bible interpretation, especially for the book of revelation, is to have a consistent hermeneutic. The plethora of views, however, can be distilled into essentially four main categories. That book allowed the proponents of each of four different views to present an overall summary of their approach to the book of revelation. Book of revelation for dummies cheat sheet dummies. It also makes the transition from johns description of things which areor were, at the time he wroteto those things which are yet to happenagain, at least at the time he wrote. I discuss four of the major schools of interpretation regarding the book of 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. Take a look at the basic structure of the book of revelation. Historicist interpretations of the book of revelation wikipedia. 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. The interpretation of the book revelation lamb and. In my opinion, interpretations of this type have hurt and defeated the purpose of the book of revelation. These four horsemen of the apocalypse appear to symbolically portray four disastrous occurrences that will take place before the second coming of jesus christ.

One will interpret revelation according to ones method of interpretation. Interprets revelation as a timeless depiction of the cosmic struggle between the forces of good and evil. The nonseparatist puritan, thomas brightman, was the first to propose a historicist interpretation of the seven churches of revelation 23. The greek name of the bible book of revelation, apoka. The same union of white or watery brightness and fiery redness appears in revelation 1. This book by gregg, on the other hand, is a detailed, versebyverse commentary. Revelation 4 commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary, by the leading authority in the church of christ, presents a verse level look at the bible.

Hermeneutics is the study of the principles of interpretation. Here is a brief summary of the four approaches gregg presents. Four interpretations of revelation 20 native essay writers. While there are many details in revelation chapter foursome of which are easier to understand than othersthe overall meaning is that the apostle john was describing a vision of. Grace to you and peace, from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, what is the meaning of revelation 1. Chapter 4 is brief, but it sets the stage for much of the rest of revelation.