The Book of Revelation in the Bible is one of the more difficult books of the Bible to understand. CliffsNotes study guides are written by real teachers and professors, so no matter what you're studying, CliffsNotes can ease your homework headaches and help you score high on exams. How should I understand Revelation chapter 4? Revelation gives a purpose and a plan to the suffering we face. Larry R. Helyer: Larry is Professor of Biblical Studies at Taylor University in Upland, Indiana. So he has an "unholy trinity" that consists of himself (Satan), the Antichrist (the political, religious beast), and the false prophet, (the religious, political beast). In many respects, it is the least original of any of the New Testament writings. What does Revelation chapter 4 mean? With its vivid imagery of disaster and suffering - the Battle of Armageddon . A careful study of these writings shows that they have a number of common characteristics: They were produced in times of crises; they describe the conflict between the forces of good and evil; future events are made known through dreams and visions; the end of the conflict is to come shortly; and those who remain faithful through persecution and trial are promised a reward in the messianic kingdom soon to be established. There is also a sea of glass and . 1:17). He received his doctorate in New Testament from Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California. 12)

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    Two beasts (Rev. The Idealist View:This view sees Revelation as referring to the cosmic struggle of good versus evil, and therefore does not have any connection to real historical or future events. which was often then explained. The book of Revelation was written to comfort the people of God by revealing the end of the story. The prophetic events described in Revelation are yet to occur. Take a look at the basic structure of the Book of Revelation; its major interpretations; the various perspectives on the Millennial Kingdom mentioned in Revelation 20; and how key events shaped John the Apostle and his writing. It is defined as "revelation, what is revealed, disclosure, to make the information known with an implication that the information can be understood.". To prepare and guide you as you open up this book, let's try to explain the book of Revelation by looking at 5 specific key issues and facts. Special (or direct) revelation. Aaron currently resides in Allen Park, MI with his wife and two children, where he serves in his local church and recently completed an MDiv degree at Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary. 1718)

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    The Millennium and the Last Judgment (Rev. This evil being is none other than Satan, the archenemy of God, who is now putting forth a supreme effort to destroy the righteous from the face of the earth. The Disciple/Apostle John, who followed Jesus Christ and witnessed His crucifixion, authored it. Its to be expected that, when the world is in chaos, people wonder if were in the last days described in the book of Revelation. He has more than a decade’s broad experience in church leadership and teaching roles. With Revelation, however, we should start with the big picture and work toward an understanding of the details. He wanted to warn his fellow Christians concerning these events and thus prepare them for the time when their faith would be put to a more severe test than anything that they had experienced thus far. When they refused to do this, they were tortured and even put to death. The prophets used a particular literary form in which they expressed their messages; the apocalyptic writers used a different literary form, one that was better suited to the particular purpose that they had in mind. As Christ approaches the earth, the wicked people will be slain by the brightness of his coming. Christ commends those churches whose members have endured persecution and, in some instances, even death rather than declare their allegiance to Roman rulers, who proclaimed their own divinity and demanded that they should be worshipped along with the other gods of the empire. 1)

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    Letters to the seven churches (Rev. . Before describing the manner of this visitation, John identifies the power now vested in the Roman emperor with an evil being, who, through the centuries, has been at war against the forces of righteousness. It is a mistake to suppose that John was predicting events that would take place in the later centuries of Christian history. He has taught a wide range of Bible courses covering both the Old and New Testaments and Jewish literature of the Second Temple. Following John's vision of the impending disasters soon to be inflicted upon the world, the scene changes, and four angels representing the four winds of heaven are told to hold back these winds until the servants of God have had seals placed on their foreheads. The risen Christ, who is referred to as the Lamb of God, is said to be the only one who is accounted worthy to open the seals. Then it declares that at 4:1, or at least by 6:12, the sixth seal, everything else is about the final period of earth history before Christ returns. The message of Revelation was intended for this particular time and set of circumstances. The result of the conflict was that the Dragon was cast out of heaven and one third of the angels were cast out with him. The Revelation is a very solemn book speaking much about divine judgments but it is also a wonderful book in which we find the completion of God's ways up to eternal glory. 22)

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    The real meaning of the Bible’s book of Revelation is a popular, ongoing debate. The Christians often held their meetings in secret places, and their critics imagined that they were doing all sorts of evil things. It was easy to circulate rumors of this kind, and along with other things, Christians were charged with plotting against the Roman government. The Gospel of John. You will learn about the seals, trumpets and bowl judgments, along with many important characters such as the Beast, the False Prophet and the Antichrist. Rev. This second coming, occurring at the time when all the events connected with the apocalyptic program will take place, will inaugurate the coming of the new age, as well as the final destruction of all the forces of evil. Apocalypticism was not a new phenomenon among Christians; it was a well-established belief among Jews, who held that the coming of the kingdom of God would not be brought about by a gradual transformation but by a sudden intervention, when God would end the present age and establish his kingdom in the world made new. The Historicist View: This view interprets the events in Revelation as referring to the whole of church history, from the Apostles to the present. 14)

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    Bowl judgments and the battle of Armageddon (Rev. Summary and Analysis Revelation. Those who remain loyal will be delivered from the hands of their enemies, and in the new order of things soon to be established, they will be given a crown of life and the assurance that the new order will last forever. 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, face-value, common-sense approach to interpreting it. As a final punishment, these false worshippers are thrown into a lake of fire, where they will forever be destroyed. Rich graduated with a bachelor of arts degree from Taylor University and pursued graduate studies at The American University in Washington, DC. John was confident that the great day of divine intervention would occur within a comparatively short time, but in accordance with the apocalyptic literature with which Jewish Christians were familiar, he knew that many terrifying events would take place first. Following Christ's messages to the seven churches, John describes the seven seals, scrolls on which is written an account of the events that are about to take place. {"appState":{"pageLoadApiCallsStatus":true},"articleState":{"article":{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-27T16:53:38+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-01-19T18:44:14+00:00","timestamp":"2022-09-14T18:19:02+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Body, Mind, & Spirit","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34038"},"slug":"body-mind-spirit","categoryId":34038},{"name":"Religion & Spirituality","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34202"},"slug":"religion-spirituality","categoryId":34202},{"name":"Christianity","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34206"},"slug":"christianity","categoryId":34206},{"name":"Bible","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34207"},"slug":"bible","categoryId":34207}],"title":"Book of Revelation For Dummies Cheat Sheet","strippedTitle":"book of revelation for dummies cheat sheet","slug":"book-of-revelation-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Get a better understanding of the book of Revelation with this breakdown of its structure, interpretations, and events during its writing. Revelation contains all of these terms. These four horses and their respective riders symbolize the conflicts that will mark the beginning of the final destruction of the Roman Empire. ","description":"If you're befuddled by the Book of Revelation in the Bible, don't fret. The book of Revelation is both fascinating and confusing. Preterists understand the book exclusively in terms of its first-century setting, claiming that most of its events have already taken place. 8 Revelation Explained at Last! One source of confusion has been the result of a failure to distinguish between prophetic writing and apocalyptic writing. Rich lives in New England with his wife and three sons. One problem comes from the different interpretations concerning the meaning of the millenium. 14), Bowl judgments and the battle of Armageddon (Rev. Strength: Incorporates the insights of the other views without sacrificing the essential point of their position: namely, that the book prophesies a literal return of Jesus and a new creation. At the end of the thousand years, the city of God will descend to earth. Here are brief definitions of the four major interpretive approaches: Preterist: Revelation speaks of things that are already history. As time passed, many Christians especially those who were suffering persecution at the hands of the Roman government became deeply concerned about how long it would be before these events would take place. 1516), A woman on the beast and the fall of Babylon (Rev. Strength: The recognition that the book clearly communicates enduring ideals. Strength: The observation that the book was intended for a first-century audience. He has more than a decade’s broad experience in church leadership and teaching roles. No, we may not fully comprehend the complicated prophecies and images contained in the book of Revelation, but we shouldnt let that distract from the incredible warmth and reassurance this book provides. You can find him online at richwagnerwords.com.

    ","authors":[{"authorId":9207,"name":"Richard Wagner","slug":"richard-wagner","description":" Richard Wagner is publisher of Digitalwalk.net, a Web-based Christian discipleship magazine. In all of these writings, events appear as though they were predicted long before they actually took place. Visions described in these chapters are accompanied by the interpretations. 24:6-8). years. Some of them suffered martyrdom rather than deny their faith. When the second angel pours out his bowl on the sea, the sea turns to blood and everything living in it dies. Larry has authored numerous journal and dictionary articles on biblical and theological subjects and has just finished a book on New Testament theology. Although the apostle Paul and other Christians maintained that this practice was not a matter of vital importance and that everyone should be permitted to follow the dictates of their own consciences, apparently John did not share this attitude. This approach seeks to identify moments in church history, such as the rise of Roman Catholicism, to events described in Revelation. As the opposition to Christianity became more intense, the followers of the new movement were asked to prove their loyalty to the Roman government by denouncing Christ and by worshipping the statue of the emperor. You can find him online at richwagnerwords.com. The plagues will inflict the wicked of John's day, just as a series of plagues inflicted the ancient Egyptians prior to the time when the Israelites were delivered from their bondage. In characterizing this power that now appears to be gaining mastery over the world, John resorts to imagery used in the Book of Daniel to describe the wicked ruler who tried to coerce the Jews into submission. As Jesus addresses the seven churches individually in Revelation 2-3, he ends each address with an exhortation that extends to all who read Revelation: He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches (Rev. 23), The throne room and the scroll with seven seals (Rev. He has taught a wide range of Bible courses covering both the Old and New Testaments and Jewish literature of the Second Temple. He was the initial translator of 2 Samuel for the Holman Christian Standard Bible.

    Richard Wagner: Rich is author of The Expeditionary Man, The Myth of Happiness, The Gospel Unplugged, and several For Dummies books, including C. He is the Dragon who launched a rebellion against God. However, Jesus told his disciples not to be troubled when they hear of wars and rumors of warsall these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. In its style of writing, the number and kind of symbols that are used, and the purpose for which it was written, the book closely follows the precedent established in the older apocalyptic writings. Did Jesus Say We Must Be Baptized in Order to Be Saved? The Book of Revelation Explained. 1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. The great catastrophic events that bring an end to all the kingdoms of earth will also be the occasion for the return of Christ on the clouds of heaven. By doing so, you'll better understand this final book of the Bible's New Testament. The persecutions that are now taking place will last for only a short time, for the hour of God's judgment is close at hand. 1718), The Millennium and the Last Judgment (Rev. This author holds to the Futurist view. Strength: The recognition that the book clearly communicates enduring ideals. The author of the book of Revelation, Saint John the Divine, offers a transcription of seven letters and later describes strange beasts, visions of judgments, governments, demonic battles, heaven, and a new world order a prophetic vision for the end of the world. 89)

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    The angel and a little scroll (Rev. We should never expect to find Gods revealed word in any place other than the pages between Genesis 1 and Revelation 22. This view has few adherents today. Richard Wagner: Rich is author of The Expeditionary Man, The Myth of Happiness, The Gospel Unplugged, and several For Dummies books, including C. S. Lewis & Narnia For Dummies, Christianity For Dummies, and Christian Prayer For Dummies. In the opening pages of the book, we see Jesus Christ both as a conquering King and the sacrificial Lamb. 11)

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    A pregnant woman and the dragon (Rev. In fact, Revelation ends with a sober warning to anyone who seeks to add this final chapter of divine revelation: I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. They needed encouragement and the assurance that their trials would soon be over, that the evil powers of the earth would be destroyed, and that the triumph of righteousness would be established in the world. For example, look at how John describes the creatures in Gods throne room in Revelation 4:7: The first living creature was likea lion, the second living creature like a calf John did his best to describe what he saw by drawing comparisons to what he knew. The Futurist View:This view contends that Revelation is first and foremost a prophecy describing the culmination of Gods sovereign plan for the universe. Pin 26. 2:7, Rev. The closing chapters of Revelation present a glowing description of the new Jerusalem with its streets of gold, its walls of jasper, its gates of pearl, and the river of life, which will flow eternally from the throne of God. Critics find this arbitrary and therefore unconvincing.

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    The exact meaning of the millenium, the 1,000 year reign that John speaks of in Revelation 20, is a centuries-old debate in Christian circles. In the Book of Revelation, the apocalyptic hopes of the early Christian community find their clearest and most complete expression. 1516)

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    A woman on the beast and the fall of Babylon (Rev. What this book reveals or unveils is Jesus Christ in glory. Although I cant give all the answers or provide all the details regarding the descriptions found in Revelation, here are a couple strategies that might help you as you read the stranger parts of the book: - Read Daniel 7-8 to understand how biblical visions are interpreted. But in the case of these writings, the name of the supposed author was added at a later date, and their respective contents indicate that they were not written by the same John who wrote Revelation. 10 Classic Hymns You Might Remember and Why They're Important. Observe, 1. 6)

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    144,000; the multitude (Rev. The collection of 66 books, referred to as the canon of Scripture, is now closed. Then it declares that at 4:1, or at least by 6:12, the sixth seal, everything else is about the final period of earth history before Christ returns. The following historical events were significant to John the Apostle and his audience: First outbreak of persecution against Christians by Nero (64 CE), Paul and Peter are martyred at Rome (6768 CE), Jerusalem is sacked and the second Temple burns (70 CE), The emperor Domitian accepts worship as a god (8196 CE). The focus is on a historical struggle that unfolds at the end of the age and climaxes with Jesuss Second Coming. Search. 7. Visions are highly symbolic. Weakness: The weakness of the futuristic view is that it interprets 1:93:22 just like preterists and historicists, that is, as referring to the first century. 22K Shares. and any corresponding bookmarks? Therefore, he incorporates similes frequently (using like or as to draw comparisons). Book of Revelation..Interpreted completely through types, shadows, symbols in biblical terminology, simply stated and easy to understand. His work has continued ever since, and according to John, he is now trying to accomplish his purpose by working through the Roman emperor. Matthew 24:31 "And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall 1920)

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    A new heaven and new earth (Rev. The appearance of the Messiah will coincide with the coming of these events. \"https://sb\" : \"http://b\") + \".scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js\";el.parentNode.insertBefore(s, el);})();\r\n","enabled":true},{"pages":["all"],"location":"footer","script":"\r\n

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