Introduction
The
book of Revelation is the most controversial book in the Bible.
Revelation has
caused major divisions between denominations, churches and families. What makes
this book so controversial?
A
promise of blessing is made in the very first chapter of the book
to those who read and hear the words of this prophecy.
The
book has 404 verses, and according to some scholars, half of those verses have
an Old Testament reference.
The
book of Revelation is a letter revealed to man named John, who was on the Island
of Patmos, off the coast of Asia Minor. He was persecuted because of his
testimony of Jesus Christ.
The letter was written to seven churches located in
the mainland cities of; Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis,
Philadelphia and Laodicea.
What is the meaning of this letter?
Should
the words be taken literally or are they symbolic? Did the letter concern
events just in the day of John or did it include events in the future? Was
John, the Apostle John or another John? Does this letter refer to Israel or to
the church? These are just a few of the many questions raised by those who have
studied this book.
Who wrote the book of Revelation?
From
the letter, we know the person who wrote the contents, was named John. (Rev:
1:1, 4, 9; 21:2:22:8) Prior to the third century, there was no dispute of
apostolic authorship. The bishop of Alexandria, Dionysius (200-265 A.D.), was
the first to raise questions about the apostle John being the author. He
claimed based on the writing style and the lack of an apostolic claim in the
book, John the Elder (Presbyter) was the author not John the apostle.
Dionysius, who studied under Origen, also denied the teaching of a literal
Millennium. The teaching on the Millennium was based on a literal reading of
the book of Revelation (Revelation 20:1-7). The Alexandrian school taught
scriptural symbolism and allegorical interpretation, rejecting a literal
Millennium interpretation of Revelation. By questioning John the Apostles
authorship of the book, their Amillennial view had greater credibility.
The
early church attributed authorship to the apostle John. Justin Martyr (100-165
A.D.) quotes John the Apostle that Jesus Christ would dwell in Jerusalem one
thousand years.[1]
Irenaeus (120-200 A.D.) is quoted in every chapter of Revelation. Tertullian
(155-220 A.D.) also quotes from almost every chapter of Revelation and
attributes John the Apostle as author. Hippolytus (170-235 A.D.) also
attributed Revelation to John, he quotes Revelation chapter 17 and 18 a great
deal. Clement of Alexandria ( 150-211 A.D.) and Origen (185-254 A.D.) also
attribute John the Apostle as the author of Revelation. Ignatius (30-108 A.D.)
writes regarding John the Apostle,
And
why such facts as the following:
Peter
was crucified;
Paul
and James were slain with the sword;
John
was banished to Patmos;
Stephen was stoned to death by the Jews who killed the Lord?
But,
[in truth,] none of these sufferings were in vain; for the Lord was really
crucified by the ungodly.
The
evidence against John the Apostle being the author is minimal, largely based on
grammatical and writing style differences with the John’s Gospel.
When was the book of Revelation written?
The
other issue regarding Revelation is the date of the book. External tradition
places the time of Revelation to the reign of Domitian (A.D. 81-96), brother of
Titus, son of Vespation. Clement of Alexandria reports John returned to Ephesus
after the death of Domitian, referred to as the “tyrant”.
the
Apostle John. For when, on the tyrant’s death, he returned to Ephesus from the
isle of Patmos, he went away, being invited, to the contiguous territories of
the nations, here to appoint bishops, there to set in order whole Churches,
there to ordain such as were marked out by the Spirit.[3]
Eusebius (A.D. 300-340) the father of church history writes in his
Ecclesiastical History about the connection between John the Apostle and
Domitian.
IT is
said that in this persecution the apostle and evangelist John, who was still
alive, was condemned to dwell on the island of Patmos in consequence of his
testimony to the divine word. Irenaeus, in the fifth book of his work Against
Heresies, where he discusses the number of the name of Antichrist which is given
in the so-called Apocalypse of John, speaks as follows concerning him: a “If it
were necessary for his name to be proclaimed openly at the present time, it
would have been declared by him who saw the revelation. For it was seen not long
ago, but almost in our own generation, at the end of the reign of Domitian.”[4]
Since
Domitian died in A.D. 96, the date attributed to the book of Revelation
coincides with this date.
Some
bible commentators attribute Revelation date prior to A.D. 70. The main
proponents of an early date, interpret Revelation as historical book written
symbolically with events having past (Preterist). The early date view is
argued largely from a quote attributed to Papius that John the Apostle was
martyred before the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70.
Dispensational view of the book of Revelation?
Dispensational theology
views the church and Israel as two distinct groups with separate dispensations.
The word dispensation means administration. Dispensational theology, understands
verses applied to Israel to mean literal Israel as opposed to symbolic Israel,
the church. The church in the current age, has the role of dispensing or
administering salvation to this age by proclaiming the Gospel of Christ. Prior
to the church, we were under the dispensation of the Law, administered or
dispensed by Israel.
A
futurist Interpretation views Revelation as a prophecy regarding the future. The futurist
approach views scripture from a literal perspective. Words mean what they say
unless otherwise defined within the context of scripture.
The
book of Revelation reveals the details of end time events from chapter 4 until
the end of the book. Chapters 2 and 3 deal with the Church age, and chapters 4
to 19 deal with the tribulation period, followed by a literal one thousand-year
period, the Millennium (Revelation 20:1-7). Since the futurist view looks to a
future Millennium, the view is Pre-millennial.
The
futurist view holds to a dispensational understanding of scripture, allowing for
the distinction of Israel and the church in God’s end time program.
The Futurist
approach is the most in keeping with a literal understanding of Bible.
God’s
promises to the descendents of Jacob, literal Israel, are affirmed in the
futurist approach.
Revelation
Glossary
|
Revelation Glossary |
Millennium |
The
Millennium is a literal one-thousand-year period, when Jesus Christ
will reign as king on Earth. During this period, the saints, Old and
New Testament will reign and rule with Christ over the earth.
Creation will be at peace, and the earth will prosper. (See
Revelation 20:1-7, Matthew 19:28-29, Isaiah 2:1-4, Isaiah 11:6-9) |
Pre-millennial |
The
belief we are in a period prior to the Millennium. Those who view
the Bible as literal and Revelation as “Futurist” have this view.
|
A-millennial |
The
letter “A” before a word negates the meaning, hence this view denies
a literal millennium. This view holds the Millennium referred to in
Revelation as symbolic. |
Post-millennial |
This
view sees the current age as having past the Millennium. We are
therefore living in a post-millennium age. |
Rapture |
Derived from the Latin word rapio meaning, “Caught up”. The
“Rapture” teaches Christ will descend from Heaven, and call those
who know Him into Heaven. Those who are alive will be transformed
into their resurrected body, at the same time; the dead in Christ
will also receive their resurrection bodies in the twinkling of an
eye. (I Thess 4:15-17, I Cor. 15:52) This is part of the First
Resurrection. |
Tribulation |
A
period preceding the Glorious return of Christ, where suffering on
earth will be unequalled in the history of the world according to
Christ. The period is seven-years, divided into three parts, a
first half, mid-point and a last half. (Matthew 24:15-22, Daniel
12:1, Jeremiah 30:7, Daniel 9:27 ) |
Pre-tribulation rapture |
Before
the seven year tribulation, those who know Christ will be raptured
or caught up to be with Christ and return with him at the Second
Coming. |
Abomination of Desolation |
The
act of desolating the Jewish Temple. Antiochus IV Epiphanes (167
B.C.) desecrated the Jewish Temple and installed an image of Zeus
resembling himself. According to Christ, in the end times a similar
event will take place in the Third Temple. The Antichrist will
commit the same act of Antiochus IV, declaring his deity, demand
worship.(Yet to be rebuilt) (Daniel 8:12, Daniel 9:24-27, Daniel
11:31, 12:11, Matthew 24:15, Revelation 11) |
Antichrist |
The
final earthly king who will oppose Christ and attempt to finally
destroy the Jewish people. He will be killed at the Second Coming,
along with the False prophet who proclaimed his glories. He along
with the False Prophet will be the first two occupants of the Lake
of Fire. (Daniel 7:11,23-26, Daniel 9:27, 2 Thes. 2:4, Revelation
13:1-8) The Antichrist is referred to as the Beast in Revelation
13. |
False
Prophet |
An end
times spiritual leader who along with the Antichrist, the Beast,
deceive those who dwell on earth. He performs miracles, including
calling fire down from heaven and instructing the people on the
earth to worship the Antichrist. He along with the Antichrist are
the first two occupants of the lake of Fire. (Revelation 13:11-17,
19:20) |
Armageddon |
Literally in Hebrew “Hills of Megiddo”, a location to the north of
Jerusalem where the final battle on Earth will take place. The
nations will be gathered to battle Christ who will descend from
Heaven and destroy the last earthly powers. (Revelation 16:16,
19:19-21) |
Eschatology |
The
study of “Last Times” |
Dispensational Theology |
views
the church and Israel as two distinct groups with separate
dispensations. The word dispensation means administration.
Dispensational theology, understands verses applied to Israel to
mean literal Israel as opposed to symbolic Israel, the church. The
church in the current age, has the role of dispensing or
administering salvation to this age by proclaiming the Gospel of
Christ. (Hebrews 1:1-2, Romans 11:25, |
Covenant Theology |
The
view that God has one covenant with man, the Covenant of Grace. This
covenant starts at Adam and is fulfilled in Christ who died for the
sins of all humanity. In this view, the Church has replaced Israel,
and is the “New Israel” which incorporates both believing Jews and
Gentiles. |
Glorious Return
(Second Coming) |
Distinct from the rapture, the Glorious Second Coming is the visible
glorious return, as opposed to the catching up of the saints.
Christ returns to the earth with His glory accompanied by the angels
(Matthew 24:30, 25:30) |
Seal
Judgments |
The
judgments on the earth, following the opening of the seven seals on
the scroll given to the “Lion of the tribe of Judah”, these events
occur in the first half of the tribulation period. One quarter of
the earth’s population dies in the first four seals opened.
|
Trumpet Judgments |
The
Seven Trumpet judgments take place in the first half of the
tribulation, following the seal judgments. They end at the
mid-point of the tribulation period. One third of the earth’s
remaining population is killed in the 6th trumpet
judgment. |
Bowl
Judgments |
The
final judgments in the book of Revelation, leading to the return of
Christ, they are poured out in the second half of the Tribulation
period. |
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