Parts of the old testament, particularly in the book. The futurist school or view holds that the events of chapter four to the end of the book. The book of revelation is the revelation of jesus christ to apostle john thus to us christians. The apostle john was given this incredible vision to give comfort and hope to persecuted christians in asia minor by letting them know the outcome of history. The book of revelation also called the revelation of john or the revelation of st. Returning the book of revelation to its historical context st. They have their understanding of the book of revelation obscured by their lack of understanding about history, biblical language, and even modern opinions. Also, a possible interpretation will be given for select sections of the book, as well as an examination of some of these sections parallels with the hebrew bible. This summary of the book of revelation provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of revelation. The book of revelation had its origin in a time of crisis, but it remains valid and meaningful for christians of all time. Many people view revelation, sometimes called the apocalypse, as a mysterious book of strange symbols and images. Historicist interpretations see revelation as containing a broad view of history, whilst preterist interpretations treat revelation as. It is not simply a book about the future, but about how knowing the future affects us today. Notable and influential commentaries by protestant scholars having historicist views of the book of revelation were.
The seven churches of revelation 2 and 3 are 7 historical. Also, a possible interpretation will be given for select sections of the book. It draws upon the language and imagery of the old testament. What is the historicist interpretation of the book of revelation. This approach is sometimes called the preterist or past history view, meaning that the events described in revelation all took place in the past and the work must be read in that ancient. Chances are, they have never heard any other way to understand this book. This view also ignores revelations prophetic character and, if carried to its logical conclusion, severs the book from any connection with actual historical events. The idealist view teaches that revelation describes in symbolic language the battle throughout the ages between god and satan and good against evil. The historical evidence to support the preterist view of the book of revelation is inadequate, the allegorical interpretations are too inconsistent, and the changes in interpretation are too forced for the preterist view to consistently fit the writings found in the book of revelation. The historicist system of interpretation understands the book of revelation as setting forth the major events of christian history spanning the time of john until the.
Revelation speaks of things that are already history. The historical setting of the book of revelation is that it is addressed to seven churches in the roman province of asia, which is on the west coast of what is now. Though it is little more than a piece of scholarly gossip, some have even suggested that the reformer john calvin, one of the best interpreters of the scriptures the church has known, shied away from writing a commentary on the book of revelation. Revelation to john, also called book of revelation or apocalypse of john, last book of the new testament. This view of revelation is supported in the outline provided in the book itself revelation 1. I spoke of my view as a redemptive historical, modified idealist approach to the interpretation of the book of revelation. The book of revelation, a prophecy of warning and hope. The greek name of the bible book of revelation, apoka. Historicist interpretation commentary a testimony of jesus.
Historicist interpretations see revelation as containing a broad view of history, whilst preterist interpretations treat revelation as mostly referring to the events of the apostolic age 1st century, or, at the latest, the fall of the roman empire. The problem with the book of revelation and this is one of the biggest problems with how people approach the book of revelation. Yet it has a clear and definite historical background. Best revelation commentaries updated for 2020 best. The book of revelation is the last book of the bible for good reason.
The historicist approach reads the book of revelation as a visionary symbolization of the sequence of events that will occur throughout the course of the history of the church, from christs. A commentary of the book of revelation bible truth. In philosophy, historicism is an approach to history that assigns a particular meaning to an event according to that events context within the arc of history. Throughout church history, there have been four different views regarding the book of revelation. The book of revelation offers the believer in christ amazing confidence and hope. The background to the book of revelation biblical thinking with. It describes in detail the events leading up to christs return, then tells us what will happen beyond that time. A redemptivehistorical, modified idealist approach to the. Since domitian was assassinated in ad 96, we can date the book.
The interpreters of revelation are divided into three main schools. Four times the author identifies himself as john 1. The book of revelation is the final book of the new testament, and. The early church faced persecution from the powerful roman empire.
Returning the book of revelation to its historical context. The continuous historical view holds that revelation is a blueprint of church history from the time of its writing to the end of history. Book of revelation for dummies cheat sheet dummies. Historicism, a method of interpretation in christian eschatology which associates biblical prophecies with actual historical events and identifies symbolic beings. And when john wrote the book of revelation, his readers needed this new perspective too. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading four views on the book of revelation counterpoints. The book of revelation a revealing of the futureis history written in advance. Clavis apocalyptica 1627, a commentary on the apocalypse by joseph mede.
John the divine is an example of apocalyptic writing a form that delivers a message using symbols, images and numbers. This essay seeks to examine revelation in its historical context, including the book s authorship, provenance, date, and original recipients. It is also a book of great contrasts, from the terrible trumpets and devastating plagues to the. The next church era is sardis, which is called the dead church, but first lets see how the prophecies of the little book in revelation 10 and the two witnesses in revelation. This is actually the view that will be taken by saint augustine, that there is nothing predicted in absolute historical terms anywhere in the book of revelation.
This name indicates the meaning of revelation it uncovers matters that had been. The interpretation of revelation has always been a subject of debate among bible interpreters. The revelation of jesus christ was given to john by god to show his servants what must soon take place. And as you will learn, the first seal of revelation was fulfilled shortly after john recorded the book of revelation. The historicist view teaches that the book of revelation is a symbolic presentation of church history beginning in the first century a. In the face of apparently insuperable evil, either from within or from without, all christians. 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. The book of revelation is a spectacular book containing a wide variety of bizarre beasts and mysterious women. Book of revelation explained scripture by scripture. And this is one of the biggest problems with how people approach the book of revelation. This school of interpretation is similar in its teaching to the preterist view stating the events of the book are a record of the unfolding of past history. The book of revelation was written sometime around 96 ce in asia minor. Introduction from the notes on the introductory matters, i concluded that the apostle john wrote revelation from the island of patmos at the end of domitians reign.
The first five seals described in the book of revelation are dealt with in 11 verses see revelation 6. This view maintains that the words in the entire book. While the common events of history are not specified in the visions of revelation 422 at least, the great events of redemption are certainly in view. When the principles of comparing scripture to scripture and letting scripture interpret scripture are followed, the futurist view seems to emerge as the most credible view when taken in the broad perspective of both the entire bible, and our perspective of history. Historicist interpretations of the book of revelation wikipedia. It requires some knowledge of the rest of the bible in order to appreciate it. In this view, the book contains neither historical allusions nor predictive prophecy.
Lets begin with the historical background of revelation. First, well explore the historical background of the book of revelation. How to study the book of revelation christian truth center. This interpretive method robs revelation of any meaning for those to whom it was written. 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. The interpretation of the book of revelation has often proven difficult throughout the history of the christian church. The book of revelation was likely written between a. The historicist system of interpretation understands the book of revelation as setting forth the major events of christian history spanning the time of john until the present. This view holds that while the precise historical circumstances of revelation. The book was written around 96 ad by apostle john when titus domitian was the emperor of the roman. It is the only book of the new testament classified as apocalyptic literature rather than didactic or historical. Revelation timeline decoded seals, trumpets, bowls, mark. The book of revelation provides some of the keenest insights in scripture concerning the big picture of work.
Four views on the book of revelation counterpoints. Views revelation as a panoramic view of church history from apostolic times to the present, seeing in the symbolism such events as the barbarian invasions of rome, the rise of the roman catholic church as well as various individual popes, the emergence of islam, and the french revolution. Anacrisis apocalypseos 1705, a commentary on the apocalypse by campegius vitringa. He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant john. Historicist interpretations of the book of revelation. Book of revelation read, study bible verses online. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.