Some writers, however, have advanced the preterist from a latin word meaning that which is past view, contending that the apocalypse was penned around a. Letters to sardis, philadelphia, and laodicea 1 and unto the angel of the church in sardis write. The code contrasts king belshazzar with king jesus. Mar 19, 2019 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. This very powerful and dynamic teachingtool on the book of revelation shines a light on the symbolism and the mysteries of god revealed to mankind in this great book. The book of revelation is the ending to the greatest story ever told. Reading the book of revelation can be challenging the storyline twists and turns and isnt strictly chronological. John, biblical tour guide, biblical turkey tour, biblical turkey, religious tours turkey, religious tour, biblical tour organization, about saint paul, religious turkey, st. Designed by god, john indicates that the book of revelation is a letter that emanates from three sources. The revelation is a very solemn book speaking much about divine judgments but it is also a.
Preparing youth groups for christs return empowered youth bible studies. Letters of the revelation bible study book lifeway. The book of revelation opens with seven letters to seven churches. In revelation, johns visions reveal that jesus has overcome evil by. The book is also written to all believers everywhere. In the letters he applauds and chastises each church and he offers them advice on how to get back on track. It has been put together by pauls brotherinlaw, steve bowler, of hudson, mass. In letters to seven churches of revelation, the apostle john lists warnings and praise for historic and modern churches. It begins with letters to seven different churches of the first century. On the one hand, instead of seeing it as something written to inspire and to capture the imagination. Revelation is first and foremost a revelation about jesus christ 1. The seven churches described in revelation 23 are seven literal churches at the time that john the apostle was writing revelation. 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 real meaning of the bibles book of revelation is a popular, ongoing debate. Paul instructed that his letter to the colossians be read also in. In a society flooded with temptation, they bring the christian back to the first commandment. Revelation uses the word in various forms twentyone times, more than any other new testament book. The revelation of jesus christ was given to john by god to show his servants what must soon take place. Revelation is apocalyptic, a kind of writing that is highly symbolic. The book of revelations, part 1, letters to the seven churches. While the dominant genre is apocalyptic, the author sees himself as a christian prophet. The seven churches described in the book of revelation. Each of the seven letters is a prophetic word from jesus, through the spirit, who is inspiring john to write. Seven churches of revelation bible study david jeremiah blog.
Jesus gives john a message for seven churches that existed during the time of the writing of the book. Revelation is perhaps the most studied and discussed book in the bible. Revelation 1 discusses how christ is the almighty god and the heart of the book of revelation. The apostle of jesus and the author of the gospel of john and the three letters of nt.
Proposed chronology of the book of revelation prewrath. The chiastic structure of revelation seals, millennium. W hen you study the book of revelation, one of the first things that you will look at are the seven churches listed in revelation chapters 2 and 3. They are not letters, however, in any sense of the word. Seven letters to seven churches christian bible studies. The revelation of john is the one book in the new testament that claims john as its author. In the letters he applauds and chastises each church. John the divine is an example of apocalyptic writing a form that delivers a message using symbols, images and numbers. 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. If we divide revelation at the end of chapter 14 into two halves, and then divide. There you will see seven actual letters from jesus one to each church.
The meaning of the 7 churches of revelation the seven churches of revelation represent report cards for christians. Its purpose is to give encouragement and hope for all. This very powerful and dynamic teachingtool on the book of revelation shines a light on the symbolism and the mysteries of god revealed to. 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. Parts of the old testament, particularly in the book of daniel, are also written in the apocalyptic genre. Before we look at these letters as a whole, lets briefly look at the seven cities where the recipients lived.
A commentary on the book of revelation chapter 3 letters. These things saith he that hath the seven spirits of god, and the seven stars. John the book of revelation, letters seven churches. The book of revelations, part 1, letters to the seven. These letters were written to seven christian churches that sprang up throughout asia minor, which is presentday turkey. In this article, i am attempting to arrive at the doctrinal interpretation of this passage. Before we look at these letters as a whole, lets briefly look at the seven. The letters of the revelation bible study book contains a scripture verseverses, commentary, a video note section, discussion questions, and activities for each of the six sessions. The literary genres of the book of revelation are an apocalypse, a prophecy, and an epistle or letter.
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. The last book of the new testament is also called the prophecy book and the revelation of jesus christ. The book of revelation was likely written between a. The seven letters in revelation are sermons on the rest of. The timing of the prophecies is the key to understanding revelation. John the book of revelation, letters seven churches, st. This study explores the challenges, failures, expectations, and victories of those churches. Although its visions often seem bizarre to the western reader, fortunately the book provides a number of clues for its own interpretation e. This book is filled with mysteries about things to come. Dec 14, 2016 watch our overview video on the book of revelation, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. The book of revelation also called the revelation of john or the revelation of st. The discipleapostle john, who followed jesus christ and witnessed his crucifixion, authored it.
By the time the writings that are now included in the new testament were assembled in their present form, three letters and one gospel were also attributed to john. And so it is with this biblecode and how it was fulfilled. The book of revelation asv american standard version. Each letter, as proclaimed by jesus and recorded by john the apostle, declares the triumphs and failings of the recipient churches and warns each congregation to repent. Book of revelation explained scripture by scripture.
The lord sent his angel to make these events known to his servant john, and john has written down everything he saw, and swears it is the word of god guaranteed by jesus christ. A chiasm is a double list of related items in which the order of the second list is opposite to the order of the first list. The 333page book, titled the apocalypseletter by letter. A literary analysis of the book of revelation, is a compilation of notes and letters written by the late steven paul, a catholic scholar who died of cancer in 2000. The book of revelation is addressed to believers, his servants, of the churches in seven cities of the roman province of asia. The fifth of the seven churches was sardis, which was 50 miles inland from the aegean sea and due east of thyatira modern izmur. He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant john. The seven churches of revelation, also known as the seven churches of the apocalypse and the seven churches of asia, are seven major churches of early christianity, as mentioned in the new testament book of revelation.
Traditionally, the book of revelation has been dated near the end of the first century, around a. 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. Letters and revelation is the final volume of the entire monumental project. Now its pretty obvious that a portion of revelation is a letter, as chapters 23 of the book are obviously letters to the angel of the church in ephesus write, rev. Revelation doesnt just contain letters, it also is a letter. It includes some of the most crucial works of all the christian scriptures. Book of revelation for dummies cheat sheet dummies. Designed to be used in conjunction with the video dvds found in the letters of the revelation leader kit. The bible study book, a vital component of a group members discipleship experience, includes optional personalstudy activities that can be adapted to the individuals specific needs or schedule. The book depicts him as the risen, glorified son of god ministering among the churches 1. The revelation is the only prophetic book of the nt and it is the keystone of the word of god. John the baptist heralding the messiah and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom matthew. Those churches were in ephesus, smyrna, pergamum, thyatira, sardis, philadephia, and laodicea.
That is to say, the specific, primary true information the. Revelation with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. What do the seven churches in revelation stand for. Preparing youth groups for christs return empowered youth bible studies olshine, david on. Some of these seven churches kept closer to the gospel than others. The book of revelation, a prophecy of warning and hope. Is revelation a letter, or does it just contain letters. For an adequate understanding of revelation, the reader must recognize that it is a distinct kind of literature. All of them are located in the asia minor, presentday turkey. The 7 churches to who the letters were addressed were existing churches in asia minor modern turkey. The book of revelation addresses seven letters to seven. The entire book constitutes the letter the letters to the seven individual churches are introductions to the rest of the book, which is addressed to all seven.
The greek name of the bible book of revelation, apoka. Organized by chapter, this panorama of bible prophecy will let you catch a birds eye view of the prophetic timeline described in the book of revelation. The whole book of revelation presents itself as one long letter, as we have seen. The book of revelation addresses seven letters to seven churches in asia minor modernday turkey revelation 23. The advice in these letters is prophetic, forewarning presentday christian communities of the snares that. His previous selfpublished books include living as a. Donald jacksons artistic vision lends them a new life and vibrancy for modern. But the main point that i make in my writings is that true bible codes borrow their imagery chiefly from the book of revelation, and in the book of revelation, everything has an opposite corresponding parallel. Though they were literal churches in that time, there is also spiritual significance for churches and believers today. As in ancient times, backsliding continues to be a danger for people who believe in jesus christ, but reading these short letters to the seven churches of revelation serves as a stern reminder. 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 symbolism, which at best appears unusual to the modern reader. John wrote revelation while a prisoner on the island of patmos, approximately 8595 a. At the very beginning of the book of revelation we are told explicitly when the prophesies contained in the book were to be fulfilled.
So, the divine author of revelation is jesus christ and the human author is the apostle john. It is the final warning that the world will surely end and judgment will be. Book of revelation read, study bible verses online. Colin hemer, the letters to the seven churches of asia in their local setting.
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