The fourcolumn format makes this an easy read for lay people, pastors, and scholars alike. Why is revelation, the last book of the bible, so different from the rest of the text. The plethora of views, however, can be distilled into essentially four main categories. Then, christ presides over the final judgment and eternity. This view uses the allegorical method to interpret the book of revelation. The book of revelation session 2 7 seals, 7 trumpets vision of heavenly throne room.
The four views and their proponents are 1 the preterist view, by kenneth l. Four views is a comprehensive, evenhanded resource that offers a clear, fair presentation of four of the most important interpretations of the book, allowing you to evaluate. Obviously, the first church, seal and trumpet cannot be parallel to the first plague because it, like the rest of the plagues, are all future. How one sees the opening phrases like these things, will soon take place and immediately will govern ones subsequent approach.
Catholic church england and wales 215,016 views 54. Why doesnt christianity remove the book of revelation from. It is commonly read at the end of the liturgical year, for it bespeaks the end of, and passing qualities of all things of this world. Four views a parallel commentary, edited by steve gregg and published by thomas nelson and sons. Four views on the book of revelation counterpoints. Reviewed by alex soto when a marriage covenant has been breached by harlotry, offended spouses can pursue divorce. The idealist view teaches that revelation describes in symbolic language the battle throughout the ages between god and satan and good against evil. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate and summarize three of the four views based on the book, four views on the book of revelation, edited by c. Preterist views revelation s prophecies as reflecting actual historical events in apostle johns near future, which have been. As i read the four views, the preterist view fascinated me. No other book gives such extensive coverage of how the church has understood revelation over.
It looks at four interpretations of revelation, and why those particular interpretations are held. Christians throughout history have given almost unanimous affirmation to the identity of the books author as john the apostle, who had been exiled to the island of patmos by the authorities for preaching the gospel in asia. I cannot point to a single commentary with which i agree entirely. The author of revelation mentioned his name, john, four times throughout the book revelation 1. I knew basically what revelation meant back in 1977, having been briefly introduced to a sound view of the book in a general eschatology course taught by greg l. Revelation books four views on the book of revelation edited by marvin pate, the revelation of jesus christ by john walvoord, the book of revelation by clarence larkin, revelation revealed by jack van impe, keys to understanding the book of revelation by arthur bloomfield, wrath and glory by david reagan, revelation unveiled by tim lahaye, a commentary on the revelation of john by george. Nov, 2016 22 revelations mark of the beast exposed revelations ancient discoveries duration. It was refreshing to read a book about how to approach revelation in its entirety.
That there are differing views on the interpretation of the apocalyptic writings in the book of revelation is no secret. 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. That book allowed the proponents of each of four different views to present an overall summary of their approach to the book of revelation. Marvin pate, in his four views on the book of revelation 231 correctly states, i believe, that how one approaches revelation 1. These four views are carefully and evenhandedly analyzed and then applied to each verse and passage in revelation. For example, the futurists are correct in pointing out that some events described in revelation have yet to be fulfilled 2nd coming of christ, final judgement in chapter 20, renewal of all things in chapter 21,22. Most 4 views books on the book of revelation compare and contrast dispensational premil. For example, the futurists are correct in pointing out that some events described in revelation have yet to be fulfilled 2nd coming of christ, final judgement.
Four views on the book of revelation zondervan counterpoints series does the book discuss other books that overlap revelation. Great for any believer who wishes to deepen their understanding of the book of revelation, this is a great read. The clear purpose of revelation love worth finding with. Its supposed prophesies of end times and armageddon are not good for modern society. This view has christ returning after the millennium, and we christians in charge. Daniel for example appears to have witnessed john receiving part of revelation 22 in daniel 12, while john appears to have heard details in rev. Different views of the revelation much of this text is presented over the page in a. Four parallel columns present the information you need on these key views, and inform you about outstanding commentators on the book of revelation. He interprets the features of the vision in light of similar images elsewhere in scripture and appeals to the views of other theologians from the early church down to the present.
A parallel commentary covers the traditional views in an evenhanded fashion. Throughout church history, there have been four different views regarding the book of revelation. The three prevailing millennium views in revelation. Seeing look, the lion of the tribe of judah, the root of david, has conquered then i saw standing in the middle of the throne and of the 4 living creatures, and in the middle of. Book of revelation overview insight for living ministries.
This book by gregg, on the other hand, is a detailed, versebyverse commentary. Most theologians in church history from the early church fathers such as augustine, and including the reformers calvin and luther, saw this passage as metaphoric. Just like the four views, preterist, futurist, idealist and historicist, all these views are also mostly read into the text. Calvinism, reformed theology, presbyterianism, eschatology in general, postmillennialism, preterism, the book of revelation, theonomy, sixday creation, presuppositionalism, predestination, lordship salvation, infant baptism, the christian worldview, christian education, the christian and alcohol, and more. Revelation to john, last book of the new testament. Different views of the revelation st james chorley. Many have wondered if the third temple will ever be built. Come explore the works of temple scholar frank shallieu. 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. Brighton explains its message with exceptional clarity. Four views on the book of revelation explores the four main views in which revelation is understood. The book of revelation, a prophecy of warning and hope. Bishop robert barron on the book of revelation youtube.
Four views on the book of revelation focuses specifically on the book of revelation and the primary ways in which it is read and understood today. Gregg sees these 4 categories as a helpful xaxis on eschatology. The book of revelation has two mentions of this 144,000 and the first comes in revelation 14. Mitch pacwa, sj with, naji mouawad 05112011 duration. Some of the key issues for which we have educational materials include. Preterist views revelations prophecies as reflecting actual historical events in apostle johns near future, which have been. Historicist interpretations see revelation as containing a broad view of history, whilst preterist interpretations treat revelation as. Three angels broadcasting network 3abn 725,797 views 58. It was only supposed to be 10 pages, and when i finished the first view, i was 6 pages in, so i cut it back a little bit and seriously scaled down the remaining three. He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant john.
Of all the books of the bible, few are as fascinating or as bewildering as revelation. The first view of revelation is the idealist view, or the spiritual view. The allegorical approach to revelation was introduced by ancient church father origen ad 185254 and made prominent by augustine ad 354420. Each of the four views takes various positions within each of these millennia views. Why doesnt christianity remove the book of revelation. Chances are, they have never heard any other way to understand this book filled with strange beasts, symbolism and ominous signs of doom. Outstanding overview of the four different views of interpretation for the book of revelation. Aug 03, 2010 four views on the book of revelation explores the four main views in which revelation is understood.
The last book of the bible is one of the most complicated and confusinghow are we to understand it. Another view is that the present book of revelation resulted from. Features extensive coverage of revelation throughout church history. Revelation books four views on the book of revelation. It is the first book that many new to the bible want to study, while it is often neglected by mature. Obviously, the first church, seal and trumpet cannot be parallel to the first plague. In this parallel commentary, youll learn about four major traditional views and discover the differences in interpretations. The book of revelation page 1 of 4 preterist idealist classical dispensationalist progressive dispensationalist ideology historic.
Elements of the differing views can be incorporated beneficially into our understanding of the book. Here we may examine the question by looking at the views of several of the most notable recent scholars on revelation. Because its more of an overview, the only negative is it never went in depth on exegetical matters. Four views on the book of revelation my give on things.
But the futurist view that revelation is predicting events yet to be fulfilled is only one of four traditional christian ways of looking at the bibles most enigmatic book. This book allows proponents of each of the four major interpretive views on revelation to present an overview from their perspective. Nov 14, 20 catholic church england and wales 215,016 views 54. Four views on the book of revelation are presented, critiqued, and defended.
This book by gregg, on the other hand, is a detailed, versebyverse commentary, with the text divided into paragraphs, and each paragraph followed by four parallel columns. Curious mixture of pretentious high art and predictable issue drama which makes little logical sense. Four views a brief theological analysis of full preterism. The book of revelation, by all accounts, is the most difficult book in scripture. The revelation of john, the apocalypse, also must be looked at from the perspective that its not the only such piece of apocalyptic literature that we have. I believe the clear purpose of revelation is exactly what it says it is. The comforting promise of revelation when you are certain of your future, then you can concentrate on your present. The only tribe that was missing was the tribe of dan and this might be because of dans fall into idolatry and being cut off from the nation of. The problems of recapitulation in the book of revelation. On the book of revelation and the ten commandments youtube. The majority christian view is that the book of revelation contains a vision given by god to the apostle john. Preparing a top 5 list of commentaries on the book of revelation is extremely challenging in a number of ways. Explore the four traditional interpretations of the book of revelation in this indepth, versebyverse overview.
So, the divine author of revelation is jesus christ and the human author is the apostle john. Those who see the book this way claim that it is an inspired forecast of the whole of church history. The next diagram shows that the seven last plagues, the last of the sequential series in the book of revelation, cannot logically be included along with the previous three series of sevens. The historicist view contends that all of the events in the book of revelation are history that they were fulfilled either during the reign of nero 5468 ad or emperor domitian 8196 ad. The interactive counterpoints forum allows each author not only to present his view, but also to offer brief commentary on other views presented. The only tribe that was missing was the tribe of dan and this might be because of dans fall into idolatry and being cut off from the nation of israel. The assignment was to write a paper that explains the four major interpretive views of the book of revelation and explains their strengths and weaknesses.
In the face of apparently insuperable evil, either from within or from without, all christians are called to trust in jesus promise, behold, i am with you always, until the end of the age mt 28. Why doesnt christianity remove the book of revelation from the bible. Revelation may be the most perplexing book of the scriptures, but dr. This is a paper written for my seminary class be107 hebrews revelation. The book of revelation had its origin in a time of crisis, but it remains valid and meaningful for christians of all time. Currently in the liturgies of daily mass we have been reading the book of revelation. The book of revelation introduction the revelation of jesus christ, which god gave him to show his servantsthings which must shortly take place. Jun 20, 2009 preparing a top 5 list of commentaries on the book of revelation is extremely challenging in a number of ways. No other book gives such extensive coverage of how the church has understood revelation over the centuries. In the bible we have two great works written in apocalyptic style, revelation and. Heretofore, my discussions on the book of revelation have centered around the rapture if and when it will happen, the millennium, and who the antichrist is. Marvin pate, and 4 the classical dispensationalist view, by robert l. Preterist idealist classical dispensationalist futurist progressive dispensationalist the interactive counterpoints forum allows each author not only to present his view, but also to offer brief commentary on other views presented. From the earliest days of christianity, the whole church regarded the bible as a web of.
The book of revelation provides some of the keenest insights in scripture concerning the big picture of work. Preterist, which means gone by, is derived from the latin word praeteritus. The revelation research foundation has completed work on a 3d version of ezekiels temple, utilizing the drawings of mr. My own understanding of the book is set forth in a very summary manner in the last chapter of my book from age to age a chapter that is not intended to be read until all of the other chapters have been completed. Why the modern view of the book of revelation may be. Jan 24, 2011 elements of the differing views can be incorporated beneficially into our understanding of the book. It is also a book of glory, depicting the ultimate victory of our lord continue reading why the modern view of the book of revelation may be flawed. These indepth versebyverse studies harmonize the holy bible from genesis to revelation. Why the modern view of the book of revelation may be flawed.
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