Abstract
The Book of Revelation is a complex text, and it has very complex symbolism that is difficult to parse today. It takes a historical understanding of the life and times of the authors of the Bible to really understand the meaning behind the passages—and even with years of study, there are still arguments that commonly occur about the meaning of different passages. However, it is important to understand that there are lessons within this text too—the Book of Revelations is not merely an apocryphal text, it is a pastoral text as well. Revelations is interpreted a number of different ways based on the individual reading the book, but this is true of all religious texts. Something about the way the book prophesizes seems to provoke fervent belief in many, however; there are plenty of people who use the Book of Revelation as a manner and guide through which to live their lives
The Book of Revelation is, fundamentally, an apocryphal text. It tells the story of the End of Days, and talks of the coming of the Anti-Christ on Earth (Adams, 1958). Revelations is interpreted a number of different ways based on the individual reading the book, but this is true of all religious texts. Something about the way the book prophesizes seems to provoke fervent belief in many, however; there are plenty of people who use the Book of Revelation as a manner and guide through which to live their lives (Newton, 2013).
Newton (2013) says that the purpose of the Book of Revelation is threefold: first, the book is pastoral, or epistolary. This means that the book serves to guide people in their spiritual journey for Christ (Newton, 2013). The Book of Revelation is intended, in many ways, to give guidance; according to Biblical teachings, the Book of Revelation was a way for God to communicate directly to His people, particularly focusing on why following His law is so important (Newton, 2013). Next, the Book of Revelation is also apocryphal. This much is clear, because the Book of Revelation tells the story of the end of the world (Newton, 2013). Although there have always been questions about whether the Book of Revelation was meant literally, there is no doubt that whether literal or metaphorical, God is sending a message about the apocalypse (Newton, 2013). Finally, the Book of Revelation is a message that is prophetic. Whether the Book of Revelations was meant to be a literal or figurative prophecy is grounds for discussion, there is no doubt that the writers that were responsible for the Book of Revelation were prophesying (Newton, 2013).
The Book of Revelation can be split into twelve basic events, or parts. In the first part of the Book of Revelation is when Jesus is revealed to His disciples (Biblegateway.com, 2015). In this first part of the Book of Revelation, the Gospel writes, “The Revelation of Jesus Chirst, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw” (Biblegateway.com, 2015). This part demonstrates that Jesus has returned for His followers, and that everyone should follow Him (Newton, 2013).
In the next part of the Book of Revelation, the messages for the Seven Churches of Asia were sent (Biblegateway.com, 2015). In this section, the author of the Book of Revelation—John—writes about all his apocryphal visions and the things that he is seeing for the future (Biblegateway.com, 2015). This is where some of the most vivid imagery of the Book of Revelations is revealed (Biblegateway.com, 2015).
In the next portion of Revelations, John talks about being before the throne of God; he also talks, subsequently, about the Seven Seals. Twenty-four thrones and twenty-four elders surrounded the Throne of God; the Seven Seals are presented, and the Living Creatures are presented—these creatures are similar to angels in that they are heavenly beings, but they are not angels or seraphim in the Book of Revelation (Adams, 1958)
Perhaps the most famous part of the Book of Revelation is the part that comes next: as the Seven Seals are opened, things begin to emerge. First come the four horsemen of the apocalypse: the fourth Horseman, Death, emerges to famous lines: “And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth” (Biblegateway.com, 2015). Finally, the Seventh Seal is opened and Seven Trumpets burst forth.
These Seven Trumpets then bring forth the Three Woes, as well as minor calamities, which include things like burning mountains, hail and fire, and falling stars (Biblegateway.com, 2015). The Three Woes themselves are horrendous and vivid tortures that are designed to purge the Earth (Biblegateway.com, 2015). It is this section that many disagree about; the language becomes increasingly figurative and metaphoric (Newton, 2013).
After the Three Woes come the Seven Bowls, each of which is poured on the earth, and causes problems like boils, sores, water turning to blood, and eternal darkness (Biblegateway.com, 2015). This is where the apocalypse truly begins; all of these plagues begin to take over and truly tear down civilization. However, it is God’s will to tear down civilization even further.
In the next section of the text, Babylon is destroyed; the Book of Revelations makes it clear that the harlot that sits over many waters—sometimes known colloquially as the Whore of Babylon—is the cause of permanent destruction of Babylon as a nation. After the destruction of Babylon comes the Supper of the Lamb, in which all praise the Lamb of God and God Himself—this is a part of the text that is teaching the reader how to properly worship God (Newton, 2013).
After the Supper of the Lamb, the end is very near. The Beast—the Anti-Christ—is cast into the lake of fire, which is ostensibly Hell. During this part of the Book of Revelation, Satan is cast into a pit for a thousand years, and once he is imprisoned, the martyrs of God return and they all rule the Earth for a thousand years of peace with the Lamb of God (Biblegateway.com, 2015). This part of the text also contains the Last Judgment of all, and the wicked are cast into Hell for eternity (Biblegateway.com, 2015).
After this period of war, a New Jerusalem is built, the world is healed, and the people who served God loyally are rewarded for their loyalty. At the end of this particular book, Christ tells the people that He will return very soon; He will always care for His children, particularly His children who are Godly and holy (Biblegateway.com, 2015).
The Book of Revelation is a complex text, and it has very complex symbolism that is difficult to parse today. It takes a historical understanding of the life and times of the authors of the Bible to really understand the meaning behind the passages—and even with years of study, there are still arguments that commonly occur about the meaning of different passages. However, it is important to understand that there are lessons within this text too—the Book of Revelations is not merely an apocryphal text, it is a pastoral text as well.
References
Adams, W. (1958). I. Biblical Studies: The Revelation of Jesus Christ, Interpreting Revelation, the Book of Revelation. Review & Expositor, 55(3), 319-319. doi:10.1177/003463735805500325
Biblegateway.com,. (2015). BibleGateway.com: The Bible. Retrieved 24 June 2015, from http://www.biblegateway.com
Newton, J. (2013). The Epistemology of the Book of Revelation. Hey J, n/a-n/a. doi:10.1111/heyj.12034
