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Lesson OneWhat Kind of Book Is Revelation?3 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson TwoWhy Was Revelation Written?3 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson ThreeRevelation Is Too Hard to Understand!3 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson FourIsn’t Revelation a Depressing Book About Doom and Gloom?3 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson FiveHow Should We Apply Revelation Today?3 Activities1 Assessment
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Course Wrap-UpCourse Completion1 Activity1 Assessment
Participants 264
Discussion Questions
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Why is it so important to understand what type of book Revelation is? How has what you’ve learned in this lecture changed your understanding of the book of Revelation?
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Revelations represents the future for Christians and understanding it represents a complete view and appreciation of the
bible and the story of Christ. What I have learned so far is the beginning steps in putting together what was an impossible puzzle for me. -
I always viewed Revelations as an important part of the Bible and Christian experience that I was not a part of could never
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it is important to know the type of book it is ,a letter, to help people in a time of need ,it is more than what it appears to be.
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Understanding what type of book Revelations is is important because it will then help you better grasp the meaning and intent of the book. Before this lecture I thought the book of Revelations was a prediction of what was to come in the end-times. I didn’t think of when it was written or who it was originally written for. I just assumed that it was written only for us to prepare us for the coming of Christ like I have been told so many times. This has definitely given me food for thought.
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There is a message for us today. Although addressed to people living in a different time with different experiences, it has application in our lives today. The use of metaphor and symbol is so important to understand and is a vital part of the uniqueness of Revelations. The literary devices used are so sophisticated and for some reason I am always surprised at this level of sophistication. It is important to remember that this is biblical ‘literature’ and is not some rambling. I have to keep this in mind as I seek to understand Revelations.
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Why is Revelation’s first-century historical context important to understanding the book? How has your understanding of Revelation changed after learning more about its historical context?
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Understanding the historical context is important because it reveals the purpose of the letter and how the recipients would understand it. My understanding of the book has changed in light of viewing it through the eyes of the original readers.
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John, the revelator, had been exiled to the island of Patmos because of his faith and preaching. The new Christian church was under intense persecution as well. Each Christian was living under the fear of death, torture, losing family…all of the things that persecution brings about. The were under the oppression of the Roman Empire. Things looked very dark for true Christ-followers and John knew this very well. So, from his exile, so close to his church of Ephesus but separated by “a great sea” or body of water. He could see the town but was unable to go there because he was not free. Christians needed hope and succor and comfort – John wanted to provide it. I believe that God did too.
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It is important to realize that the book of Revelation is apocalyptic , visionary, prophetic and written as a letter to Christians under persecution. We today cannot understand what John described when he wrote of the beast with seven heads, when told of visions regarding the woman and the dragon, prophesied, I believe, that Christians win in the end and that’s really all I need to know. It doesn’t really matter which part is foretelling and which part is forthtelling because it has a wonderful ending and I’m on the right side. I’ll bet the early church was very happy to receive the letter.
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John, the revelator, had been exiled to the island of Patmos because of his faith and preaching. The new Christian church was under intense persecution as well. Each Christian was living under the fear of death, torture, losing family…all of the things that persecution brings about. The were under the oppression of the Roman Empire. Things looked very dark for true Christ-followers and John knew this very well. So, from his exile, so close to his church of Ephesus but separated by “a great sea” or body of water. He could see the town but was unable to go there because he was not free. Christians needed hope and succor and comfort – John wanted to provide it. I believe that God did too.
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It’s good to know that this was addressed to 1st century Christians and not to 20th-century Christians