Do you know who the main figure in the Book of Revelation is ? Click here to find the answer. You'll also learn about the main theme of this biblical text and the important message it conveys.
book of apocalypse
The Book of Revelation is the last New Testament book of the Bible, containing information about the end of the world. It is also one of the most studied books in history due to the complexity of its writing. If you would like to learn more about it, you can consult the article "The End Times ."
The complexity in interpreting the Book of Revelation stems from its rich content of symbols and codes, which are associated with the eschatological theme of the end times of humanity and the universe.
According to the fact that the text mentions that the writer calls himself John, it is believed, without unanimity, that the writer of the book was the apostle John and a disciple of Jesus.
Revelation 1:4 (NLT): I, John, am writing this letter to the seven churches in the province of Asia. Grace and peace to you from him who is, who always was, and who is to come, and from the seven-fold Spirit before his throne.
The Book of Revelation completes the Bible at the end, but do you know which biblical text opens the door to knowing God as the sole creator and Lord of all that exists? For this, we invite you to enter here: Book of Genesis : chapters, verses, and interpretation.
A book that, among other topics, tells us about the origin of creation, the fall of man, and introduces God's promise for the salvation and redemption of his people.
Its meaning from the etymology of the word apocalypse
The word apocalypse comes from the ancient Greek ἀποκάλυψις, a term transliterated as apokálypsis and later carried into the Latin language as apocalypsis. But, from the Greek transliteration apokálypsis, this term is deduced to refer to a discovery, if it is broken down into the following:
- ἀπο or apo: This term is a prefix used to indicate something that is outside, away or from, determining a kind of distance from something.
- κάλυψις or kálypsis: Term from the verb kályptein that translates to hide, cover or cover. This word from its form as an adjective kalyptikós, would be hidden, covered or covered.
Thus, these words in the original Greek, apokálypsis, as a whole, come to mean: out of hiding, uncovered, or revealed. The word apocalypse means: to remove the veil from something that is hidden, to unveil, uncover, or reveal something. This leads us to identify the ultimate purpose of the book of Revelation , which is: God's revelation to his church of the end times.
Although at first, from the first or second century, the apocalypse was transmitted as the Revelations of the Last Judgment. Only until the middle of the 12th century was this vision of the servant John of Patmos given, identifying him as one of the XNUMX apostles of Jesus; the qualifier of being the revelation of the end of humanity.
Revelation 1:1-2 (DHH): 1 This is the revelation that God gave to Jesus Christ , so that he might show his servants what must soon take place. Jesus Christ made it known by sending his angel to his servant John , 2 who has told the truth of everything he saw, and is a witness to God's message confirmed by Jesus Christ.
What is the source of the revelation or book of the apocalypse?
The verse quoted above clearly indicates who the primary author of what is revealed in the book of Revelation is . God is the source, who, in His purpose of fulfilling His promise, wants to show His servants how the prophecy will unfold.
God first reveals the Bible to Jesus Christ, the central figure of the apocalyptic text, and he, through one of his heavenly angels, reveals it to his servant John in a vision. Understanding this context is essential to learning more about the origins of the Bible.
John is then the one who has the mission of writing down these revealing teachings on an eschatological theme. For the knowledge, formation and edification of the saints of the church of Jesus Christ here on earth.
Therefore, for all who study the scriptures of the Book of Revelation , if they do so with understanding, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, everything read will be a blessing, because they will be able to understand the prophecy written there.
Revelation 1:3 (KJV): Blessed is he that readeth, and they that heareth the words of this prophecy , and keepeth the things written therein: for the time is at hand.
The Contemporary English Version of the Bible says something interesting and very important; it is the blessing of transmitting to people the prophetic message of the book of Revelation , as it is a message of salvation, as well as the preparation of the faithful for the second coming of Christ:
Revelation 1:3 (TLA): Blessed is the one who reads this message aloud ! Blessed is the one who hears it and obeys it ! The day is coming when God will fulfill everything announced in this book!
The epistle of the apocalypse a prophetic book
Although the Book of Revelation is structurally classified as one of the epistles or New Testament letters of the Bible, due to its sender and recipient, many scholars consider it a prophetic book based on its argument or literary content.
To learn more about the structure of the Holy Scriptures, we invite you to visit this page: Parts of the Bible : Structure, Books, and More. The Bible is the book in which God reveals to us the origin (Genesis) and end (Revelation) of creation, the new covenant, and the promises and prophecies.
Now, why is the apocalypse a prophetic book? Because Juan in the writing of the vision of him given by God and revealed to Jesus Christ to manifest it to the church of him announces or predicts events, which would be fulfilled after writing it.
The confirmation is that some of the prophecies announced by John's vision have already been fulfilled. Others have not yet been fulfilled, but in God's time they will be fulfilled.
Only prophetic book of the New Testament
Another particularity that makes the apocalypse be classified as a prophetic text. It is that much of its content can be interpreted from the realities of what was lived at the time of the writer and witness of the vision, Juan.
It also conveys a prophetic message or voice from God, which is relevant to every reader, regardless of time or place. Therefore, based on the above, the Book of Revelation becomes, and many biblical scholars confirm this, the one and only prophetic book of the New Testament.
An example is found in the passage of Revelation 1:9-20, where John begins by narrating that he is exiled on the Island of Patmos, for the cause of being faithful to God's message and giving testimony about Christ. And while there he receives the mandate of the Holy Spirit to write the vision in a letter, to be sent to seven churches of Jesus Christ of those times located in cities such as: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamon, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.
Revelation 1:3 (TLA): Blessed is the one who reads this message aloud ! Blessed is the one who hears it and obeys it ! The day is coming when God will fulfill everything announced in this book!
That same prophetic voice of God, transmitted as a message to the seven churches of that time, beginning in chapter two of the book of Revelation , is also a message for any of the churches of Jesus Christ today in any of their denominations, congregations, or places in the world.
Did you know that the Bible contains a series of prophecies considered messianic? Those yet to be fulfilled refer to the second coming of the Messiah, his eternal reign, and God's judgment, as described in the Book of Revelation . But if you'd like to learn about those that have already been fulfilled, we invite you to read the article, " Messianic Prophecies : Purpose, Fulfillment, and More."
The main themes of the book of the apocalypse
The Book of Revelation contains at least seven relevant and interconnected themes. However, because of its symbolic language, it is not so easy to extract the message of each one with certainty.
Therefore, we will discuss what is most clearly defined about them and what some interpreters of the Word of God have already revealed to the Church of Jesus. If you wish to delve deeper into the books of the Bible , this will be helpful.
The presentation of Jesus Christ and who we are in Him
The Book of Revelation presents Jesus as the resurrected Christ, and his central figure is revealed by God from the very beginning of the book, through the vision given to John.
Revelation 1:5-8 (DHH): 5 and also from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, who was the firstborn from the dead and who rules over the kings of the earth . Christ loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood, 6 and has made us a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father . To him be glory and power forever! Amen.
So Jesus was already from the beginning (Genesis) the Alpha, he is and has made us his servants for him and for God. And that it is also our hope of glory, manifested in the hope of the second coming of him, the Omega:
Revelation 22:20-21 (NLT): 20 He who is the faithful witness of all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon! ” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s holy people.
The message to the seven churches
In the books of Revelation 2 and 3, John records the vision in short letters addressed to the seven churches of that time. Each of these messages contains a message from the Lord:
- Exhortation.
- An approval and a complaint.
- Warning or warning.
- A promise.
The seven messages to the churches reveal the goodness of God's heart. They show His faithful desire as a Father to restore His children and help us remain in Him, in obedience until the coming of Christ. Furthermore, if you want to learn more about the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse , this is very relevant.
Five main themes of the book of the apocalypse
The other five main themes contained in the vision given to John in the book of Revelation are the following:
- visions of heaven: Chapters 4 and 5 of the Apocalypse detail the splendor, glory and power of God, as well as that of the lamb, Christ Jesus. The vision describes the throne in heaven and how God is worshiped by the living beings and the elders.
- The end of the ages: The vision describes what the end times will be like, announcing a series of events, such as a great final battle before judgment. It talks about the rapture and that there will be a great tribulation that will be difficult to survive.
- The final judgement: This is a theme of great relevance in the vision, God will send the devil to eternal punishment as final judgment for his rebellion. In the same way, the creator of the heavens and the earth will apply his judgment to those who did not receive Christ or believe in his gospel. The expected promise will be fulfilled and those who believed the gospel of Christ and obeyed him will dwell with him for eternity.
- a paradise restored: It is described as the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21:1.
- The reign of Christ: The last chapter of the apocalypse affirms that Jesus Christ will reign for eternity. Amen!
