Please read Revelation 13-22, concentrating on the last four chapters. Take a passage and note whether the preterit, historical, futurist, or allegorical interpretation seems to work best in that case.Alternative assignment: Cite a couple of verses from this section that show particularly well the beauties of this book or that show how difficult the book is to understand and interpret.
Revelation 18:16, “And saying, Alas, alas that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!” Revelation 22:1, “And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. These are a couple verses that show how beautiful of a book Revelation is. To be able to picture what these two verses depict is amazing. It gives us knowledge of what is to come when we reach heaven and when Jesus returns. Revelation has such descriptive power that even if a person has no imagination they should be able to picture some of the images. It gives us a feeling of hope, because we can understand certain things that are going to come. Revelation is a very beautiful book with amazing images. -Kelly Longden
ReplyDeleteRevelation 20:7-10 deals with the defeat of Satan. Verse 9-10 says "And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever."
ReplyDeleteI believe that the futuristic approach applies here because there is still sin in the world; therefore, Satan has not been defeated yet.
Revelation 14:18- And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, "Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe."
ReplyDeleteRevelation 15:2 And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God.
I think that the futurist approach works best for these two passages. The first shows a great harvest about to take place with a sickle. Not in that passage but later in chapter 14 it says those who were harvested with the sickle were thrown into a press and bled out. There is a great and coming judgment so I think that passage is best understood under a futurist point of view.
The next passage shows those who overcame the beast. These are people who have overcome sin in the world and are now standing with, thereby being with, God. They have been caught up with God since they were righteous believers. John's vision is showing what will happen at the end of the world. Those judged to be wicked will be punished and those judged to have overcome the beast and followed Christ will be with God forever. -Zach Kuhlman
I chose the verses that show the beauty of this book. At first, Revelation makes God and heaven sound horrific. Revelation chapter 16 describes angels pouring "the seven bowls of God's wrath on the earth." Verses two and three state, "the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land, and ugly and painful sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast...The second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it turned into blood like that of a dead man, and every living thing in the sea died."
ReplyDeleteAfter the horror has ended, chapter 21 begins to describe the wonders of heaven that will be given to those who have faithfully followed God; "a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away..." Verse two describes this new heaven "as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband." "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes and there will be no more death or mourning, or crying, or pain..." (verse 4). Verses 21 and 23 describe the elaborate decorations: "The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass...The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light..."
Though it starts out quite gruesome, I believe Revelation is showing the power of God. It also shows that a God that has the power to create such horror, will always keep his promises to show and eventually give us the wonders of eternal life with him.
-Melinda Quade
Through out these last chapters of Revelations it seems to vary with the interpretations that it can go by. However, in Chapter 20 it talks about the defeat of the devil, as said before in Clint's comment I feel that this in the futuristic tense because there is still sin in the world , this means that the devil is still on the Earth to trick and mislead the people and turn them away from God's teachings. Because of these reasons I feel it is futuristic tense because it is yet to come.
ReplyDeleteRevelation 19:11-16: "I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:
ReplyDeleteKING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS."
This passage shows the beauty in the writing of Revelation. The writings paint very vivid pictures of the different visions in Revelation. Many of the passages may be difficult to understand because of the weirdness of the visions throughout the book. These visions can certainly be interpreted many ways which is one reason that many find Revelations to be difficult. With this though, many of the writings are very colorful and beautifully written.
These last chapters we see that the book of Revelations continue to show a message of hope through its beauty. One passage that demonstrates this is Revelations 19:12 "His eyes were a fiery flame, and on his head were many diadems. He had a name inscribed that no one knows except himself." This goes on to the the the "King of Kings" and paints a picture unlike any other book in the Bible. Another passage is Revelation 20:11 "Next I saw a large white throne and the on who was sitting on it. The earth and the sky fled from his presence and there was no place for them." This goes to show the awe of the Lord and the direction the book of Revelations took on it.
ReplyDeleteOne interesting passage I found was Revelation 19:20-21 "THe beast was caught and with it the false prophet who had performed in its sight the signs by which he led astray those who had accepted the mark of the beast and those who had worshiped its image. the two were thrown alive into a fiery pool burning with sulfur. The rest were killed by the sword that came out of the mouth of the one riding the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh." This passage may be graphic, by the detail and image presented truly is painted with words. It is beautifully written and caught my attention at least.
-Zack Krage
"Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3 and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while." Rev 20:1-3 This is one of the Passages that might be rather difficult to interpret. mostly because it brings up the question of why the devil must be released at all? its very strange to have him be defeated for only 1000 years, especially when that is futile too. "They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. 10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever." Rev 20:9-10 See? Satan waits 1000 years, assembles a huge army to attack the Saints, only to have God call down fire and wipe them all out anyway. What was the point of the 1000 year thing? why let him out at all? -Sean M
ReplyDeleteI really have a hard time determining which approach works the best when reading Revelation. I think for myself the easiest way would just be looking at it more allegorically, or perhaps signs and happenings which will happen in a spiritual realm rather than right in front of our faces. Now this surely doesn't really work in all of the passages, but would most certainly work in some instances. I think something that has always been interesting to me and difficult to understand is the 1000 year reign of peace. I think more because I picture the return of Jesus being an instantaneous happening. This again is probably because of cultures take on the return of Jesus, and not the bible's. Over all I think that the most important thing about Revelation, is that I will not understand everything in the book. I think when everything happens at the end of time people will be able to look back and say oh that makes sense, but at that point probably won't make much of a difference. The passage that gets me most excited is where it talks about heaven earlier in the book. That is what I am striving for, and John has a way of painting such a beautiful picture of such an indescribable place. This was a very fun book to dissect!
ReplyDeleteRev. 14:7 'He said in a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, for his time has come to sit in judgment. Worship him who made heaven and earth and sea and springs of water." '
ReplyDeleteRev. 17:14 'They will fight with the Lamb, but the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and king of kings, and those with him are called, chosen, and faithful.'
Rev. 18:4-8 'Then I heard another voice from heaven say: "Depart from her, my people so as not to take part in her sins and receive a share in her plagues, for her sins are piled up to the sky and God remembers her crimes. Pay her back as she has paid others. Pay her back double for her deeds. Into her cup pour double what she poured. To the measure of her boasting and wantonness repay her in torment and grief; for she said to herself, 'I sit enthroned as queen; I am no widow, and I will never know grief.' Therefore, her plagues will com in one day, pestilence, grief, and famine; she will e consumed by fire. For almighty is the Lord God who judges her." '
-Cheryl Hansen