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.
In chapter 15 vs 3-4 it is mentioned that the “song of Moses” is sung. Growing up I had to memorize the song of Moses in Exodus 15 - so coming across this in Revelation was pretty cool. In Exodus, Moses sings the song in triumph over Pharaoh and all of Egypt - in Revelation those that had conquered the beast were singing in triumph. It’s like the verses in the gospels that fulfill prophecy for Jesus. It’s a beautiful thing to see in the gospels and it’s even more beautiful to see this in Revelation because we see described who wins in the end and how good is victorious over evil.
ReplyDeleteI have to ask, what is the song of Moses that you learned? Was it the "When Pharaoh was in Egypt's land....let me people go"? Cause that song I learned as well when I was growing up.
DeleteWhile these chapters are just as vivid as far as imagery goes, I became super confused in verse 17:8-11, "8 The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and yet will come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because it once was, now is not, and yet will come. 9 “This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits. 10 They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while. 11 The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction."
ReplyDeleteThe whole beast that was now, but isn't, but may be, but is, yet not quite, but almost there, stay on target...stay on target...stay on target (minor Star Wars reference)...this is all very confusing. The writing itself is very beautiful, but the wording just doesn't make as much sense as I am sure it should.
Revelation 16:15,“Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.” Does this mean to not sleep in the nude?
This may be a silly question, but at what point during all of this are the Christians called up to heaven? Do they/we have to experience all of this extreme suffering, or are they/we spared before any of the angels do their things?
I also really enjoyed all of the songs of praise and rejoicing that was going on during this.
DeleteI am a fan of the descriptions of the New Heaven and New Earth. There will be no night, no need for sun or a moon God will be the light and Jesus with be the lamp. The doors are always open and everyone who is in the book of life will be accepted. I really really hope that my name is in the book of life.
What I found to be really confusing out of the reading from the book of Revelation was chapter 18 about the Fall of Babylon. I re-read this chapter a couple of times but was still confused after looking at it again and again. I think par tot that confusion has to do with the wording of the story, but I wasn't confused with all of revelation either. I also found certain chapters to be written rather beautifully and easy to understand. A few examples would be chapter 20 and chapter 16. Overall, I have never looked at Revelation and think it is a really interesting book in the bible.
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ReplyDeleteI found Revelation 19: 11-21 to very beautiful. This passage is all about the rider on the white horse coming through. The robe he wore was covered in blood and the others who followed him were dressed in white. I found this great imagery because the rider on the white horse obviously sacrificed himself for the rest of his people. The passage also states that a sharp sword came out of his mouth which he used to defeat his enemies. I learned in class that the sword represents the Word of God and I found this beautiful as well. At the end of the passage, the rider on the white horse captures the beast and the false prophet and defeats both of them.
ReplyDeleteI found Revelation chapter 22 was a very good futurist passage. It says that God will come day and it kind of says he will judge everyone. It restates the words that Jesus or God will come back when the world is about to end. This will be judgment day. Futurist works best because it is kind of like a prophecy.
ReplyDeleteThe passage that moved me was Revelation 19:11-21. On a white horse the one called Faithful and True will come riding. With His eyes of fire and blood dipped clothing, he has a name nobody else knows. By His side the armies of Heaven will ride coming down to Earth to defeat the beast and all who follow it. And when the smoke disappears and the dust settles, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords will reign for a thousand years! See? The futuristic interpretation of this passage is so beautiful! Yes, the end of days will be sad and trying, but Jesus is coming and making his presence known. Sadly, the Devil will be released after the thousand years, but the second resurrection takes place shortly after, and that is an encouraging thought.
ReplyDeleteAnother verse I like is Revelation 21:6; "He said unto me: 'It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.'" It makes for a great allegorical interpretation, but the main reason I like it was its heavy usage in the video game "Fallout 3". The game is set in post-apocalyptic D.C. and the playable character's mother loves this verse and tried to clean the irradiated waters so all people could have clean water to drink. Either rendition of the verse is very moving indeed.
Petra- All the King's Horses
from their 1987 album "This Means War!"
based on Revelation 19:11-21
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IaRoq7fXt0
Chapters 21 and 22 describe the eternal state. In these chapters God tells us what eternity with Him will be like. The book of Revelation is understandable. God would not have given it to us if its meaning were entirely a mystery. I believe the key to understanding the book of Revelation is to interpret it as literally as possible it says what it means and means what it says.
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