Extracts from :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Revelation
< Introduction >
The title came into usage from the first word of the book in
Koine Greek:
apokalupsis, meaning "unveiling" or "revelation" (the author himself not having provided a title). It is also known as the
Book of the Revelation of Saint John the Divine or the
Apocalypse of John, (both in reference to its author)
Revelation brings together
the worlds of heaven, earth, and hell in a final confrontation between the forces of good and evil.
The author, named
John, has traditionally been identified with John the Apostle, to whom the
Gospel of John is also attributed. Historical-critical scholars, however, generally conclude that the author did not also write the Gospel of John. Most scholars think that
Revelation was written near the end of the 1st century.
Revelation was accepted into the canon at the
Council of Carthage of
397 AD.Revelation's place in the canon was not guaranteed, however, with doubts raised as far back as the 2nd century about its character, symbolism, and apostolic authorship.
In terms of structure,
the book is built around four successive groups of seven:
the messages to the seven churches, the seven seal judgments, the seven trumpet judgments, and finally, the seven bowl judgments. There are also introductory and concluding passages, and additional passages which are inserted between the main structural elements in various places throughout the book
< John's destiny with Christian church authority >
Early tradition says that John was banished to Patmos by the Roman authorities. This tradition is credible because
banishment was a common punishment used during the Imperial period for a number of offenses.
Among such offenses were the practices of magic and astrology. Prophecy was viewed by the Romans as belonging to the same category, whether Pagan, Jewish, or Christian. Prophecy with
political implications, like that expressed by John in the book of Revelation, would have been perceived as a threat to Roman political power and order. Three of the islands in the Sporades were places where political offenders were banished (Pliny
Natural History 4.69-70; Tacitus
Annals 4.30).
This person identifies himself to John with these words:
“I am he who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.” After reassuring John that
he need not be afraid, he gives John his commission: “Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.” In the
New Bible Commentary, G.R. Beasley-Murray writes:
- "What you have seen" is the vision just given; "what is now" relates to the existing state of the churches and the letters about to be given; "what will be hereafter" is the subsequent visions of the book. This should not be pressed to imply that everything without exception in chs. 4-22 refers to the time future to John, let alone to the time of the end of all things.
< his words >
" I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance."
↓
< Meaning of "
Seven " and "
Lamb" in Apocalypse >
" Its characters and images are both real and symbolic, spiritual and material."
The repeated occurrence of the number seven contributes to the overall unity of Revelation.
While several numbers stand out—3, 4, 7, 10, 12, 24, 144, 1000—seven appears to have a special significance.
- There are
seven churches symbolized by
seven lampstands (1:20);
- the churches have
seven angels symbolized by
seven stars (1:20);
- there are
seven spirits before the throne of God, symbolized by
seven lamps (4:5), and also by
seven horns and seven eyes (5:6);
- the judgment scroll has
seven seals (5:1) with a corresponding set of
seven "seal judgments";
- the
seventh seal unleashes
seven "trumpet judgments," which are heralded by
seven angels (8:1-2);
- the
seventh trumpet unleashes
seven "bowl judgments," where the bowls of God's wrath are poured out by
seven angels (15:1);
- there are
seven mysterious thunders about which John is not permitted to say anything (10:3);
-
7,000 people are killed in an earthquake (11:13);
-
the dragon has seven heads and
seven diadems on his heads (12:3);
- and
the beast from the sea has seven heads (13:1).
No.7...
The Lamb in the Rhetorical Program of the Apocalypse of John
http://www.ambs.edu/ljohns/LambRPAJ.htm
Lamb of God
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamb_of_God
黙示録の仔羊
http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%BB%99%E7%A4%BA%E9%8C%B2%E3%81%AE%E4%BB%94%E7%BE%8A
< A Plot >
It is driven by a powerful conflict between the forces, both earthly and spiritual, of good and evil. Expressed in the simplest terms as follows;
- There is a time of great tribulation on the Earth which combines natural disasters with war on an unprecedented scale;
- The "Lamb" saves his people from the tribulation, destroys the wicked, and ushers in an age of peace; after the age of peace, there is a second, brief time of trouble which results in the permanent banishment of the wicked;
- A new heaven and a new earth replace the old, and the people of God go to live in the presence of God and Christ in a heavenly city described as the "New Jerusalem." (See Interpretations, below, for different understandings of these details. This section is only concerned with the text itself.)
< Fugures >
In order of appearance:
- John of Patmos
- The angel who reveals the Revelation of Jesus Christ
- The One who sits on the Throne
- Twenty-four crowned elders
- Four living creatures
- The Lion of Judah who is the seven horned Lamb with seven eyes
- Four horsemen of the Apocalypse
- Four angels holding the four winds of the Earth
- The seal-bearer angel
- Seven angelic trumpeters
- The star called Wormwood
- Angel of Woe
- Scorpion-tailed Locusts
- Four angels bound to the great river Euphrates
- Two hundred million lion headed cavalry
- The mighty angel of Seven thunders
- The Two witnesses
- Beast of the Sea having seven heads and ten horns
- The woman and her child
- The Dragon, fiery red with seven heads
- Michael the Archangel
- Lamb-horned Beast of the Earth
- Image of the Beast of the sea
- The False Prophet
- Whore of Babylon
- Death and Hades
< Main article >
- Introduction
- John identifies himself, his addressees, and the divine source of his visions. (1:1-3)
- Messages to the Seven Asian Churches
1.Description of the "Son of Man" as John sees him in his vision. (1:4-20)
2.
Ephesus: "I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil." (2:1-7)
3.
Smyrna: "I know your works, tribulation, and poverty – but you are rich." (2:8-11)
4.
Pergamon: "I know your works, and where you live, where Satan's throne is." (2:12-17)
5.
Thyatira: "I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience." (2:18-29)
6.
Sardis: "I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead." (3:1-6)
7.
Philadelphia: "I know your works. I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it." (3:7-13)
8.
Laodicea: "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot... Because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth." (3:14-22)
3.The Throne of God
- John comes before the throne of God. (4:1-3)
- John sees twenty-four elders and four "living creatures" praising God. (4:4-11)
- Only the "Lamb" is found worthy to take the judgment scroll from God and break the seals. (5:1-7)
- The creatures in heaven give praise. (5:8-14)
4.The Lamb Breaks the Seals
- First Seal: One who is both a king and a conqueror rides forth on a white horse. (6:1-2)
- Second Seal: A rider on a red horse brings war. (6:3-4)
- Third Seal: A rider on a black horse brings famine. (6:5-6)
- Fourth Seal: A rider on a pale horse brings death. (6:7-8)
- Fifth Seal: The souls of the martyrs "under the altar" cry out for vengeance. (6:9-11)
- Sixth Seal: There are earthquakes and natural disasters. (6:12-17)
- 144,000 of "all the tribes of Israel" are "sealed." (7:1-8)
- A vast multitude worship God after coming out of the Great Tribulation. (7:9-17)
- Seventh Seal: The breaking of the seventh seal begins another series: the seven trumpets. (8:1-5)
5.The Angels Sound the Trumpets
- First Trumpet: Hail and fire destroy a third of the trees and grass. (8:6-7)
- Second Trumpet: A third of the oceans are destroyed. (8:8-9)
- Third Trumpet: A third of the rivers and springs are poisoned. (8:10-11)
- Fourth Trumpet: A third of the sky is darkened. (8:12-13)
- Fifth Trumpet: A plague of "locusts" terrorize the Earth for five months. (9:1-12)
- Sixth Trumpet: An army of 200 million kills a third of Earth's population. (9:13-21)
- John eats a little book which is sweet in his mouth, but bitter in his stomach. (10:1-11)
- Two witnesses prophesy for 3½ years, are killed, and come back to life. (11:1-14)
7.Seventh Trumpet: The ark of the covenant appears in the heavenly temple. (11:15-19)
1.John sees a woman clothed with the sun, the moon, and the stars. (12:1-6)
2.Satan is cast down to the Earth. (12:7-12)
3.The dragon persecutes the people of God. (12:13-17)
4.The beast from the sea makes war with the people of God. (13:1-10)
5.The beast from the land forces people to worship the beast from the sea. (13:11-18)
6.John sees 144,000, "having his Father's name written on their foreheads," with the Lamb on Mount Zion. (14:1-5)
7.Three angels proclaim judgment. (14:6-13)
8.The angels reap the harvest. (14:14-20)
6.The Angels Pour Out Their Bowls on the Earth
- Seven angels are given golden bowls containing of the wrath of God. (15:1-8)
- First Bowl: A "foul and loathsome sore" afflicts the followers of the beast. (16:1-2)
- Second Bowl: The sea turns to blood and everything within it dies. (16:3)
- Third Bowl: All fresh water turns to blood. (16:4-7)
- Fourth Bowl: The sun scorches the Earth with intense heat. (16:8-9)
- Fifth Bowl: There is total darkness and great pain in the Beast's kingdom. (16:10-11)
- Sixth Bowl: Preparations are made for the final battle between the forces of good and evil. (16:12-16)
- Seventh Bowl: A great earthquake: "every island fled away and the mountains were not found." (16:17-21)
7.Babylon the Great
- The great harlot who sits on many waters: Babylon the Great. (17:1-18)
- Babylon is destroyed. (18:1-8)
- The people of the earth mourn Babylon's destruction. (18:9-19)
- The permanence of Babylon's destruction. (18:20-24)
8.The Marriage Supper of the Lamb
- A great multitude praises God. (19:1-6)
- The marriage supper of the Lamb. (19:7-10)
9.The Millennium
- The beast and the false prophet are cast into the lake of fire. (19:11-21)
- Satan is imprisoned in the bottomless pit for a thousand years. (20:1-3)
- The resurrected martyrs live and reign with Christ for a thousand years. (20:4-6)
10.After the Thousand Years
- Satan is released and makes war against the people of God, but is defeated. (20:7-9)
- Satan is cast into the lake of fire. (20:10)
- The Last Judgment: the wicked, along with death and Hades, are cast into the lake of fire. (20:11-15
11.The New Heaven and Earth
- A new heaven and new earth replace the old. There is no more suffering or death. (21:1-8)
- God comes to dwell with humanity in the New Jerusalem. (21:2-8)
- Description of the New Jerusalem. (21:9-27)
- The river and tree of life appear for the healing of the nations. The curse is ended. (22:1-5)
12.Conclusion
- Christ's reassurance that his coming is imminent. Final admonitions. (22:6-21)
< Interpretations >
Revelation has a wide variety of interpretations, ranging from the simple message that we should have faith that God will prevail (
symbolic interpretation), to complex end time scenarios (
futurist interpretation), to the views of critics who deny any spiritual value to Revelation at all.
In the early Christian era,Christians generally understood the book to predict future events, especially an upcoming millennium of paradise on earth.
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7 out of 8..." 8 Potential Armageddons
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