The use of the old testament in the book of revelation american. Allusions in revelation from old testament christian forums. The following is a list of such references, but it makes no claim to being exhaustive or complete. This name indicates the meaning of revelation it uncovers matters that had been hidden and discloses events that would happen long after it was written. Aug 24, 2016 on the other hand, the king james study bible stated, of the 404 verses in the book revelation, 265 verses contain lines that allude to some 550 old testament references 1979. I have a strange theology about the end times that goes something.
The book of revelation also called the revelation of john or the revelation of st. Revelations various references to time are symbolic. The books of the bible are organized according to the topic rather than in the order in which they were written. So, is covid19 one of the seven plagues mentioned in revelation 1617. Many of the presbyters in attendance at the council of nicaea didnt want it in the bible. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation, viking adult, isbn 067002334 5. Old testament references in the book of revelation rebel.
The book of revelations is primarily a literary rather than an oral form the. His selfrevelation or selfdisclosure as some call it, came in bits and pieces along a linear timeline which lasted thousands of years. Allusions in revelation from old testament allusions in revelation from old testament silencehush. Alpha is the first letter, and omega the last in the greek alphabet, and signifies that christ is the first and the last, as it is interpreted in revelation 1. Can a prechristian version of the book of revelation be. Yet it is a tough nut to crack, not only because of its intrinsic difficulty but because of the myriad interpretations that have grown up around the book. John the divine, although the godgiven title is at the very beginning of the text, the revelation of jesus christ, which god. The passage has given rise to varying interpretations, which are thought to be more consonant with the spirit of the gospel. Book of revelation read, study bible verses online. This table was extracted from a document prepared by dr arnold. Revelation made clear bible study in the book of revelation. Unlike most books of the bible, revelation contains its own title.
Four times the author identifies himself as john 1. This is why the authorized king james version calls revelation the revelation of saint john the divine divine was a seventeenth. Some of the earliest manuscripts have the title of the revelation of john. His usage of the old testament is more than mere symbols its ideas and words appear throughout the.
Jun 24, 20 revelation s various references to time are symbolic. The book of revelation does not tell whence these allusions came. In fact, of the 39 old testament books, one writer has found that revelation alludes to 24 of them. The book of revelation provides some of the keenest insights in scripture concerning the big picture of work. Williams would understand the souls to represent only the old testament saints, especially as it is not explicitly said that they died for the witness of jesus, as in revelation 20. Old testament references in the book of revelation by. Revelation greek apokalupsis means an uncovering, an unveiling, or a disclosure. Marcion rejects revelation because of the numerous old testament references in the book. New testament teaching is also reflected in nearly every verse. The sixth angel sounds, and the four angels bound in the euphrates are loosed, revelation. Nov 19, 2012 this is the holy book of revelation, known as the revelation of st. Yes, john wrote the book of revelation before writing the letters we know as john 1 and 2. Whilst revelation does not have a single direct quotation from the old testament there are hundreds of places where john alludes in one way or another to the old testament scriptures.
The holy bible book 66 revelation kjv dramatized audio. For reasons we can only speculate on the decision to include it was made at the last minutetruly a cliffha. What does the bible say about pandemic diseasessicknesses. By connecting revelation to the old testament prophecies i believe we can understand the book as the first century audience did. John the divine is an example of apocalyptic writing a form that delivers a message using symbols, images and numbers. The book of revelation was written to seven churches as both encouragement and challenge. Old testament references in the book of revelation there are over five hundred references to the old testament in the book of revelation. Oct 23, 2014 about the old testament in the book of revelation. The old testament in the book of revelation jenkins, ferrell on. Rowland in volume 12 of the new interpreters bible nashville. Various outbreaks of pandemic diseases, such as the coronavirus, have prompted many to ask why god allowsor even causespandemic diseases and whether such illnesses are a sign of the end times. The importance of our familiarity with the old testament in order to understand the book of revelation cannot be overstated.
However, more than half of the references are in the psalms, isaiah, ezekiel and daniel. Revelation rarely quotes directly from the old testament, yet almost every verse alludes to or echoes older scriptures. The bible, particularly the old testament, describes numerous occasions when god brought plagues and diseases on his. The book of revelations is primarily a literary rather than an oral formthe. Mounces greatest strength is interacting with, unpacking, and evaluating the various theories, studies, and. Revelation refers to a whole range of books from the old testament, right through the law, the historical books, poetry and the prophets. Verse 3 and he that sat was to look upon like a jasper stone and a sardius. Why didnt jesus write a book of the bible and why was the first book in the new testament written 30 years after his death posted by aftb on sep 24, 2018. The book of revelation has similarities with the old testament book of daniel, chapters 24 27 of the old testament book of isaiah and chapter of the new testament book of mark.
Throughout the new testament epistles, the apostles cited it and warned against its many various iterations. The bottomless pit is opened, and locusts come out upon the earth, revelation 9. The book of revelation and work bible commentary theology. The book of revelation often called the revelation to john, apocalypse of john, the revelation from jesus christ from its opening words, the apocalypse, the revelation, or simply revelation is the final book of the new testament, and consequently is also the final book of the christian bible. Surveying a range of modern perspectives on johns treatment of the hebrew bible, these volumes provide everything you need to make informed decisions about how to interpret. None of them are quoted though the connection is clear. Later manuscripts usually have the title of the revelation of the theologian. Its title is derived from the first word of the koine greek text. In the new testament, this word describes the unveiling of spiritual truth rom. This book explores the relationship between the new context that john provides for his allusions and their context in the old testament. The book of revelation had its origin in a time of crisis, but it remains valid and meaningful for christians of all time. Is coronavirus one of the plagues in the book of revelation. Some authorities have estimated that from 300 to 400 references to the old testament scriptures can be found in the book of revelation. The book of revelation has long been one of the bibles most difficult books to grasp.
There are references to martyrdom and persecution in the book of revelation, but. Revelation chapter 4 coffmans commentary of the new. Christians regard both the old and new testaments together as sacred. On the other hand, the king james study bible stated, of the 404 verses in the book revelation, 265 verses contain lines that allude to some 550 old testament references 1979.
The apocalyptic book of revelation uses symbols and old testament references to reveal a pattern of human rebellion and gods plan to overcome evil forever. This is the holy book of revelation, known as the revelation of st. It was written by the apostle john, towards the end of his life in approximately 95 ad. John describes the seven churches in asia, he records the visions that he received, and in the prophecy jesus returns as the kinsman redeemer to claim this world as his inheritance. The book of revelation is in harmony with the prophecies in the old testament especially the ones written by ezekiel, daniel and zechariah. Porter concurred, the book of revelation is replete with allusions to the ot. Revelation made clear walks through the book of revelation looking for the clearest and most natural understanding of the book. Although theres no explicit old testament quotation in revelation, the book is filled with echoes and allusions to the old testament. Revelation begins with john, the last surviving apostle and an old man, in exile on the small, barren island of patmos, located in the aegean sea southwest of ephesus. With revelations references to the lamb who was slain in chapter 5 and the vision of christ coming in glory in chapter 19, one wonders why luther could not find christ in it. What the modern reader or biblical scholar has to do is to try to read the text. He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant john. There are no formal or direct quotations to the old testament ot in revelation.
What historical reasons resulted in revelation being. The books of the hebrew scriptures were organized slightly differently than our king james old testament. The apocalyptic book of revelation is a symbolic glimpse. The fifth angel sounds, and a star falls from heaven to earth, revelation 9. The book of revelation must be harmonized with the rest of the bible. Almost every verse of revelation contains some sort of allusion to it. Are the books of the bible in the order they were written. There are many similarities between revelation and the old testament. Book of revelation explained scripture by scripture. The book of revelations also says that many did not repent for blaspheming against the real christ and did not repent of there deeds against the real christ revelation 16. Johns exile immediately conjures up parallels from the old testament of the exile in. This summary of the book of revelation provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of revelation. Whereas revelation was written while the christians were oppressed by the romans, the prophets isaiah, ezekiel, and daniel wrote while the jews where under babylonian domination. The book of revelation, a prophecy of warning and hope.
In this revised edition of the classic 1977 work the book of revelation nicnt, based on thenestlealand greek new testament, mounce has expands his work to reflect more than twenty additional years of working with revelation, its text, and the scholarship that surrounds it. Old testament references verse numbers found in revelation approx 540 of them for god so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth. Revelation and the old testament apologetics press. Is the book of revelations saying that lucifer is the true. Book of revelation simple english wikipedia, the free. Table of contents acknowledgments foreword homer hailey preface the old testament background of the book of revelation the number and analysis of old testament quotations the text used in the old testament allusions the purpose of the old testament allusions the place of the book of revelation in apocalyptic literature the times in which apocalyptic grew apocalyptic a reinterpretation. New testament book of revelation definition of new. It is observed that revelation contains more references to the old testament books than any other document in the new testament. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation, viking adult, isbn 0670023345. The use of old testament in the book of revelation rizalde. Some writers, however, have advanced the preterist from a latin word meaning that which is past view, contending that the apocalypse was penned around a. The bible the revelation, last book in new testament. Jan 04, 2010 there are no formal or direct quotations to the old testament ot in revelation.
Old testament references in the book of revelation annointing. There are over five hundred references to the old testament in the book of revelation. Eight interesting facts about revelations use of the old. The very last book in the bible, being the twentyseventh in the new testament, and the sixtysixth in the bible as a whole, is the revelation. The second part of the christian bible, consisting of the gospels, acts, epistles, and book of revelation, which together describe the life. I am alpha and omega these are the words of christ himself, appearing at once, and confirming what john had said of him, concerning his person, offices, and future coming. Apologetics press revelation and the old testament. The book of revelation is the final book of the new testament, and consequently is also the. Revelation parallels, figures and typology in the old.
Gaius and the algoloi also reject it because the montanists use revelation so often. This collection sheds new light on the often mysterious apocalypse through a careful study of johns use of the old testament. From as early as justin martyr in the second century a. Because millennialists had traditionally used revelation as the main source of their teachings, the church was slow to accept revelation as scripture.
The last book of the new testament is usually called the book of revelation or simply revelation. In the face of apparently insuperable evil, either from within or from without, all christians are called to trust in jesus promise, behold, i am with you always, until the end of the age mt 28. There are somewhere between 200 to 1,000 references to the ot in revelation, depending on how you count them. Surprisingly, revelation does not include any exact quotations of the old testament. The final battle unfolds in a 7 year period through a series of seal, trumpet, and bowl judgements, he casts the antichrist and false prophet into the lake of fire. The book of revelation starts with this is a revelation from jesus christ, which god gave him to show his servants the events that must soon take place. Why was the book of revelation included in the bible. The greek name of the bible book of revelation, apoka. Traditionally, the book of revelation has been dated near the end of the first century, around a. For example, did john choose texts to meet the needs of the recipients or did his meditation on the scriptures give him a unique insight into their situation. Can you explain the difference between god hardening someones heart, people hardening their own hearts, and god giving people over to a depraved mind posted by aftb on jul 4.
Novum testamentum is the second part of the christian biblical canon, the first being the old testament. However, by a careful study of the bible, we can understand that most of them come from the. On the other hand, many in the early centuries disputed revelations place in the canon. The old testament in the book of revelation paperback january 1, 1976 by ferrell jenkins author 5. Parts of the old testament, particularly in the book of daniel, are also written in the apocalyptic genre. This distinction should be kept in mind in the study of those. The new testament discusses the teachings and person of jesus, as well as events in firstcentury christianity. An apocalyptic letter, it relies on visions, symbols, and old testament references to reveal the ultimate fulfillment of gods promise given to abraham in genesis. I stopped thinking of revelation as a book primarily written as early christian apocalyptic when i stumbled on the detailed table called old testament and other texts alluded to in revelation, which sits at the very end of the commentary by christopher c. The roman authorities had banished him there because of his faithful preaching of the gospel 1. Mar 19, 2019 the book of revelation starts with this is a revelation from jesus christ, which god gave him to show his servants the events that must soon take place.
The use of old testament in the book of revelation. But the christians of asia minor were familiar with the old testament and the apocalyptic writings and would be able to understand it. Study scripture verses and use highlighting, underlining, and take notes in the bible. So, the divine author of revelation is jesus christ and the human author is the apostle john. This flexible use of the old testament helps to show that god will be faithful and keep the promises made through the prophets, yet john does not assume that these promises will be fulfilled in a mechanistic way. References to a thousand years chapter 20 have led some to expect that the final. I really know nothing about the book of revelations. The images in revelation have a foundation in prophetic books of the scriptures. The number 144,000 does not appear anywhere else in revelation.
Allusions in revelation from old testament sacrificesupper of god. Revelation contains more old testament references than any other new testament book almost 70 percent of its verses contain old testament references. There are thirtyfour direct references to the book of daniel in the revelation. While it might be tempting to try and identify this virus with one of those plagues, i believe there are a couple of reasons not to. Founder and director of ariel ministries there are over five hundred references to the old testament in the book of revelation. At the time that john was exiled by rome to patmos and received the revelations recorded here, apostasy was already creeping into christs true church. John the divine, although the godgiven title is at the very beginning of the text, the revelation of. The morning star is another word for lucifer the light bringer revelation 22. David mathewson assessing old testament allusions in the. Old testament references verse numbers found in revelation approx 540 of them for god so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. New testament book of revelation synonyms, new testament book of revelation pronunciation, new testament book of revelation translation, english dictionary definition of new testament book of revelation. Revelation to john, last book of the new testament.