by will sprout

Created on: April 12, 2009

Understanding The Book of Revelations.

Because there are a number of Helium topics concerning relevant chapters in the Book of Revelations, I have hereby given my own interpretation of what I conceive to be the understanding contained within these books.

I begin with this essay covering the first three chapters not proposed for discussion, and I will methodically progress into those chapters which are proposed.

The Book of Revelation.

This Book was originally known as Revelation to John,' or The Apocalypse of John.' This is the last book of the Christian Bible and is wholly composed of Apocalyptic writing, purporting to be the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

The Book of Revelation is considered to be one of the most controversial and difficult books of the Bible to understand, with its multitude of different interpretations or meanings. Indeed, the priest Martin Luther considered the book to be neither apostolic nor prophetic, maintaining that it did not teach about Jesus Christ nor promote his teachings.

In the 4th century several Christian bishops argued against including this book in the New Testament canon; they realised that the difficulties they encountered trying to interpret it, could leave it open for abuse by others.

Yet this was not the end of controversy; it was a disputed book in the 9th century, being rejected by the Syrian Christians and today it is still the only book of the New Testament which is not read in the Divine Liturgy of the Eastern Orthodox Church.

But what exactly is this book?

And does it hold any significant meaning?

To begin with the Book of Revelations is strikingly similar in its story contents, to the Book of Malachi, the last book of the Old Testament, and you may find it interesting to compare the two.

Here, however, we will only be concerned with the Book of Revelations.

The first chapters of the book 1:3: introduce John and how an angel enlightens him in regard to the visions which he says were shown to Jesus by God.

[1:1] The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John.

[2] Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

It seems as though John is asserting his dominance over the Christian leaders,' by proclaiming that he is the holder of new information; of how things were and also giving a prophesy of things to come. He uses the authority of the angel

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