One quote from this powerful address has survived and been passed down through the years. This quote is funny to me because i have read the book of. Understanding images and symbols in the book of revelation. One of elaine pagelss great gifts is much in abundance.
A brief overview of the book of revelation the rise and. The strangest book of the new testament, filled with visions of the rapture, the whore of babylon, and apocalyptic writing of the end of times, the book of revelation has fascinated readers for more than two thousand years, but where did it come from. The book of revelation is often discussed by dissecting every symbol and figurative expression. The chief purpose of the book of revelation seems to be to prepare us for the last days and the second coming.
Insights from the jst into the book of revelation religious studies. Of course, joseph smith had a background of angelic tutoring that none of us share. 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. And what are the meanings of its surreal images of dragons, monsters, angels, and cosmic war. Instead of stories and moral teaching, it offers only visions dreams and nightmares, the four horsemen of the apocalypse, earthquakes, plagues and war. What john saw and speaks of were things which he saw in heaven. Certainly to god, or to john the apostle, or even to joseph smith, revelation was a plain book. Dec 01, 2019 we can choose the lamb, or the seven headed dragon, the bride of christ, or the great whore, the new jerusalem, or babylon, the mark of the beast, or the seal of the living god.
As anthony write in the forward, unless you have read his previous books, youre not going to understand why he interprets the book of. When we read about the dragon, the beast, the vials, the trumpets, and so. There are a number of good latterday saint commentaries that the teacher will find helpful. Its kind of weird, and probably not the first place youd expect to find evidence of evolution in the scriptures. To learn the information published in this book, we suggest you attend the online course of the same name, the plainest book. Some of the things in the book of revelation god has carried over from the book of daniel. Certainly to god, or to john the apostle, or even to joseph smith, revelation.
I saw the holy city, the new jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from god, prepared as a bride beautifully dress. Revelation overview robertsons word pictures of the new. 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. Oct 15, 2014 and remember what joseph smith said, the book of revelation is one of the plainest books god ever caused to be written smith, teachings of the prophet joseph smith, p. The prophet joseph smith, in a sermon delivered in 1843, stated that the book of revelation is one of the plainest books god ever caused to be written.
Feb 23, 2019 what you need to know before reading the book of revelation includes reading the book of daniel. Revelation 21 niv bible then i saw a new heaven and a. As mysterious as the book of revelation appears, it can be understood and taught with success. If you think paul and isaiah are hard to understand, then what about the book of revelation.
Who shall be able to stand finding personal meaning in the. And then at how, as christians, we should respond to it. Jan 26, 2019 the book of revelation is one of the plainest books god ever caused to be written. Book of revelation mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. These symbols probably were understood by the first readers of the book, though the key to them is lost to us. Her revelations is a slim book that packs in dense layers of scholarship and meaning. Introduction some general comments about the book of revelation and its uniqueness. He said, the book of revelation is one of the plainest books god ever caused to be written.
This is the reason why i think joseph smith said what he said about revelation, that it was the plainest book. Daniel did not see an actual bear or a lion, but the images or figures of those beasts. Most of the other revelations, and this fascinated me, many of them were found with the gnostic gospels in upper egypt, and they had been censored by church leaders for over a thousand and a half years. Nephi and johns revelations of the last days part 1 the book. Jun 19, 2016 the book of revelation is one of the plainest books god ever caused to be written. Revelation is one of the plainest books joseph smith quotes. He touches upon all the most enigmatic passages of the book of revelation. Revelation niv bible the dragon stood on the shore of. The book of revelation is one of the plainest books god ever caused to be writtenwhat john saw he saw in heaven. This book focuses on the broader themes the apostle john intended for us to glean from the vision he recorded. Praise revelations is a slim book that packs in dense layers of scholarship and meaning.
Book of revelation overview church of jesus christ. May 25, 2019 the book of revelation is one of the plainest books god ever caused to be written. Nov 05, 2019 the book of revelation is one of the plainest books god ever caused to be written. The book of revelation, or the apocalypse as it is also called, is the last book of the bible. Anyone who has struggled to grasp johns meanings will find this book enlightening and inspirational. The beasts, visionary imagery, and endless symbolism make this one of the most difficult books of scripture to understand. Messages of hope, healing, and peace in the book of. Even the numbers in the book 3 7, 3, 4, 12, 24, cannot be pressed, though some do so. Pagels to john of patmos, is the last book in the new testament and the only one thats apocalyptic rather than historical or morally prescriptive.
Its apocalyptic imagery and symbolism surpass any such found elsewhere in the revealed word. Is coronavirus one of the plagues in the book of revelation. Even harnack called the apocalypse the plainest book in the new testament, by using harnacks key for the symbols. Michael wilcox helps open our minds and our hearts to understand the eternal message of this supernal book of scripture. The book of revelation the church of jesus christ of latterday.
It is important that the book of revelation not be skipped because johns work gives added details on three important subjects. The book of revelation, also called revelation to john or apocalypse of john is the last canonical book of the new testament in the bible. Joseph smith 1 the book of revelation has long mystified readers of the bible. Jan 21, 2015 is one of the plainest books god ever caused to be written. Joseph stated, the book of revelation is one of the plainest books god ever caused to be written. The book of revelation is one of the plainest books god ever caused to be written. Revelation paperback 1987 by anthony e larson author 4. Thanks to the author, the future has become a little less mysterious. I was delighted to find and read and ponder the whole of his talk.
Teachings of the prophet joseph smith, 290 with all due respect. Joseph smith said, the book of revelation is one of the plainest books god ever caused to be written. May 12, 2019 in 1843, the prophet joseph made a remark that probably came across as somewhat strange, when he declared that the book of revelation is one of the plainest books god ever in 1843, the prophet joseph made a remark that probably came across as somewhat strange, when he declared that the book of revelation is one of the plainest books god ever caused to be written. This article will look at this virus and its relationship to revelation. This quote is funny to me because i have read the book of revelation and never found it easy to understand.
Nephi wrote, the things which john shall write are just and true. The revelation of peter, and the revelation of paul, and the revelation of zostrianos and almost anyone you can mention. Thus, joseph smith declared that the book is one of the plainest books god ever caused to be written. Book of revelation translation in englishsamoan dictionary. Draper, understanding images and symbols in the book of revelation, shedding light on the new testament. Pagels to john of patmos, is the last book in the new. The prophet joseph smith said, the book of revelation is one of the plainest books god ever caused to be written. It is a revelation that was received by the apostle john while he was in romanimposed exile on the island of patmos in the eastern mediterranean around 90 a.
Why, then, do so many people consider it to be so difficult. Many people automatically look to connect any largescale disaster to revelation and see in it a sign of the end. Then i saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. Nephi and johns revelations of the last days part 1 the book of. Comprehend the things of god by revelation joseph smith quotes.
The greek name of the bible book of revelation, apoka. Religious studies center, brigham young university, 2009, 27189. It is the only biblical book that is wholly composed of apocalyptic literature. The author applies these themes to real life situations in his experiences, and shows how we can apply those themes in our lives, too. Joseph smith taught that the book of revelation is one of the plainest books god ever caused to be written. It was this quote that caused me to search for the origins. The plainest book ever written in 1843, the prophet joseph made a remark that probably came across as somewhat strange, when he declared that the book of revelation is one of the plainest books god ever in 1843, the prophet joseph made a remark that probably came across as somewhat strange, when he declared that the book of revelation is one of the plainest books god ever caused to be written. The rise and fall of the antichrist appendix four a brief overview of the book of revelation. The apocalypse, or revelation to john, the last book of the bible, is one of the most difficult to understand because it abounds in unfamiliar and extravagant symbolism, which at best appears unusual to the modern reader. I know, i know, thats easy for a prophet and seer to say, but it can be done and its important to try.
Yet the book of revelation need not remain closed, at least for latterday saints who accept modern revelation. In doctrinal new testament commentary, elder bruce r. What should i know before reading the book of revelation. Mar 21, 2012 her revelations is a slim book that packs in dense layers of scholarship and meaning. Book of revelation englishsamoan dictionary glosbe. The book of revelation is the strangest book in the bible, and the most controversial.