Back ground of the book:
Revelation
“Revelation” is from the Greek word apokalupsis which means, “A disclosure, an unveiling.” The book of Revelation is an unveiling of the Character and program of God.
Author
Four times the author identifies himself as John (1:1, 4, 9; 22:8)
Date and origin
The traditional view for the date of revelation is during the reign of Emperor Domitian (A.D. 81-90). The early church fathers affirmed this and most scholars since have agreed. The date has been traditionally set between A.D. 94-96 (during the final and most severe years of Domitian’s reign). It is likely that John wrote Revelation during his exile on the island of Patmos.
The purpose
The stated purpose of revelation is to reveal Jesus Christ (1:1): His
James 1:12
For these believers who endure trials, tribulations, and severe suffering, even unto death. Revelations 2:8-11. This crown is also referred to as the martyrs’ crown.
This crown reminds me of the Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna. Polycarp was denounced to the government, arrested and tried on the charge of being a Christian. When the proconsul urged him to save his life by cursing Christ, he replied: “Eighty-six years I have served him, and he never did me any wrong. How can I blaspheme my king who saved ME?” the magistrate was reluctant to kill a gentle old man, but he had no choice. Polycarp was sentenced to be burned. As he waited for the fire to be lighted, he prayed; “Lord God almighty, Father of your blessed and beloved child Jesus Christ, through whom we have received knowledge of you, God of angels and hosts and all creation, and of the whole race of the upright who live in your presence; I bless you that you have thought me worthy of this day and hour, to be numbered among the martyrs and share in the cup of Christ, for resurrection to eternal life, for soul and body in the incorruptibility of the Holy Spirit. Among them may I be accepted before you today, as a rich and acceptable sacrifice, just as you, I bless you, I glorify you, through the eternal heavenly high priest Jesus Christ, your beloved child, through whom be glory to you, with him and the Holy Spirit, now and for the ages to
The Book of Revelation and the movie WALL-E serve as distinct forms of apocalyptic literature to expose the reality of the human condition beneath the surface. Even though there are blatant disconnects between the two, they both share common ground as criticisms of society and to warn humanity of its coming judgement. The Book of Revelation and WALL-E offer a frightening yet rectifiable future for humanity by remaining loyal to its “core values”.
The Lothar Crystal, also known as the Susanna Crystal or London Crystal is one of the most highly skilled extant examples of Carolingian engraving ever created and currently apart of the British Museum’s collection. Created in a style that appears to have already dwindling It is a single lentoid of clear quartz that measures some four and a half inches (11.5cm) in diameter and depicts the biblical scenes of Susanna’s Judgement from Daniel 13. There are some very fine flaws running horizontally through scene six and partly into scene seven, and one severe crack through it’s centre. Supposedly it was cracked when thrown into the Meuse during the sack of Waulsort by the French in 1793. The flaws do not obscure the engraved design but cause a slight sparkle when the stone is moved. The interpretation of this exquisite piece has been a point of contention among scholars of the Carolingian era for over a century as the engraving suffers considerably from a lack of contemporary sources. Conjecture and misinterpretation throughout history has been a constant hindrance to the understanding of this piece and the intended message conveyed within the eight scenes and forty figures of the Lothar Crystal. This intended meaning and to whom the Crystal was intended to be shown shall be the primary focus of this essay, as well as discerning the true intention of its creation.
Much of Revelation is the source of debate. Many passages are symbolic in nature, and the exact meaning of the symbols can be difficult to determine. Some passages can be interpreted in various ways. The identity of the Four Horsemen, the 144,000, and Babylon the Great in particular are points of contention. Nevertheless, proper hermeneutics and careful study can illuminate these difficult passages.
He objects to a view which argues that John is speaking of God’s timing rather than ours by pointing out the concrete historicity of Revelation including churches and expressions used are “emphatic-declarative.” Regarding an objection which states that the events will ...
Although there was no compassionate relationship between the “eastern and western branches of Christianity,” Pope Urban II of Europe was aware of the Islamic threat to the Byzantium Empire and was subject to support the eastern branch after he heard about the oppression forced on his fellow Christians. In November of 1095, Foss Claims, “Pope Urban II was determined to save the honour and the soul of Europe.” Throughout his book Foss identifies the persuasive speech at the Council of Claremont, the siege of Antioch, and Capture of the Holy
Kings often struggled with the Church over power and land, both trying desperately to obtain them, both committing atrocities to hold onto them. Time and time again, the Popes of the postclassical period went to great extremes to secure the Church’s position in the world. Both the Crusades and the Inquisition are examples of this. D...
General revelation is different than special revelation. General revelation is available to everyone, anywhere in the world and can be seen as God revealing himself in the world around us. In contrast, special revelation includes miracles, prophets, and special messages received from God. Special revelation show God’s revelation of himself through the Bible and Jesus Christ. The true and accurate record of special revelation is found in the Bible. The greatest special revelation is found in Jesus Christ as God who took on flesh and came to earth and ultimately suffered and died for us.
Around the crown: "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men - Luke, chapter II, verse 14."
Later around 792 BCE, the writing prophets come about with the powerful speaker Amos. Amos says a bunch of things that no one wants to hear such as the downfall of Israel’s Northern Kingdom and the death of the King. Then he really upsets everyone by saying that Israel will be sent into exile.
Revelation identifies itself as “both an “apocalypse”…and as prophecy”, making it distinctly different from the rest of the New Testament. “Jewish apocalyptic literature flourished in the centuries following the completion of the OT canon”, and it is scattered throughout the Old Testaments in books such as Daniel, Ezekiel, and Isaiah. Apocalyptic literature is full of “visions that dramatize the prophet’s admission to God’s heavenly council”, and convey their meaning primarily through symbolism. John brings a “balanced message of comfort, warning, and rebuke” in Revelation, testifying to the end of the world and the second coming of Jesus Christ. Apart from the OT literature, Revelation shows a distinct optimism toward the end of days, for “Christ’s death has already won the decisive victory over evil”, with the Kingdom of God already among believers. This book was written in “approximately A.D. 95 on the island of Patmos”, which is still standing to this day. It was written under the emperor Domitian, with Roman authorities exiling John “to the island of Patmos (off the coast of Asia)”. The events in Revelation are also “ordered
Literalist fundamentalists read Revelation’s multivalent visions as predictions of doom and threat, of punishment for the many and salvation for the elect few. Scholarly scientific readings seek to translate the book’s ambiguity into one-to-one meanings and to transpose its language of symbol and myth into description and facts. In Elisabeth Schûssler Fiorenza’s The Book of Revelation: Justice and Judgment, a third way of reading Revelation is depicted. The collection of essays in this book seeks to intervene in scholarly as well as popular discourses on the apocalypse from a liberationist feminist perspective.
According to the American Heritage dictionary, revelation is “an act of revealing” or “a dramatic disclosure “(American Heritage dictionary). The current definition given does not provide any real information, if the word reveal is not
Religion has three functions, and the ancient Egyptians had a strong understanding and reasoning for all three. They had answered ultimate questions: After death was the afterlife, they needed to obey the Gods to be successful, etc. It brought everyone together during ceremonies and rituals like the burials ceremonies, etc.
The Holy Spirit is often time defined as the comforter or helper. The Holy Spirit is conveyed as a presence not a mystical being. When I think of the Holy Spirit I see him as not only my comforter or helper but also the one who completes the trinity. The trinity is the divine manifestation of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has strong emotions for us believers. One way the Holy Spirit reacts to us rejecting his help against sin or simply rebelling is by him being grieved. Ephesians 4:30 reads “And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” The sins we commit brings mourning to the Holy Spirit.
The Bible calls Christians to be holy, from the beginning of time all the way to the very end of time, “Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined” (Titus 1:8 The New International Version Bible). The term holy can only be achieved through the work of the Holy Spirit that guides Christians and through the Holy Spirit they are given the fruits of the spirit. In this study of Holy verses Good, it will be looked at from the point of view of false fruits, the importance of spiritual practices and discipline and how they are important, it will be shown how Christians despite being in a fallen world are made holy and how through the relationship of the Holy Spirit Christians are