Book Of Revelation Research Paper
A definition of the apocalyptic literature and its significance for understanding the book of Revelation is the fact that apocalyptic literature is full of symbols and imagery that are conveyed into messages and the book of Revelation contains lots of symbols that the Lord uses to message His people.
In other words, the apocalyptic literature tells stories and predicaments by the use of symbols, images and numbers. The word apocalypse comes from a Greek word which means something uncovered or revealed. As for the book of Revelation which means to reveal. It is where Jesus reveals Himself and explains to John the continued work he does for his people from heaven. Revelation also gives us an intimate glimpse of Jesus’ plans for his people, his …show more content…
love for them and the plan to rid the world of sin. Throughout the book of Revelation, Jesus uses imagery and symbols to reveal Himself and it also conveyed messages to His people on what is to come and about his eminent return for his obedient people. Knowing how difficult it is to understand prophecy and its imagery, the apocalyptic literature helps with the understanding of this book.
When reading Revelation chapter 1 it contained several imageries, numbers and symbols.
For example the number seven, in the book reveals that the number seven is an important part as it was mentioned over fifty times throughout the book and of that several times throughout chapter one. A few cases in Chapter One are when John mentioned the seven churches in verse 4, Jesus stands among the seven candlesticks in verse 12, and seven spirits hang around God’s throne in also verse 4, and much more throughout the book. The apocalyptic literature has allowed the messages to be clearer for people to understand the key to this book. The number seven according to the bible simply represents completion. According to Genesis chapter 1 Jesus our creator used seven literal days to create the whole world, Pharaoh dreams of seven years of plenty and seven years of famine, there are seven deadly sins, Passover is celebrated for seven days and the lists goes on. Another example from the book of Revelation is the bodies of water. Ocean, seas, lakes, and rivers are mentioned a lot in Revelation, some of them from chapter one are river turns to blood in verse 9, loads of fresh water is poisoned when the star falls to Earth in verse 11, and fire gets thrown in the sea in verse 8 and much more throughout the book. After reading, I got the understanding that when the Lord mentions the bodies of water he is talking about the people. So because of things like these where imagery, numbers, and
symbols are used a lot, the apocalyptic literature helps by making the understanding of Revelation easier.
It is like in Isaiah 28 verse 10 “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little”. This text it clearly reveals that the bible also interprets itself. In my opinion, without the apocalyptic literature the understanding the book of revelation would have been an impossible task. Jesus used symbols, imagery, and numbers to appeal to people who are serious about developing an intimate relationship with Him. Jesus who is the creator of us all has the authority to reveal himself in whichever way he chooses to and in this way he chose to use imagery, symbols, and numbers.
In other words, the apocalyptic literature tells stories and predicaments by the use of symbols, images and numbers. The word apocalypse comes from a Greek word which means something uncovered or revealed. As for the book of Revelation which means to reveal. It is where Jesus reveals Himself and explains to John the continued work he does for his people from heaven. Revelation also gives us an intimate glimpse of Jesus’ plans for his people, his …show more content…
love for them and the plan to rid the world of sin. Throughout the book of Revelation, Jesus uses imagery and symbols to reveal Himself and it also conveyed messages to His people on what is to come and about his eminent return for his obedient people. Knowing how difficult it is to understand prophecy and its imagery, the apocalyptic literature helps with the understanding of this book.
When reading Revelation chapter 1 it contained several imageries, numbers and symbols.
For example the number seven, in the book reveals that the number seven is an important part as it was mentioned over fifty times throughout the book and of that several times throughout chapter one. A few cases in Chapter One are when John mentioned the seven churches in verse 4, Jesus stands among the seven candlesticks in verse 12, and seven spirits hang around God’s throne in also verse 4, and much more throughout the book. The apocalyptic literature has allowed the messages to be clearer for people to understand the key to this book. The number seven according to the bible simply represents completion. According to Genesis chapter 1 Jesus our creator used seven literal days to create the whole world, Pharaoh dreams of seven years of plenty and seven years of famine, there are seven deadly sins, Passover is celebrated for seven days and the lists goes on. Another example from the book of Revelation is the bodies of water. Ocean, seas, lakes, and rivers are mentioned a lot in Revelation, some of them from chapter one are river turns to blood in verse 9, loads of fresh water is poisoned when the star falls to Earth in verse 11, and fire gets thrown in the sea in verse 8 and much more throughout the book. After reading, I got the understanding that when the Lord mentions the bodies of water he is talking about the people. So because of things like these where imagery, numbers, and
symbols are used a lot, the apocalyptic literature helps by making the understanding of Revelation easier.
It is like in Isaiah 28 verse 10 “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little”. This text it clearly reveals that the bible also interprets itself. In my opinion, without the apocalyptic literature the understanding the book of revelation would have been an impossible task. Jesus used symbols, imagery, and numbers to appeal to people who are serious about developing an intimate relationship with Him. Jesus who is the creator of us all has the authority to reveal himself in whichever way he chooses to and in this way he chose to use imagery, symbols, and numbers.