Thats the reason jesus is continually called the lamb in the book of revelation even though he is also the son of god, the root of jesse, the lion of judah, and the king of kings. The events portrayed in revelation are full of symbolism, imagery, and metaphor, with a wide range of interpretations as to how the events should be perceived. Join pastor michael yuricha as he begins to unpack chapter 1 of the book of revelation. The basic medium of expression in the book of revelation is symbolism.
In particular, two truths concerning the divine nature of jesus are presented in revelation chapter one. The chronology of revelation details a series of events which take place in the book of revelation, detailing by some accounts the final judgement of god on the world, in the final book of the christian bible. The purpose of the book is to encourage and admonish the church to be steadfast and endure. Jesus christ, the lamb of god, rules a world of peace, popularly known as the millennium. The topic of gods wrath is enormous and it requires study to understand the right balance between gods mercy and gods justice. By steven bancarz it is sometimes suggested that the book of revelation describes a blackskinned jesus. However, john presents jesus in a different light from the other three. Additionally, john wrote the epistles of john and the book of revelation. The story of jesus continually portrayed jesus message as a challenge to sight. Though traditionally, revelation has been seen as set in the context of intense. Common misinterpretations about the end times book of. Churches are portrayed as lamps on lampstands, and so on.
In the final moments of the message, i gave a quick tour of how god reveals himself in every book of the bible. The focus on jesus christ is seen throughout the book. The book of revelation was written sometime around 96 ce in asia minor. The concluding book of the new testament begins in the following fashion. Below is a breakdown of how he is pictured in each of the books. Biblical scenes portrayed revelation 1, jesus among the candlesticks revelation 4, the throne scene revelation 5, the crisis of sealed scroll revelation 6, the seals opened and related events revelation 7, the great multitude. In revelation, jesus also has a special saving role to play in. Revelation of jesus 11, seven churches philadelphia. The risen christ the portrayal of jesus in the book of revelation is dramatically different to that of the gospels. Jesus is portrayed in this vision as having a robe with a golden sash, white hair, eyes like blazing fire, feet like bronze and a voice like rushing waters.
In each of them, jesus is presented in a special way. Revelation 5 records johns vision in heaven just before the lamb opens the scroll containing the seven seals of judgment to be poured out upon the earth. Names or titles of jesus in the book of revelation. The first place we see jesus in the book of revelation, he is referred to as one like the son of man rev. Jesus is presented in revelation as the christ who died for us, loves us, covers our sin, provides our robes made white by washing them in red blood. He holds seven stars in his right hand and has a doubleedged sword coming out of his mouth. The details of the vision are not a literal portrayal of the earthly life and ascension of jesus, but the details definitely call those circumstances to mind. Lesson 3 jesus in the book of revelation 2nd quarter. The book of revelation provides closure to the past, a revelation of jesus christ at present, and a perfect fulfillment of all prophecy in the future.
Jesus in all the books of the bible how is jesus revealed in every bible book from genesis to revelation. The depth of the symbol of the slain lamb is great, but basically it speaks of how god passes over our sins because of jesus sacrifice on the cross. Jesus is portrayed in this vision as having a robe with a golden sash, white. Biblical literature the revelation to john britannica. He continues the journey with his trademark narrative and easytounderstand approach. Since the subject is the book of revelation, i suppose you are minded with your belief in a big bang billion years ago to think that jesus s return will be billions of years in the future, and that when he institutes a new heaven and earth, that universe too will take billions of years to form. Understanding the seven trumpets of revelation gods purpose. The book itself tells us, right at the beginning, what it is about, but because of the way it is translated into english, we can read right over it and miss the book s own declaration of its contents. This vision of jesus is a composite symbolic theologya compelling picture using the rhetorical device of ekphrasis, the description of a real or imagined work of art.
In fact, matthew, mark, and luke are called the synoptic gospels because they are so similar. Revelation is indeed a strange book but as we look closely and encounter its strangeness, we. Along these lines tremper longman portrays jesus as just as violent as the yahweh warrior of the old testament longman is not alone, as i. He is a glorious savior, and we need him to be both harshly just with sinners, and we need him to be tenderly merciful toward those who repent. The book describes two ages of human existence, each contrary to the other. Biblical literature biblical literature the revelation to john. The book of revelation uses symbols to portray the great controversy between good and evil. In our study of the book of revelation, we must remember that john writes of events that are signified and of things which must shortly take place rev. Where was john when jesus appears to him in his glorified state. This topic is covered in more detail in my book, jesus, the alpha and the omega. On plagues, judgement, and the book of revelation psephizo. The first symbolic character is a pregnant woman clothed in the sun. So, he said that these 42 generations or 1,260 years marked the period from the birth of jesus until the end he saw predicted in revelation.
Satan, the dragon, the adversary of god, dominates this present world. The movie depicts scenes from the book of revelation and links them to events happening to the church in asia. The book of revelation this reading plan will introduce. Are the seven seals of the book of revelation unfolding. The woman, who represents faithful israel, gave birth to the messiah, jesus christ. According to some, and i am relieved that it has only been a few, covid19 is proof that the plagues of the book of revelation, in particular the seven seals of revelation 6. John is here portraying jesus death on the cross as the result of his faithfulness as gods anointed one, a pattern of faithfulness in a hostile.
He then looked identified particular events and individuals in christian history as fulfilling elements in revelation in a continuum from the days of jesus until his own time. Ken wade begins the third volume of journey through the bible by sharing fresh insights into the life of jesus as portrayed by the gospel writers. Jesus identifies himself to john as the living one who was dead but now is alive forever and ever rev. The book of revelation is a revelation of jesus, a prophecy of the great controversy between good and evil that has been playing out in human history and is now reaching its climax at the end of time. Jesus as holy warrior in the book of revelation jesus creed a. This means that instead of portraying characters and events directly and literally, john the evangelist pictures them indirectly by means of symbols. Revelation portrays and compares two opposing ways of life. We are immediately told that this book contains the revelation of jesus christ.
Behold jesus christ, the lion of the tribe of judah in all his glory. Where is the cross found in the book of revelation. Christians have been struggling with the book of revelation almost s. Revelation 5 provides a fantastic detail of jesus in the book, i find it really cool that the lamb is portrayed as a lion, because the two types of. Jesus in every book of the bible jesus plus nothing. Chapters 2 and 3 are messages from jesus to his churches, chapters 4 and 5 are a heavenly scene with jesus in view to prepare the reader to know that he is righteous in all the tribulation that will follow. The symbol of a lamb is the most common way jesus is portrayed in the book of revelation. What the bible says about revelation of jesus christ. They needed a remindera revelation of the true message of jesus. Most christians are familiar with this symbol and know not to take it literally. Twentyeight times in this document jesus is portrayed as a lamb. The description of jesus in the book of revelation is heavily symbolic, appears during a transcendent mystical vision, and has nothing whatsoever to do with the historical jesus. The final two chapters provide an excellent presentation of the book of revelation that uncovers the past and points toward johns vision for the future.
Jesus is portrayed as a lamb and a lion and a warrior on a horse, for example. If jesus had not become the lamb of god, there wouldnt be a multitude of. In the final moments of the message, i gave a quick tour of how god reveals himself in every book. Is the jesus in revelation the same as the jesus in the. Im not sure whether this person wants me to assure them that the gospel jesus is the revelation jesus or that the revelation. Unlike, say, the gospel of mark, where jesus is portrayed as pretty human and separate from god. Johns vision of the son of man is described in the scriptural revelation 1. Jesus is called the lamb nearly 30 times in the book of revelation. The revelation of jesus christ a commentary on the book. Many believe that jesus christ is portrayed by the first of the wellknown four apocalyptic horsemen, or the rider of the white horse in revelation 6. During my last message of the real questions people ask series, i ended it by teaching about the bible itself.
To highlight the nonliteral mode of revelation, the author employs fantasy, which is always characteristic of apocalyptic writing. The lion and the lamb, jesus christ unlocking the bible. The symbolic nature of the portrayal of jesus in revelation the. Journey through the bible 3 matthew to revelation on. This argument is usually put forth by the black hebrew israelites as an apologetic for black people being the real jews, and the verses used to support this idea are in revelation 1. John sees a vision of the risen, ascended and glorified jesus christ, whom he describes as one like the son of man verse. Why is jesus portrayal in revelations not that popular. This passage is an interpretive key to the whole book, because we know the referent the realities to which the symbols point. In the book of revelation, jesus shows himself to be god just like his father. He is pictured or prophesied about in each of the 66 bible books as well as in countless types in the lives of different characters in the bible. In revelation, jesus also has a special saving role to play in the world as the son of god.
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