Apocalypse Of John: Does The Book Of Revelation Tell a Story, Explain Past Events Or Foretell Of The End Of Days?The apocalypse of John is an ancient text that has been included as the last chapter of the NIV Bible- it is the Book Of Revelation. In other areas on this website I have appended several passages of this chapter in an attempt to explain some of my thoughts about it.
This is the grand-daddy of them all when it comes to predicting the end of the world as we know it...Or is it? It should not alarm or surprise anyone that a text this old (2000 years or so old) has been read by many people who have had extremely different views as to its meaning. Some say it is a literal expression of how events will unfold as the last days of the world draw near. Others explain that it was a prophecy that was not only predicted but also came true in the times immediately following Jesus' time on earth. Others still see it as a work of a man trying to warn others not to fall into the traps associated with adopting the Roman lifestyles of the times. Yet more argue that it is a work of fiction and has no place in the Bible. Who authored it and when it was written is argued. The purpose of it and who it was meant to reach is argued. The symbology is argued. Whether it was authored by one person or edited by many is still another point not settled. The apocalypse of John is written almost entirely as an explanation of what John saw and recorded. He was warned, he says, to not edit the text so that the meanings would not be diluted or altered. Of the most popular views (as judged by me based on what I have learned about the subject as I grew up...) I believe is that the apocalypse of John is an attempt by him to record what he believed to be a divine revealing. His text is on the one hand very cryptic with its symbology but at the same time very consistent (if you asked me...that is arguable too) in its message that good will prevail and a kingdom of peace will reign. Reading this text leads us to a very frightening place. It is a place where those who have not followed the path set for us by our maker will suffer his wrath. This is the cleansing of evil, in fact, the actual victory of Jesus over Satan. Those who have poisoned the world with Satan's lies must be removed, and it is to be done in a horrifying manner. Fire, torment, famine, plague, despair, death, and destruction all converge upon those that need removal. The remainder are allowed to stay in the newly formed kingdom and are introduced to the rewards of a peaceful life. Getting here is not easy however... to reach the other side one must survive the tribulations- a seven year period described in the apocalypse of John that says much suffering will occur even for the faithful. The imaginative nature of the texts tell me that either this was truly a vision or the author was extremely creative. The symbology has been studied for centuries and has had multiple books written about it. In its most basic form, it is a story of good finally triumphantly overcoming evil. In the complicated symbology we see ties to astrology, history, the future, and even to entire civilizations. What ever it is that you believe, the apocalypse of john found in the Book of Revelation is an extremely interesting read. Search around this site and you can find other references to it, search the internet and stand by for more than you can absorb in a month of reading, and when you are bored...you can find many movies that discuss it or parts of it. Who ever John was he sure made his mark on the world...we're still arguing about his meanings thousands of years later!
Be Good! Curt
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