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The '''[[Image:PatmosV.JPG|thumb|right|Cave of the Apocalypse''', or - View of [[Patmos]]]][[Image:Patmos.JPG|thumb|right|Inside the '''Book of Revelation''', it has been said, is impossible to know outside Cave of the Apocalypse]][[Divine LiturgyImage:JohnTheologian.JPG|Liturgythumb|right|[[John the Theologian]], and it is certainly spiritually dangerous to try to read too deeply into it, especially if one has been a long time distant from [[Holy Communion]].
==History==This book is generally attributed to [[Saint|StThere are a number of possible explanations for both of these devices.]] [[John Orthodox tradition identifies 85 AD as the Theologian]]time of Revelation's final creation, one of placing the Twelve [[Apostles]], author and written as he was exiled his audience in a time of intense persecution under the Roman Emperor Domitian. Other scholars alternatively suggest the island of Patmos towards Neronian persecutions as the end time of his lifeRevelation's creation. The book itself has been one of In either case, it appears as though Revelation was written during a historical period hostile to the many to drift in message and out methods of Christianity as a whole. It may be that Revelation's author both adopted his symbolic style and utilized a tightly-knit parallel structure to obscure the [[Bible]] canon, and Christianity story enough to save it certainly is controversial; [[heterodox]] opinion itself is not always certain that it actually is [[prophecy]], or even referring to from destruction yet still communicate its central message. Only those already familiar with the Jewish symbolism from which he borrows so heavily will understand the end original meanings of the world, those symbols and comprehend the [[Last Judgment]]. <!-- Well, feel free new message which he is trying to expand.communicate.. --->
==The text== The writings of Fr. [[Seraphim Rose]] are a good starting point. Within the book there Another alternative or additional possibility is a certain metaphor that Revelation forces would-be Christian scholars to tackle its very intricate and symbolismcomplicated imagery, forcing them to delve into the Jewish history, tradition, and it is important to note that this symbolism can have more than one meaningtexts from which Christianity springs. The number seven is often used to represent permanenceThis, too, as this was fits the day historical situation of the completion of [[Creation]]; the woman can represent the [[early Church]], which moved further and further from its Jewish roots as Christianity became more and more Hellenized; no matter what school of thought one favors, a mastery of the serpent Satan; and other things we will likely not understand until orthodox Jewish texts is critical to a full understanding of the end comesRevelator's message.
The Book of Revelation is best divided into three parts:
*those things that have occured,
*those things that are in the process of happening, and
*those things that have yet to be. <!-- Various discussions with my parish priest. --->
===Those things that have occurred===
Satan's fall from Heaven, as well as, in some understandings, the thousand-year reign of [[Christ]] ('one thousand' is likely used symbolically rather than an absolute value), or, in Orthodox understanding, the Church. It is important to remember that the [[Second Coming]] is described as "like lightning from the east to west," and that Christ Himself warns of those who come claiming to be Him. <!-- (Please, if you are knowledgeable in the subject, expand) --->
===Those things that are in the process of happening===
Well, many things, in modern times it is not hard to think that evil reigns; we certainly have wars and rumors of wars. There is an ongoing drive towards one Church, and perhaps the time when the Church will hide in the desert is not far off.
===Those things that have yet to be===
These are many, and are cataclysmic. The stars falling from the sky, the fall of the city referred to as Babylon, the return of the two prophets Elijah and Enoch (who were taken to heaven and didn't yet pass through physical death). <!-- Please expand --->
Neither! The view of the Orthodox Church can best be described as "amillenialist"; that is , holding to the teaching that the thousand-year reign of Christ years mentioned in the Apocalypse refers to the current, and perhaps long-past, time of the reign age of the Church, which in places such as Russia, Greece, and Constantinople, was practically literal.
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The '''Apocalypse of St. John''', or the '''Book of Revelation''', is the last book of the Bible, and in most traditions is believed to cover those events which surround the end of the world, and the ''Last Judgement''.
"We must have humility when approaching [[Scripture]]. Even some of the Church's greatest and most philosophically sophisticated [[saint]]s stated that some passages were difficult for them. We must therefore be prepared to admit that our interpretations may be wrong, submitting them to the judgment of the Church." —from the article on [[Hermeneutics]]
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==History==
According to Tradition, the Apocalypse was written by [[Saint|St.]] [[John the Theologian]], one of the Twelve [[Apostles]], while he was in exile on the island of Patmos towards the end of his life.
The book finally was accepted into the [[Canon]] after much dispute.
==Methods of interpretation==
There are a variety of ways to interpret the book of Revelation, and many of these methods overlap.
Some read the book of Revelation as entirely symbolic. This type of interpretation is often called Idealism, and "translates" the symbols found in the book as universal symbols depicting the clash between good and evil.
Others read Revelation as a book containing symbolism regarding events entirely contained in the past--in this school of interpretation, Revelation is about what has already happened, and not what will happen in the future. This is often called the Preterist (from Latin, meaning "Past") school of interpretation. In this school of thought, Revelation uses preexisting Jewish symbolism the depict and explain the immediate and pressing concerns of the author.
Still others read the book as a book of speculative prophecy, literally portraying the apocalyptic end of time in which the glorified Christ will come to earth and usher in Judgment Day. While not all people who adopt this Futurist method insist on interpreting every symbol as literally as possible, this is by far the most common interpretation in fundamentalist camps. Another method, similar in methodology, is the Historicist school, which identifies some of Revelation as occurring in the past and some as occurring in the future—often, this method applies the imagery of Revelation to major historical events, i.e., equating the plague of locusts with the spread of Islam throughout medieval Europe.
Another fairly recent and somewhat theologically liberal school of thought pays special attention to Revelation 19.10, in which an angel tells the author, "The spirit of prophecy is the testimony of Jesus Christ." In this light, some argue, Revelation is a depiction of the story of Jesus, using symbols related to Jesus and the Jewish traditions which he both followed and fulfilled. Typically, this school borrows heavily from the Preterist and Idealist schools, but sometimes from the Futurist and Historicist schools of interpretation as well.
==Literary devices==
Symbolism plays a key role in the book of Revelation, and is modeled after similar works, particularly the Book of Daniel, which seems to portray concrete events with highly-developed symbols. Portions of other Old Testament works follow this pattern, such as Ezekiel and Jeremiah. As much as 90% of Revelation's text is borrowed from previous Jewish texts, the Talmud, and is often reframed. Accordingly, most of the scenes and symbols used in Revelation utilize preexisting Jewish imagery, and often seem to represent Christian events from a Jewish perspective.
Parallel structure also plays a large part in Revelation as a work of literature. For example, the story of two witnesses in chapter 11, raised to life by the Spirit of God, strongly parallels the following story in chapter 12, in which symbols opposite the witnesses—the Dragon, specifically, and others by extension—are raised to life by an anti-spirit opposing God.
==Common question: ''Pre- or post-millennialism''==
==The Last Judgment==
''The Soul after Death'' by Fr. [[Seraphim Rose ]] is an excellent reference for this.
==Sources==
(The ''American Tract Society Bible Dictionary'' is a dictionary of the Holy Bible, for general use in the study of the scriptures; with engravings, maps, and tables. ''Its copyrights have expired''. Previously published in New York by the American Tract society [c1859]. Rand, W. W. (William Wilberforce), 1816-1909, ed.)
==Related linkExternal links==*[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/index.php?Version=31&search=Revelation ''Revelation'' at Bible Gateway of Gospel Communications (various translations)]*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Revelation Wikipedia: Book of Revelation]
[[Category:New Testament]]
[[Categoryel:ScriptureΑποκάλυψις Ιωάννου]][[ro:Apocalipsa Sfântului Ioan Teologul]]
