Apocalypse Gospel of John. Revelation of John the Evangelist

All believing Christians must read the Bible and try to follow all its instructions. However, there is one book in Holy Scripture that is very difficult to understand and filled with symbolism. We are talking about the book of the Apocalypse, or the Revelation of John the Theologian. What does this most mysterious part of the Bible tell us?

Introduction to the apocalypse

The entire Bible is a spiritual book filled with symbols and comparisons. But most of all allegories, examples and images hide the Revelation of John the Theologian. The Apocalypse cannot be read and interpreted by itself, in isolation from the entire Christian teaching as a whole.

Important! It is advisable for ordinary believers to start reading the Apocalypse only after they have thoroughly studied the Old and New Testaments, as well as the Tradition of the Holy Fathers.

The great value of this book is that in it you can find answers to global questions about Christianity. The Apocalypse tells us that the Lord came into this world to save all mankind. In addition, the book presents the image of Heavenly Jerusalem - the place future life all believers.

Vision of John the Evangelist

An important place in the narrative is occupied by the description of the earthly Church and the various troubles and plagues that befall this world. On the one hand, these misfortunes are the background for the holiness of the Church of Christ to be visible. On the other hand, it is a way to call people to repentance.

The Apocalypse warns Christians against the dangers of living in a world ruled by paganism. real christian must neglect the comforts of the world for Christ's sake, in spite of so many dangers. At all times, Christians have been persecuted, if not officially, then ideologically. In the time of John the Evangelist, refusing to bow to a pagan Roman emperor could result in execution, and many early Christians accepted this martyrdom.

Stories of martyrs:

Another danger is to start adapting to a changing world and lose faith in Christ in it. A large number of temptations can lead to the fact that a person gets tired of fighting for his faith and wants to live like everyone else - with comfort and wealth. Thus, Revelation tells us that the times will come when the faithful children of Christ will not be able to buy and sell anything, i.e. carry on the usual everyday life, as everybody.

In this context, we see the image of the Whore of Babylon, which is identified with the city of Babylon itself. Parallels are drawn with modern world - big cities where all possible comforts and joys are available, which easily leads a Christian astray. And now the Apocalypse in chapter 18 shows us the result of such a life - the trial of the harlot and her execution. This is exactly what the sinful world expects if people do not repent.

Antichrist and the end of the world

Perhaps the most mysterious image that we see in this book is the Antichrist. He appears as two animals. The first of them comes out of the sea and acts roughly, by direct persecution. The other comes out of the earth and inflicts harm more subtly, by seduction and cunning.

Antichrist will come at the end of time to wrestle with Christ for eternal destiny human souls

The eschatological approach is expressed in drawing parallels between the Roman Empire and the sinful world. Rome begins to literally eat itself, choking in the streams of sin and sinful pleasures. John the Theologian, through his book, warns that such a death awaits the whole world as a whole.

The image of the Church of Christ in Revelation

John the Theologian builds the image of Christ's Church as opposed to the image of the Babylonian harlot. The Church is shown as a place of salvation for the souls of believing Christians, where they can come to know God and the fullness of communion with Him.

The Apocalypse shows us an ancient church tradition about the possible paths of human life. The first path that most unbelieving people follow is the path of a short temporary enjoyment of the pleasures of earthly life, followed by eternal death and darkness. The other path chosen by the faithful children of Christ is the path of salvation, joy and eternal life with God in paradise. At the same time, these people will have sorrows on earth, but they are incomparable with the bliss that awaits them in Eternity.

Interesting! The image of the Church is described in the book in great detail, with many examples, allegories, and parables.

At first glance, it is very difficult to understand these texts, but in the end it all comes down to the fact that the Church of Christ appears in greatness, beauty and holiness, and the sinful world disappears into the abyss forever. This is exactly the end of the world that will happen after the Second Coming of Christ.

Christ and the Bride Church

It is precisely these positive images of the Church and Heavenly Jerusalem that should inspire faith that a person follows the path of Christ not in vain, that at the end of his earthly life he will find eternal bliss with the Lord, as a result of a righteous life. It is very important to use such positive examples from the Apocalypse to strengthen the sermons and convince the believers. In this case, this book will not look so gloomy and will no longer be perceived solely as a guide to the end of the world.

About the symbolism of numbers

A large number of symbols gives the book a special mystery and allows you to look at events in the world in a generalized way. For example, John the Theologian says that the eyes denote the vision of something, and a large number of eyes - the absolute vision. Jerusalem and all Israel are associated with the Church of Christ. White is a symbol of innocence, purity and holiness.

Numbers are also important. So, the number three means the Holy Trinity, four - the worldly order. Seven is the blessed number of harmony. Twelve - Church.

The number 666 deserves special attention, which is considered the magical "number of the beast" and sometimes scares even experienced Christians. The unambiguous interpretation of this number is still unclear and remains unsolved. Apparently, its exact value will come when suitable conditions come for this.

There is a theory that 666 is a decrease from 777. Three sevens symbolize God's grace, while its decrease means devilish darkness. In any case, the number 666 remains the "number of the beast" and there will come a time when humanity will know exactly its meaning.

Many Christians are afraid of the inscription of this number on themselves, as a symbol of rejection from God. Indeed, the Apocalypse tells us that there will come a time when the mark of the beast will be placed on the forehead or hand, and then such a person will lose salvation and eternal life.

Many Christians are afraid of the mark of the number of the beast from the book of Revelation

However, we cannot take these lines literally. Not a single mark in itself is capable of depriving a person of faith in God. Therefore, you need to understand this place in figuratively- that there will come a time when every person will face a choice. The kingdom of Antichrist will spread everywhere throughout the earth, and people will have to choose - to live in the comfort of earthly life and lose the salvation of an eternal soul, or to endure oppression now, but taste eternal bliss.

Important! Actually, this is the main and main meaning of the book of the Apocalypse - to show a person two ways of life, worldly and spiritual.

John the Theologian makes it clear that the fate of people who have chosen the path of a rich and comfortable, but godless, life on earth is unenviable. And, on the contrary, those of the people who will endure to the end all the hardships and oppressions that have befallen Christians in large numbers in recent times will receive a great reward for their longsuffering.

Before the appearance of each of the riders, God's Angel removes one of the seven seals from the Book of Life. Each of these seals symbolizes a certain era of the struggle between evil and good, which can be traced both on the scale of the entire Church and on the scale of the life of an individual person. The removal of the last seal marked the vision of God's Angels - the next image of the Apocalypse.

To foreshadow various disasters and persecutions, the Angels of God blow one of the seven trumpets. The sound of each of them means some kind of trouble. First, part of the plant world dies, then fish and animals, then rivers and all water are poisoned. Thus, the coming of the Antichrist will be preceded by a catastrophe of the ecology of the entire Earth. People will forget about God so much that they will stop appreciating and protecting the world created by Him.

After the foreshadowing of disasters, Revelation tells us about the vision of seven bowls, which describe in detail the general moral decline and the flowering of vice. This part of the book tells from the future of God's Judgment on the persecutors of the Church of Christ.

The next image that this book draws is the two prophets of the Apocalypse. They will appear shortly before the end of the world to announce to all mankind about the coming arrival of the Antichrist and the subsequent Second Coming of Christ. These prophets will be killed by the beast, but the Lord will resurrect his faithful servants.

The greatest and last attack on the Church of Christ is shown in the form of a Woman clothed in the sun. Radiance means the light of truth, and torment means pain for every person who, by his sins, has removed himself from God.

Important! Thus, all the symbolism of the Apocalypse shows us a certain path that both the Church as a whole and each person personally travels. This is the path of beginning and end, birth and death, development and decline. A person cannot but pass this way, but he is free to choose exactly how to pass it and what his eternal fate will be as a result.

Despite the fact that the entire Revelation consists entirely of images and comparisons, we cannot fully understand their meaning. Many of the meanings of this book are revealed as the events described in it unfold. Therefore, one should not try to interpret everything written - the right time will come for this.

Revelation of Saint John the Evangelist

And Jesus says in the Gospel: “It is not for you to know the times and seasons that the Father has set in His own power”(Acts 1:7), but He Himself adds: “See that that day does not come upon you suddenly: for like a snare it will find on all who live all over the face of the earth” (Luke 21:34, 35) . Jesus' fears are understandable, since the Bible does not allow us to predict the times and dates of the coming of the Antichrist's kingdom. To fill this gap in Christian eschatology is given to the Revelation of John. The beloved disciple of Jesus, the Holy Apostle John the Theologian, was imprisoned on the island of Patmos during the persecution of Christians under Emperor Domitian in 96, where he received the Revelation about the fate of the world and the end of world history.

Revelation begins with the Epistles to the seven churches: “So write in a book what you saw, and what is, and what will happen after this ... and send to the churches that are in Asia: to Ephesus and Smyrna, and to Pergamum and Thyatira, and to Sardis, and to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea” (Rev. 1:19, 11). From the interpretation it will become clear that the Epistles to the Seven Churches signify the seven periods or epochs in the history of the Church from its founding to "end of the century" and at present the Church is in the last "Laodicean" stage.

Comparison of the words of Jesus Christ about signs "end of the world" in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 24, with the text of the Apocalypse, suggests that these signs mean two world wars and the persecution of the Church in the USSR during the years of Soviet power. From the interpretation it will become clear that in the vision of the “four horsemen” of the 6th chapter of Revelation, the history of Russia in the 20th century is presented symbolically as six seals Apocalypse, and the revolution in Russia in 1917 should be regarded as a "rehearsal of the Apocalypse", which precedes the coming of the Antichrist into the world. From the interpretation it will become clear that we are currently living under the sign of the fourth seal.

Removal of the first six seals in the 6th chapter of Revelation ends with a vision of the Judgment of God and the Second glorious coming to Earth of the Lord Jesus Christ: “For the great day of His wrath has come, and who can stand?”(Rev. 6:17). Therefore, the opening of the seventh seal in the 8th chapter of Revelation should be considered as a recapitulation or repetition of the content of the 6th chapter of Revelation, but from a different angle and angle of view. Trumpets of the seven angels once again they warn humanity, mired in sins, about the approach of the kingdom of Antichrist.

Revelation speaks of two prophets Apocalypse (Rev. ch. 11). Their role is to warn mankind of the coming of the kingdom of Antichrist and of the imminent Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Sermon two witnesses will fulfill the prediction of the Apostle Paul (Rom. ch. 9-11) about the conversion of the Jews to Christian faith at the end of world history. Sermon two witnesses will end with their death and resurrection "in the streets of the great city, which is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt, where our Lord was crucified"(Rev. 11:7-11). The destruction of this "great city" which in the 18th chapter of Revelation is allegorically called "Babylon". From the interpretation it will become clear that Moscow was meant here.

The identity of the Antichrist allows us to identify the vision of "the great harlot sitting on the scarlet beast" in the 17th chapter of Revelation, where the kingdom of the Antichrist is depicted as "the beast with seven heads"(Rev. 17:3), and the Antichrist himself is portrayed as "eighth king" And "one of the seven kings". The same is said in the 13th chapter of Revelation: “And authority was given to him over every tribe and people and tongue and nation, and all who dwell on the earth will worship him” (Rev. 13: 7-8). The establishment of the kingdom of the Anti-Christ, as well as the coming turmoil: the global economic crisis and the third world war should put an end to modern civilization.

The second grief of the Apocalypse will be the war in the Middle East against Iran "by the great river Euphrates"(Rev. 9:14). This war is predicted in the vision of the "cavalry army".

Andrei Mazurkevich

For almost two thousand years, Christians have been rereading with curiosity and fear the last of the books of the New Testament, which the Church calls prophetic, but does not bless reading during divine services. This book is full of strange and frightening images related to the end of human history: it tells about the battle of the heavenly army with the forces of Satan, about the disasters that will befall those living in the last times, about the reign of the Antichrist ... But it also announces the greatest joy - the final victory of Christ and the salvation of all who have remained faithful to Him.

Under what circumstances was this book written? And what does her prophecy have to do with us living here and now?

They say that no one knows the real name of the author of the Apocalypse. Why do Christians believe that this is John the Evangelist?

Church Tradition, that is, a two-thousand-year tradition Orthodox Church, confidently calls the author of the last book of the New Testament the saint, one of the twelve disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, whom the Lord brought close to Himself in a special way and to whom he entrusted many hidden secrets. Maybe because he knew: this disciple is the only one of the apostles who will go with Him to the very end, to the very Golgotha, who will stand near the Cross on which He will be crucified.

Firstly, the author of the book calls himself John and says that he received the Revelation when "he was on an island called Patmos, for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ" (Rev. 1 : 9). The authors of stories about the life of St. John the Theologian, for example, Eusebius of Caesarea, also mention the long-term exile to Patmos, a small Greek island in the Aegean Sea, 70 kilometers from the coast of present-day Turkey. The Roman emperor Domitian (reigned in 81-96) sent the apostle to this exile after all attempts to execute John for his fruitful preaching in the cities of Asia Minor ended in failure.

Valeria Casali/wikimedia.org/CC BY-SA 3.0

Secondly, the seven churches to which the Lord addresses through the author of the book of Revelation are, apparently, the same Christian communities in which John the Theologian also preached. Many early Christian authors - Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria, Irenaeus of Lyons and others - name the main place of John's preaching the city of Ephesus (now the vicinity of the Turkish city of Selchuk). And the author of the book of Revelation also refers primarily to the Ephesian church. But then the biographers of the Apostle John also mention "other cities of Asia Minor", where he visited with a sermon. It is very likely that these are the cities of Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea mentioned in the Revelation of John (now all these are Turkish cities and settlements).

Although the oldest manuscripts of the Revelation of John (as a rule, containing only separate fragments of the text) date only to the end of the 3rd century, early Christian authors already mentioned the existence of such a book - for example, Papias of Hierapolis (died in 130-140), Justin the Philosopher (executed in 165 ), Irenaeus of Lyon (died in the 190s). They even quote from it. None of them doubted: the Revelation was received and passed on to the Church by none other than “the disciple whom Jesus loved,” the apostle John.

But there are serious objections to the authorship of John the Theologian, aren't there?

Not all biblical scholars are convinced by these arguments and evidence. Back in the 3rd century, the Bishop of Alexandria, Dionysius the Great, doubted that the book of Revelation belongs to the authorship of the Apostle John, and such doubts are still expressed. Moreover, in Western biblical criticism it is considered almost a proven fact that the last book of the New Testament was not written by John the Theologian, but by some other author who turned out to be worthy of Revelation from above. The same Bishop Dionysius put forward a hypothesis about "prester John", adding that the tombs of two Johns were discovered in Ephesus.

First of all, skeptics are confused by the language of the Revelation of John. This book is written in Greek, as is the Gospel of John, as well as the three Epistles of John the Evangelist. But, unlike these books, in Revelation there are many grammatical and syntactic errors, roughness, deviations from the speech norm. Some of them are felt even in Russian translation, for example: “And there was a great earthquake, such as has not happened since people were on the earth. Such an earthquake! So great!”(Rev. 16 : 18). The author of the book of Revelation has a special way of inserting particles, articles, prepositions, conjunctions into speech, that is, those parts of speech that are used mostly unconsciously and determine the individual style of speech.

In addition, the discrepancy between individual theological ideas of the Gospel and the Revelation of John was noted. In the book of Revelation, all events inexorably testify to the coming end of time, as if rushing towards it. And the Evangelist John, on the contrary, all the time emphasizes that both the judgment of God and immortal life with God - the realities of the present, earthly life, and not something that should happen sometime in the future, after the Second Coming of Christ.

Icon of John the Evangelist

Is it possible, despite all this, to continue to defend the authorship of John the Theologian? Can.

Firstly, the Gospel and the book of Revelation, most likely, were written at different times (most biblical scholars are sure of this).

Secondly, they were written in completely different genres and with different tasks: the Gospel is a story about the events of the earthly life of Christ, seen through the eyes of one of His disciples, and the Revelation of John is an attempt to retell a series of visions, events mysterious and difficult to explain, for the description of which are ordinary human words may not be enough. Here it is appropriate to recall how the apostle Paul described his stay in the heavenly world: “I know about such a person (I just don’t know - in the body or out of the body: God knows) that he was caught up into paradise and heard unspeakable words that a person cannot retell "(2 Cor. 14 :3,4).

Third, it cannot be ruled out that the books of John the Theologian (all or part) were written down from his words by the disciples. Such an assumption does not in the least prevent us from considering the Apostle John as the author of all these books. After all, no one is embarrassed, for example, by the fact that the Epistle to the Romans was fixed on paper (or, rather, papyrus) not by the apostle Paul himself, but by a certain Tertius (Rom. 16 : 22). That is, stylistic differences can be explained simply by the fact that different texts spoken by John the Theologian were recorded and edited by different people.

Well, the different theological emphasis of Revelation and the Gospel of John does not mean that the teachings of these books are incompatible with each other. And there is much more in common in the content of these books than differences. Both books speak much and eloquently of the divine dignity of Christ. In both, good and evil are sharply opposed to each other. Both deal with the devil, whom God allowed to act on earth for a certain, albeit limited, time...

Is there anything known about how Revelation was written? They say that three sixes are somehow involved in this story ...

In those days when the apostle John lived, the island of Patmos, like all of Greece, was subject to Rome. Roman emperors exiled people they didn't like to Patmos. The emperor Domitian did the same with John: the successful preaching of the apostle about Christ could not please the Roman Caesar, who proclaimed himself "lord and god".

True, there are some arguments in favor of the version that John's reference to Patmos belonged to an earlier era - the time of the reign of Nero (it was put forward, in particular, by blessed Theophylact Bulgarian). Nero, the famous persecutor of Christians, was at the head of the Roman Empire in 54-68. At this time, Jerusalem had not yet been destroyed and the temple was intact - they would be wiped off the face of the earth only in 70 by the future emperor Titus. And in Revelation there are just lines that make us assume that the Jerusalem temple at the time of writing the book had not yet been destroyed, that the pagans had yet to lay siege to it: “And a reed like a rod was given to me, and it was said, Arise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and those who worship in it. And exclude the outer court of the temple and do not measure it, for it was given to the Gentiles: they will trample the holy city for forty-two months.(Rev. 11:1,2).

Miniature from The Magnificent Book of Hours of the Duke of Berry

In addition, the name of the Antichrist mentioned in Revelation - three sixes - is often deciphered as "Nero Caesar": it is this number, 666, that is obtained by adding the letters of this name, written in Hebrew and translated into numbers ...

And, on the other hand, it is clear from Revelation that from the moment of creation in various cities of Asia Minor Christian churches a lot of time has passed: each of the churches already has its own established history, and some of the Christians there have already lost interest in faith, for which the author of the book reproaches them. Therefore, it is more often believed that St. John the Theologian wrote the Revelation still in last years reign in Rome of the emperor Domitian, that is, much later than the destruction of Jerusalem. This is the view taken by Saint Irenaeus of Lyons, one of the earliest Church Fathers to mention the book of Revelation.

So all the same Revelation - or the Apocalypse?

The last book of the Bible is often called not "Revelation", but "Apocalypse" - a word that in ordinary consciousness is often associated (including through the efforts of Hollywood) with the end of the world, a worldwide catastrophe, the last decisive battle between the forces of light and darkness.

How is it still right - Revelation or Apocalypse?

The answer is very simple. The fact is that the Greek word "Apocalypse" (Αποκάλυψις) just means "Revelation". This is how this book is called in the oldest manuscripts containing its entire text - the Sinai and Alexandrian codes (4th and 5th centuries, respectively). So in fact, these are not two different names, but one, only on different languages. Also, we sometimes replace the Greek word "Gospel" with the Russian "Gospel".

They say the Church does not approve of the reading of the Apocalypse. But this book is an integral part of the Bible!

The Apocalypse is a mysterious book, much in it is difficult to understand and interpret unambiguously, therefore, not wanting to sow temptation and discord among Christians, the Church decided to exclude it from the circle of liturgical readings. Careless interpreters of Revelation, taking what is said to the book too straightforward, run the risk of leading the listeners away from the truth.

This is how, for example, "chiliasm" was born - the doctrine of the thousand-year reign of Christ on earth. Back in the 2nd century, a number of Christians, including such authoritative teachers of the Church as Justin Martyr and Irenaeus of Lyon, took literally the words of Revelation that the souls of saints who did not bow to the “beast” (antichrist) would come to life and reign with Christ for a thousand years ( open 20 :4). Some interpretations of these words suggested that human history would end with the final victory of good and reason over the forces of darkness, which by the time of the second coming would dominate the world; that the Second Coming of Christ will come as a result of a sharp turning point in the history of the world, associated with the abolition of evil. No wonder some priests, inspired by chiliastic moods, joyfully accepted the revolution in 1917: they seriously believed that this was the first step towards establishing that same universal kingdom of justice, freedom, goodness and reason ...

But the understanding of the Church does not give any reason to expect that one day such a kingdom will be created on earth. Today, under the thousand-year reign of Christ, Orthodox interpreters understand the very epoch in which we live, when Christ, by His voluntary death and His Resurrection, has already triumphed over Satan and death, and the entrance to the Kingdom of Heaven is open to everyone who wishes through the sacraments of Baptism and Repentance. And the period of a thousand years, explained St. Ignatius (Bryanchaninov), should be understood not as “a certain number of years”, but as “a very significant space of time given by the mercy and long-suffering of God, so that all the fruit of the earth, worthy of heaven, ripens, and so that one grain fit for the upper granary was not lost.”

Classic Orthodox labor, explaining the Revelation of John the Theologian, is still considered "Explanation on the Apocalypse" by St. Andrew of Caesarea(lived at the end of the 6th - beginning of the 7th century). This book expounds the patristic understanding of Revelation and is still loved by Orthodox publishers, so finding it is not difficult.

Another interesting patristic reading of the Apocalypse is the work Saint Hippolytus of Rome "On Christ and the Antichrist".

Among the works aimed at the Orthodox Russian reader, it is worth paying attention to the book Archimandrite Jannuarius (Ivliev) "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth", reflecting the characteristic modern church reading the Apocalypse. Books can also be recommended. "The Apocalypse of St. John the Theologian: An Experience of Orthodox Interpretation" by Archpriest Nikolai Orlov And "The Light of Revelation: Reflections on the Apocalypse" by Nikolai Pestov. Pestov made an attempt at a spiritual interpretation of the last book of the New Testament: for example, the seven churches to which the Lord addresses His message through John the Theologian, from the point of view of the author, symbolize seven epochs in the history of the Christian Church.

Similarly constructed and "Conversations on the Apocalypse" contemporary author - Archpriest Oleg Stenyaev.

Prepared by Igor Tsukanov

Chapter thirteen. the beast antichrist and his accomplice the false prophet Chapter fourteen. Preparatory events before the general resurrection and the Last Judgment; a song of praise of 144,000 righteous and angels proclaiming the fate of the world Chapter fifteen. Fourth vision: seven angels having the seven last plagues Chapter sixteen. Seven angels pouring out the seven bowls of God's wrath on the earth Chapter seventeen. Judgment on the great harlot sitting on many waters Chapter eighteen. The fall of Babylon - the great harlot Chapter nineteen. The battle of the word of God with the beast and his army, and the destruction of the latter Chapter Twenty. General Resurrection and the Last Judgment Chapter twenty one. The opening of the new heaven and the new earth - the new Jerusalem Chapter twenty two. Final features of the image of the new Jerusalem. A testament to the truth of all that has been said, a testament to keep the commandments of God and to look forward to the Second Coming of Christ, which will be soon

THE MAIN OBJECT AND PURPOSE OF WRITING THE APOCALYPSE

Beginning the Apocalypse, St. John himself indicates the main subject and purpose of his writing - "to show what should be soon"(). Thus, the main subject of the Apocalypse is the mysterious image of the future fate of the Church of Christ and the whole world. From the very beginning of its existence, Christ had to enter into a difficult struggle with the delusions of Judaism and paganism in order to bring the triumph of the Divine Truth, brought to earth by the incarnated Son of God, and through this to give man bliss and eternal life. The purpose of the Apocalypse is to depict this struggle of the Church and Her triumph over all enemies; to show visually the death of the enemies of the Church and the glorification of Her faithful children. This was especially important and necessary for believers in those times when terrible bloody persecutions began against Christians, in order to give them consolation and encouragement in the sorrows and hard trials that befell them. This clear picture of the battle of the dark kingdom of Satan with and the final victory of the Church over the "ancient serpent" () is needed for believers of all times, all with the same goal of consoling and strengthening them in the struggle for the truth of Christ's faith, which they constantly have to wage with the servants of the dark hellish forces seeking to destroy in their blind malice.

THE CHURCH'S VIEW ON THE CONTENT OF THE APOCALYPSE

All the ancient Fathers of the Church, who interpreted holy books of the New Testament unanimously consider the Apocalypse as a prophetic picture of the last times of the world and the events that will take place before the Second Coming of Christ to earth and at the opening of the Kingdom of Glory prepared for all true believing Christians. Despite the darkness under which the mysterious meaning of this book is hidden and as a result of which many unbelievers tried in every possible way to discredit it, the deeply enlightened fathers and God-wise teachers of the Church always treated it with great reverence. Yes, St. writes: “The darkness of this book does not prevent one from wondering at it. And if I do not understand everything in it, then only because of my inability. I cannot be a judge of the truths contained in it, and measure them by the poverty of my mind; guided more by faith than by reason, I find them only beyond my understanding.” Blessed Jerome speaks of the Apocalypse in the same way: “There are as many mysteries in it as there are words. But what am I saying? Any praise of this book will be below its dignity. Many believe that Caius, the presbyter of Rome, does not consider the Apocalypse to be the creation of the heretic Cerinthus, as some deduce from his words, for Caius is not talking about a book called "Revelation", but about "revelations". Eusebius himself, citing these words of Caius, does not say a word about the fact that Cerinthus was the author of the book of the Apocalypse. Blessed Jerome and other fathers, who knew this place in the work of Caius and recognized the authenticity of the Apocalypse, would not have left it without objection if they considered the words of Caius to be related to the Apocalypse of St. John the Evangelist. But during Divine Liturgy the Apocalypse was not read and is not read: presumably because in ancient times the reading of Holy Scripture during Divine Liturgy was always accompanied by an interpretation of it, and the Apocalypse is too difficult to interpret. This also explains the absence of it in Peshito's Syrian translation, which was appointed specifically for liturgical use. As proven by the researchers, the Apocalypse was originally on the Peshito list and was turned off from there after the times, for St. Ephraim the Syrian cites the Apocalypse in his writings as the canonical book of the New Testament and makes extensive use of it in his inspirational teachings.

RULES FOR THE INTERPRETATION OF THE APOCALYPSE

As a book of God's judgments about the world and the Church, the Apocalypse has always attracted the attention of Christians, and especially at a time when external persecutions and internal temptations began to embarrass the believers with particular force, threatening all sorts of dangers from all sides. In such periods, believers naturally turned to this book for consolation and encouragement and tried to unravel the meaning and significance of the events taking place in it. Meanwhile, the figurativeness and mystery of this book makes it very difficult to understand, and therefore for careless interpreters there is always the risk of being carried away beyond the boundaries of truth and an occasion for unrealizable hopes and beliefs. Thus, for example, a literalistic understanding of the images of this book gave rise and still continues to give rise to a false teaching about the so-called "chiliasm" - the thousand-year kingdom of Christ on earth. The horrors of persecution experienced by Christians in the first century and interpreted in the light of the Apocalypse gave some reason to believe in the onset of the "last times" and the imminent Second Coming of Christ, even then, in the first century. Over the past 19 centuries, there have been many interpretations of the Apocalypse of the most diverse nature. All these interpreters can be divided into four categories. Some of them attribute all the visions and symbols of the Apocalypse to " end times"- the end of the world, the appearance of the Antichrist and the Second Coming of Christ, others - give the Apocalypse a purely historical meaning, referring all the visions to the historical events of the first century - to the times of persecution erected on pagan emperors. Still others are trying to find the realization of apocalyptic predictions in the historical events of later times. In their opinion, for example, the Pope of Rome is the Antichrist, and all apocalyptic disasters are proclaimed for the Roman Church itself, etc. The fourth, finally, see in the Apocalypse only an allegory, believing that the visions described in it have not so much a prophetic as a moral meaning. , the allegory is introduced only to enhance the impression in order to capture the imagination of readers. It is necessary to recognize as more correct the interpretation that unites all these directions, and it should not be lost sight of the fact that, as the ancient interpreters and Fathers of the Church clearly taught about this, the content of the Apocalypse in the end is directed to the final destinies of the world. There can be no doubt, however, that throughout the past Christian history Many of the predictions of St. John the Seer about the future destinies of the Church and the world, but great care is needed in applying the apocalyptic content to historical events, and this should not be abused too much. The remark of one interpreter is fair, that the content of the Apocalypse will only gradually become clear, as events occur and the prophecies predicted in it are fulfilled. The correct understanding of the Apocalypse, of course, is hindered most of all by the departure of people from faith and true Christian life which always leads to dulling, and even complete loss of spiritual vision, necessary for a correct understanding and spiritual assessment of events taking place in the world. This total devotion modern man sinful passions, depriving the purity of the heart, and, consequently, spiritual vision (), is the reason that some modern interpreters of the Apocalypse want to see in it one allegory and even teach the Second Coming of Christ to be understood allegorically. Historical events and the faces of the time we are now experiencing, which, in all fairness, many already call apocalyptic, convince us that to see one allegory in the book of the Apocalypse truly means to be spiritually blind, so everything that is happening in the world now resembles the terrible images and visions of the Apocalypse.

The Apocalypse contains only twenty-two chapters. According to its content, it can be divided into the following sections:

1) The introductory picture of the Son of Man appearing to John, commanding John to write to the seven churches of Asia Minor - 1st chapter ().

2) Instructions to the seven churches of Asia Minor: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamon, Thyatira, Sardis. Philadelphia and Laodicea - chapters 2 () and 3 ().

3) The vision of God sitting on the throne and the Lamb - chapters 4 () and 5 ().

4) The opening by the Lamb of the seven seals of the mysterious book - chapters 6 () and 7 ().

The Revelations of Saint John are latest book New Testament and Bible. The uniqueness of the revelation lies in the fact that it is the only book about the apocalypse that has entered the canon of the New Testament.

Revelation written by John the Evangelist contains 22 chapters, each of which can be read on the Internet or by purchasing New Testament. In addition, they release videos in which they talk about the revelations of John the Theologian and interpretations of them.

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The main features of the revelation of John the Theologian

Revelation lists a number of catastrophes that will manifest themselves before the Second Coming, which is why the book entered the section of the apocalyptic. You can read it on any Internet resource of the relevant subject.

The time of entry of the revelation of John the Theologian into the canon of the New Testament

For the first time, the work of John the Theologian is mentioned at the beginning of the 2nd century, in the works of such famous people like Tertullian, Irenaeus, Eusebius, Clement of Alexandria. But for a long time after its appearance, the text about the apocalypse was not canonized.

Only in 383 did the revelation of John the Theologian enter the New Testament canon., the Hippo Cathedral and directly Athanasius the Great contributed to this. This solution was finally accepted and approved in 419 by the Council of Carthage.

But such a decision also had ardent opponents in the person of Cyril of Jerusalem and St. Gregory the Theologian.

According to some data, to date, there are about 300 manuscripts of the Apocalypse, but not all of them contain the full version of the revelation. Today, everyone is allowed to read the full versions of the revelations, the holy fathers of the churches even recommend getting acquainted and understanding the whole essence of the interpretation.

Interpretation of the Apocalypse of John the Theologian

In his revelation, John the Theologian describes to people the visions that came to him from God, during these visions he sees the following events:

• the appearance of the Antichrist in the world;
• the second coming of Jesus to earth;
• Apocalypse;
• Terrible Judgment.

The revelation ends with the information that God will win unquestioning victory over.

The visions set forth by John the Theologian on paper have been tried to be interpreted many times, but the most popular to this day are the interpretations of the holy fathers.

The first vision describes a human son, who holds seven stars in his hands and is located in the center of the seven lamps.

According to the interpretations of the holy fathers, it can be assumed that the son of man is Jesus, because he is also the son of Mary, who was a man. Jesus, like God, contains everything that exists.

Location God's son in the middle of the seven candlesticks indicates that the interpretation is given to the seven churches. It was this number of churches that stood at the head of the entire religion during the life of John the Theologian.

The human son was wearing a tuck and a golden belt. The first element of clothing indicates high priestly dignity, and the second element of clothing indicates royal dignity.

The presence of seven stars in Jesus' hands indicates seven bishops. That is, human son closely monitors and directs the actions of the bishops.

In the process of vision, the human son ordered John the Theologian to write down all further visions.

Second vision

John ascends to the throne of God and sees his face. The throne is surrounded by 24 elders and 4 representatives of the animal world.

The interpretation is that examining the face of God, John noticed a radiance emanating from him:

• green - as a sign of life;
• yellow-red as a sign of holiness and punishment for sinners.

Thanks to this combination of colors, John realized that this was a prediction Doomsday who will destroy and renew the earth.

The 24 elders who surrounded God are people who pleased him with their deeds.

The animals near the throne are the elements that the Lord controls:

• Earth;
• heaven;
• sea;
• hell.

Third and fourth vision

John the Evangelist observed how seven seals are broken from a book held in God's hands.

The book presented in the vision indicates the wisdom of God, and the seals present on it will mark the fact that a person cannot understand all the plans of the Lord.

Only Jesus could break the seals from the book who knows what self-sacrifice is and gave his life for other people.

In the fourth vision, the gaze of John the Theologian sees seven angels holding trumpets in their hands.

After the seven seals are broken by Jesus, there will be complete silence in heaven, which indicates the calm before the storm. After that, seven angels will appear, who, playing their trumpets, will unleash seven great troubles on the representatives of mankind.

Fifth vision

In the course of his vision, John sees like a red serpent treads on the heels of his wife, clothed in the sun. War between Michael and the red serpent.

According to the interpretation of the holy fathers, a wife is Holy Mother of God, however, a number of interpreters claim that this is a church.

The moon is placed under the woman's feet - this is a sign of constancy. There is a wreath with twelve stars on the woman’s head - this indicates that she was originally created from the 12 tribes of Israel, and after that she was led.

The red serpent is the image of the Devil, which by its appearance symbolizes anger directed towards those created by God.

The purpose of the snake is to take away the child, which is soon to be born to a woman. But as a result, the child goes to God, and the woman flees into the desert.

After this, a battle takes place between Michael and the Devil, according to the interpretation of the holy fathers - this symbolizes the war between Christianity and paganism. As a result of the battle, the serpent was defeated, but did not die.

Sixth Vision

The appearance of an unknown beast from the depths of the sea is observed which has seven heads and ten horns.

The beast that emerged from the depths of the sea is the Antichrist. But, despite the fact that he has the features of the beast, he is a man. Therefore, those people who believe that the Antichrist and the Devil are one and the same make a huge mistake.

The fact that the Antichrist has 7 heads indicates that he is acting under the leadership of the Devil. Such cooperation will lead to the fact that the Antichrist will reign on earth and will rule for 42 months.

Everyone who denies the Lord and worships the Antichrist will be branded, on his forehead or right hand the number "666" will appear.

Seventh Vision

The following vision points to the appearance of angels.

In this vision, Mount Sinai appears to the gaze of John the Theologian, on top of which stands a lamb, surrounded by 144 thousand people, God's chosen ones from all kinds of nations.

Looking up, John sees three angels:

1. The first tells people the "eternal gospel."
2. The second - predicts the fall of Babylon.
3. The third promises unheard-of torment to those who betrayed God in the name of Antichrist.

Angels will mark the beginning of the harvest. Jesus throws the sickle on the ground and the harvest begins. On this stage, the harvest refers to the apocalypse.

One of the angels is reaping grapes, these berries mean all the people who provided Negative influence on the state of the church.

Eighth and ninth visions

The eighth vision describes the seven bowls of wrath..

In this vision, John sees a sea of ​​glass mixed with particles of fire. This sea refers to those people who were saved after the end of the world.

After that, the Theologian sees how the heavenly gates open and seven angels in snow-white clothes come out of there, they receive from four animals 7 golden bowls filled with the wrath of the Lord. By the decree of the Lord, the angels must, before the Last Judgment, pour out all the cups on the living and the dead.

In the ninth vision, John describes the common Sunday, which ends with the Last Judgment.

Tenth vision

John sees new Jerusalem, which was built after the final victory over the Devil. In the new world, the sea will be absent, as it symbolizes impermanence. In the new world, a person will forget about what they are, grief, illness, tears.

But only those who resist the Devil and do not bow to him will become part of the new world. If people do not restrain themselves, then they will be condemned to eternal torment.

Apocalypse of Saint John, this is the book that makes people go to church more often and really give their all to the service of the Lord, because no one knows when the day of judgment will come or the antichrist will come into the world.

Having become acquainted with the revelation of John the Theologian, you can get basic knowledge about the development and emergence of the Church, as well as get a number of tips on how to live correctly, most importantly, understand what John the Theologian wanted to present.