The ancient gnostics and the revelations of the urantia book. It was widely accepted in the christian west, but was regarded with a lot more suspicion by the christian east. It has no traditional introduction from whom, to whom. Gnostics believed the key to eternal life was contained in right interpretationknowledgeof those esoteric sayings. The book of revelation takes it to another realm again. Bartholomew matthias cerinthus basilides mani hebrews laodiceans nag hammadi library v t e.
Johns book of revelation appeals not only to fear but also to hope. The things john had already seen are recorded in chapter 1. The greek name of the bible book of revelation, apoka. It has been called the locus classicus for the gnostic mythological system in sum, it is the. The authorship of the johannine worksthe gospel of john, epistles of john, and the book of revelation has been debated by scholars since at least the 2nd century ad.
The book of revelation expounds on the tree of life in two places. They used allegorical interpretations, spiritualizing literal meanings. Gnostics recognize nine choirs of angels, including seraphim, cherubim, thrones, dominions, powers, virtues, principalities, archangels and angels. It became a steady seller, but never made it into a french edition which is the second language for most of our. In the first chapter, the risen and exalted christ is speaking to john. Jan 02, 2020 a simple outline for the book of revelation is found in revelation 1. Jul 20, 2017 the socalled codex xiii is not a codex, but rather the text of trimorphic protennoia, written on eight leaves removed from a thirteenth book in late antiquity and tucked inside the front cover. Intro to 1 john biblica the international bible society. Dec 09, 2019 according to the modern gnostics, jesus himself was a man of faith upon whom the holy spirit came. The persons mentioned in the epistle to philadelphia were also evidently gnostics. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation, pagels analyzes other revelations of the time they were common and examines how johns particular version of apocalypse made it into the worlds most popular book. May 02, 2007 the book of revelation is the last book in the bible. The strangest book of the new testament, filled with visions of the rapture, the whore of babylon, and apocalyptic writing of the end of times, the book of revelation has fascinated readers for more than two thousand years, but where did it come from. This is because it is one of the only gnostic gospels that actually made it into the bible.
The secret book of john the secret revelation of john. The secret revelation of john the secret book of john. The natural person does not accept the things of the spirit of god, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. Each of the four had the face of a man, and on the right side each had the face of a lion, and on the left the face of an ox. In her critique of the book of revelation, she opens a discussion of the other revelatory texts, the gnostic texts, that were excluded from the christian canon. Book of revelation is written in a situation of persecution, is directed against gnostic opponents within the churches, and expresses a jewish christian theology. The first is a ten king united system, which serves as the final satanic one world system, led by the final world dictator.
But how could the gnostics claim that their vision of jesus was the true one. Gnosticism international standard bible encyclopedia. A profound exploration of the bibles most controversial book from the author of beyond belief and the gnostic gospels. Salvation to the gnostics came by knowledge and experience. It is a curious book unlike any other account in the bible. The only other known version of the text was discovered in the nag hammadi library a collection of coptic gnostic books excavated in. The gnostic revelation society author of the book of gnostic. For example, the book of thomas states, woe unto you who love the sexual intercourse that belongs to femininity and its foul. Interpreting the book of revelation interpretations of the book of revelation are, undoubtedly, among the most hotly debated aspects of the bible.
The gnostic apocalypse of peter is a text found amongst the nag hammadi library, and part of. The book of revelation and endtimes prophecy by a gnostic perspective. Most important are the archangels of the original jewish bible and those mentioned in the book of enoch, a text not included in the bible. Download the audio lecture here the transcription is. Even the book of revelation cites a couple of gnostic beliefs and practices, referring to knowing the depths of satan and the nicolaitans revelation 2. In the world of biblical studies, at least among some critical scholars, gnosticism has been the darling for sometime now. The book of 1 john is not a personal letter nor a letter written to one church as much as it is an impassioned office memo from headquarters corporate letter. A forbidden gnostic text that claims to be jesus secret teachings to his brother james have been unearthed in an ancient trash heap in egypt. Gnostics, thus, divided christians into two categories with one group being carnal inferior and the other being spiritual superior. It has the telltail signs of being inserted into the main text, since chapter appears to follow chapter. The apocryphon of john collection the gnostic society library. It was most likely written within a few years after the death of nero in 68 c. The book of revelation is the only book in the bible, that i know of, that has a blessing associated with it for those who will read itnot once but twice.
It compares jesus to a monstrous looking being and yet also brings a new and better world in the wake of the destruction of it. The main debate centers on who authored the writings, and which of the writings, if any, can be ascribed to a common author. Dec 29, 2016 the ancient gnostics and the revelations of the urantia book december 29, 2016 by byron belitsos patheos explore the worlds faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality. The first blessing is in the first chapter of revelation in verse 3. The apocryphon of john collection the gnostic society. It is in pagels discussion of the message of the many alternative christian texts the gnostic texts that we think this book will be most valuable to a modern reader. Christ tells john to write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. Is chapter of the biblical book of revelation, among. Often it is difficult to provide answers to why questions because unless the reasons have been documented or a person is alive to attest to why something was done, we do not really know. This site includes the entire hammadi library, as well as a large collection of other primary gnostic scriptures and documents. The first beast described in revelation represents two entities. The book of revelation is not written by john, but by a gnostic priest called cerinthus, whilst channelling the spirit of helios aka lucifer. Introduction to the gnostic revelation print details written by gnostic instructor category.
The second recommended book is karen kings the secret revelation of john. Five myths about the ancient heresy of gnosticism canon. The book of revelation the book of revelation, a free online course this free online course reveals how you can discover the true meaning of the revelation or apoclaypse of st. Book of revelation 01 introduction to the gnostic revelation. It is quite possibly the most jewish book in the new testament, full of hebrew figures of speech and using references to the. The gnostic revelation society is the author of the book of gnostic revelation 5. Some of the gnostic sects regarded the demiurge as being altogether alien from and opposed to the supreme god. It would appear that the nicolatians, condemned in the book of revelation, were an early form of such a sect.
The secret book of john, also called the apocryphon of john or the secret revelation of john, is a secondcentury sethian gnostic christian text of secret. The books of john, i corinthians, galatians, colossians, i and ii timothy, jude, and i john all combat various elements of gnosticism. The two books are utterly different, one full of apocalyptic hatred, the other a work of theology. Sep 14, 2019 adherents believed that secret revelation frees the divine spark within humans, allowing the human soul to return to the divine realm of light in which it belongs. This free online course reveals how you can discover the true meaning of the revelation or apoclaypse of st. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation by elaine pagels. For anyone who is familiar with the multicolored panorama of ancient gnostic doctrines from different schools and mystery cults, revelation 12 seems to stand out the most from the revelation or apocalypse of st. A strange vision given to john of a world racked by geophysical upheaval and spiritual transformation, it is a book cloaked in allegory and metaphor. Apocalyptic and gnosis in the book of revelation and paul jstor. The only information on them, the ophites, and jeuian gnostics were translated by a man called g. First, although pagels, like jung, has shown the gnostics in a positive psychological light, the gnostic outlook is just as much theological and cosmological as it is psychological. This is an extensive and scholarly but still very readable study of the text and the cultural milieu that both influenced, and in turn was influenced by, the apocryphon iohannis. Jesus commends the church of ephesus for hating the deeds of the nicolaitans as he does revelation 2.
So some gnostic sects celebrated this license through ritual orgies. John, which is a cryptic and mystical scripture at the very end of the christian bible. Modern day gnostics, neo gnostics, or gnostic sympathizers should be aware of some gnostic elements which decidedly clash with modern tastes. Dec 12, 2016 while some gnostics were quite sexually licentious as noted above with marcus, a large strain of the movement was utterly against sex. Oct 14, 2005 the following text was utilized as the basis for discussion in a lecture of the free online course about the real meaning of the book of revelation. The book of revelation written by gnostic priest cerinthus. Anyone could do so if he or she had the same revelation knowledge as jesus. The book of revelation, the final book of the new testament, has some of the most dramatic and frightening language in the bible. Written by three anonymous persons under the auspices of the gnostic revelation society, we published it in 1982. Apr 09, 2018 the revelation is the most controversial book of the bible, and always has been. Included are translations of the short and long version of the text based on the waldsein and wisse edition, an in. Thus the book of revelation is merely referring to the four seasons of the year and predicting that these four seasons will repeat themselves in the future.
The book of revelation not revelations is the last book of the bible, and describes the tribulations visited upon mankind at the end of the world which is often referred to as the end times, the ultimate battle between good and evil, and, finally, the second coming of christ. They received direct revelation from the spirit which was more important than the word. The gnostic gospels by elaine pagels, the nag hammadi library by anonymous, the gnostic bible by willis barnstone, the gnost. Oct 01, 2014 the book of revelation and endtimes prophecy by a gnostic perspective. The book of revelation is the last book in the bible. In the book of ezekiel, the bible calls the king of egypt the great dragon that lie in the midst of his rivers. The new gnostics in todays church lighthouse trails inc. An analysis on revelation revelation to this day is one the strangest books in existence, esoteric, ambiguous, and filled with abyssal monsters and destruction. Hence classic gnostic texts were often pauline, like 1 corinthians 2. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it. One website goes on to summarize this form of literature, succinctly. Gnosticism and the gnostic jesus christian research. Indeed, much of the movement advocated a harsh asceticism and celibacy. The book of revelations, a gnostic gospel excommunicate.
Here we present the first chapter of the book of revelation with clarifications and meanings added in parentheses. The book of revelation, often called the book of revelations, revelation to john, apocalypse of john, the revelation, or simply revelation, the revelation from jesus christ from its opening words or the apocalypse, is the final book of the new testament, and therefore also the final book of the christian bible. They, like the gnostics and other false teachers, abused the doctrine of grace and tried to introduce licentiousness in its place 2 peter 2. Kenneth copeland, the word faith preacher, is certainly one of todays gnostics. Unveiling the hidden truth about the oldest manuscript in the world and its divine authors sacred wisdom zinovia dushkova 4. Perhaps as much as any other nt book, we have evidence for an early, widespread, and consistent reception of revelation. There are many cultures such as the hebrew, assyrian, greek, egyptian and arabian which agree with these. The great dragon of the book of revelation gnostic warrior. He may have been a first cousin of jesus his mother may have been salome. Bibliography commentary a testimony of jesus christ. The secret book of john the secret revelation of john aeon a divine power or nature emanating from the supreme being and playing various roles in the operation of the universe ineffable defying expression barbelo the first emanation something that is emitted or radiated of god autogenes self generated pleroma the totality of divine powers. On other books of revelation, now known as the gnostic gospels. Few people believe that the tormented author of revelation can possibly be the same john credited with the gospel and epistles. The ancient greeks and egyptians like many other cultures around the world had venerated the serpent, and in particular, a serpent god that i believe to be the great dragon found in the bible.
Hammadi library a collection of coptic gnostic books. So impressive was this documentary find that by 1983 nearly 50 volumes of oxyrhynchus papyri had appeared with greek text, introduction, and notes to over 3400 items. It includes the gospel of thomas, the gospel of mary, and the recently discovered gospel of judas, as well as other gnostic. Download the audio lecture here the transcription is here. Works which are particularly recommended for further study of the book of revelation are emphasized. The apocryphon of john in multiple translations, along with extensive materials about the gnostic traditions of john. To him who overcomes i will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of god.
There may have been a single author for the gospel and the three epistles. This was one of the strangest books we had ever published. The nag hammadi scriptures, edited by marvin meyer, is the most complete, uptodate, onevolume, englishlanguage edition of the renowned library of gnostic manuscripts discovered in egypt in 1945, which rivaled the dead sea scrolls find in significance. John, which is a crytic and mystical scripture at the very end of the christian bible. Elaine pagels on the book of revelation february 24, 2012. Introduction to the gnostic revelation gnostic teachings. Even when the socalled christian gnostics quote from the bible, they rewrite verses and parts of verses to harmonize with their philosophy, a practice that is strictly forbidden and warned against by scripture deuteronomy 4. He was a fisherman, one of jesus inner circle together with james and peter, and the disciple whom jesus loved jn.
Pagels is best known for the gnostic gospels 1979, which won a national book award and was named one of the best 100 englishlanguage nonfiction books of the 20th century by the modern. This name indicates the meaning of revelation it uncovers matters that had been hidden and discloses events that would happen long after it was written. Again in the epistle to thyatira, the gnostics are spoken of as practicing the same evil courses, and as holding a doctrine of the depths of satan revelation 2. The catholic church has not officially interpreted the difficult passages in revelation. But various catholic scholars have commented on them, and have debated the various interpretations. The book of revelation is really an interpretation of earlier apocalyptic prophesies, specifically the book of daniel. Denial of the crucifixion of jesus gnostic apocrypha apocryphal revelations petrinerelated books. Revelation itself follows from a vast tradition of apocalyptic literature. Important for our study was the discovery in the winter of 1896 with its publication the following year of a fragment p1, which contained eight.