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95-555: The monastery, dedicated to Saint Michael , was founded in 1141 by Gebhard von Roning, as a monastery of Canons Regular , which it remained until 1598. It was re-founded in 1616 by monks from Andechs Abbey as a Benedictine community, which was dissolved during the secularization of monasteries in Bavaria in 1803. The monastery was bought in 1974 by the Canons Regular of the newly refounded Congregation of Windesheim , and

190-474: A Greco-Roman system with modern capabilities described by John in ways familiar to him; and idealist or symbolic interpretations consider that Revelation does not refer to actual people or events but is an allegory of the spiritual path and the ongoing struggle between good and evil. The book's commonest English name is "[Book of] Revelation". It is also called "[Book of] the Apocalypse" (for example in

285-466: A battle with the " prince of Persia ", after which, at the end-time, "Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise". Enoch was instrumental in establishing the pre-eminent place of Michael among the angels or archangels, and in later Jewish works, he is said to be their chief, mediating the Torah (the law of God), and standing at the right hand of the throne of God. In the traditions of

380-548: A broad view of history while preterist interpretations treat Revelation as mostly referring to the events of the Apostolic Age (1st century), or, at the latest, the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century. Futurists , meanwhile, believe that Revelation describes future events with the seven churches growing into the body of believers throughout the age, and a reemergence or continuous rule of

475-477: A church was dedicated to him in the early fourth century on the 12th of the month of Paoni . The 12th of the month of Hathor is the celebration of Michael's appointment in heaven, where Michael became the chief of the angels. Protestants recognize Michael as an archangel. The Anglican and Methodist traditions recognize four archangels: Michael, Raphael , Gabriel , and Uriel . The controversial Anglican bishop Robert Clayton (d. 1758) proposed that Michael

570-417: A cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet". They believe the prominent roles assigned to Michael at Daniel 12:1, Revelation 12:7, Revelation 19:14, and Revelation 16 are identical to Jesus' roles, being the one chosen to lead God's people and as the only one who "stands up", identifying the two as the same spirit being. Because they identify Michael with Jesus, he

665-1075: A festive service in Lutheran churches, for which Bach composed several cantatas, for example the chorale cantata Herr Gott, dich loben alle wir, BWV 130 in 1724, Es erhub sich ein Streit , BWV 19 , in 1726 and Man singet mit Freuden vom Sieg , BWV 149 , in 1728 or 1729. Many Protestant theologians identify a relationship, (e.g. typological or identical), between Michael with Christ, including: Martin Luther Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg , Andrew Willet Herman Witsius W. L. Alexander , Jacobus Ode, Campegius Vitringa , Philip Melanchthon , Hugh Broughton , Franciscus Junius , Hävernick Amandus Polanus , Johannes Oecolampadius , Samuel Horsely , William Kincaid John Calvin Isaac Watts , John Brown , and James Wood. Charles Spurgeon once stated that Jesus

760-536: A modified historicist method of interpreting prophecy, is identified in the teachings of the Bahá'í Faith . ʻAbdu'l-Bahá , the son and chosen successor of Bahá'u'lláh, has given some interpretations about the 11th and 12th chapters of Revelation in Some Answered Questions . The 1,260 days spoken of in the forms: one thousand two hundred and sixty days, forty-two months, refers to the 1,260 years in

855-553: A number of Eastern Orthodox hymns and prayer, and his icons are widely used within Eastern Orthodox churches. In many Eastern Orthodox icons, Christ is accompanied by a number of angels, Michael being a predominant figure among them. In Russia, many monasteries, cathedrals, court and merchant churches are dedicated to the Chief Commander Michael; most Russian cities have a church or chapel dedicated to

950-680: A number of cities and countries. Catholic tradition includes also elements such as the Prayer to Saint Michael , which specifically asks for the faithful to be "defended" by the saint. The Chaplet of Saint Michael consists of nine salutations, one for each choir of angels. Sancte Míchael Archángele, defénde nos in próelio; contra nequítiam et insídias diáboli esto praesídium. Imperet illi Deus, súpplices deprecámur, tuque, Prínceps milítiae caeléstis, Sátanam aliósque spíritus malígnos, qui ad perditiónem animárum pervagántur in mundo, divína virtúte, in inférnum detrúde. Saint Michael

1045-764: A part of the New Testament canon. The Synod of Hippo (in AD 393), followed by the Council of Carthage (397) , the Council of Carthage (419) , the Council of Florence (1442) and the Council of Trent (1546) classified it as a canonical book. The Apostolic Canons , approved by the Eastern Orthodox Council in Trullo in 692, but rejected by Pope Sergius I , omit it. Doubts resurfaced during

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1140-631: A piece of itself, some of which will burn. This is articulated by Al-Tha'labi , whose narrative states that God tells Earth that some will obey him and others will not. Michael is called Mika'il or Mikha'il in Muslim works generally, but in the one instance in which he is mentioned in the Quran he is called Mīkāl. The single Quranic mention comes in the QS 2:98, when the Jews of Medina challenged Muhammed to tell them

1235-484: A place in the Jewish liturgy: "When a man is in need he must pray directly to God, and neither to Michael nor to Gabriel ." Jeremiah addresses a prayer to him. The rabbis declare that Michael entered into his role of defender at the time of the biblical patriarchs. Rabbi Eliezer ben Jacob said he rescued Abraham from the furnace into which he had been thrown by Nimrod (Midrash Genesis Rabbah xliv. 16). Some say he

1330-618: A point of academic debate. Second-century Christian writers such as Papias of Hierapolis , Justin Martyr , Irenaeus , Melito of Sardis , Clement of Alexandria , and the author of the Muratorian fragment identify John the Apostle as the John of Revelation. Modern scholarship generally takes a different view, with many considering that nothing can be known about the author except that he

1425-459: A supplication reportedly handed down by the 6th Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq , the reciter sends blessing upon Michael (with his name spelled as Mīkā'īl): O Allah! Bestow your blessing on Michael-angel of Your mercy and created for kindness and seeker of pardon for and supporter of the obedient people. In the creation narrative of Adam he was sent to bring a handful of earth, but the Earth did not yield

1520-520: A tradition dating from Irenaeus ( c.  130  – c.  202 AD) identifies John the Apostle as the author of all five. The modern consensus is that a Johannine community produced the Gospel of John and the three Johannine epistles , while John of Patmos wrote the Book of Revelation separately. The book is commonly dated to about AD 95, as suggested by clues in the visions pointing to

1615-473: Is "the true Michael" and "the only Archangel". John Gill comments on Jude 9, "'Yet Michael the archangel ...' By whom is meant, not a created angel, but an eternal one, the Lord Jesus Christ ..." Seventh-day Adventists believe that "Michael" is but one of the many titles applied to the pre-existent Christ, or Son of God. According to Adventists, such a view does not in any way conflict with

1710-491: Is a "complete lack of consensus" among scholars about the structure of Revelation. The following is therefore an outline of the book's contents rather than of its structure. Outline of the book of Revelation: Revelation has a wide variety of interpretations, ranging from the simple historical interpretation, to a prophetic view on what will happen in the future by way of God's will and the Woman's (traditionally believed to be

1805-526: Is a manual of spiritual development and not, as conventionally interpreted, a cryptic history or prophecy." Such diverse theories have failed to command widespread acceptance. However, Christopher Rowland argues: "there are always going to be loose threads which refuse to be woven into the fabric as a whole. The presence of the threads which stubbornly refuse to be incorporated into the neat tapestry of our world-view does not usually totally undermine that view." The radical discipleship interpretation asserts that

1900-516: Is also responsible for universal or environmental events, and is often depicted as the archangel of mercy. He is said to be friendly, asking God for mercy toward humans and is, according to Muslim legends, one of the first to obey God's orders to bow before Adam . He is also responsible for the rewards doled out to good persons in this life. From the tears of Michael, angels are created as his helpers. Consensus of Islamic scholars and clerics has enclosed various hadiths as interpretation material for

1995-664: Is difficult to know whether the author used the Hebrew or the Greek version of the Hebrew scriptures, but he was often influenced by the Greek. Modern understanding has been that the Book of Revelation was written to comfort beleaguered Christians as they underwent persecution at the hands of an emperor. This is, however, not the only interpretation; Domitian may not have been a despot imposing an imperial cult, and there may not have been any systematic empire-wide persecution of Christians in his time. Revelation may instead have been composed in

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2090-494: Is especially relevant to believers in the days preceding the second coming of Jesus Christ. "The universal church is composed of all who truly believe in Christ, but in the last days, a time of widespread apostasy, a remnant has been called out to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." "Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." As participatory agents in

2185-675: Is not extant in the Codex Vaticanus (4th century), it is extant in the other great uncial codices: the Codex Sinaiticus (4th century), the Codex Alexandrinus (5th century), and the Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus (5th century). In addition, there are numerous papyri , especially 𝔓 and 𝔓 (both 3rd century); minuscules (8th to 10th century); and fragmentary quotations in

2280-690: Is often depicted holding scales. In his fourth role, Saint Michael, the special patron of the Chosen People in the Old Testament, is also the guardian of the Church. Saint Michael was revered by the military orders of knights during the Middle Ages . The names of villages around the Bay of Biscay reflect that history. Moreover, doubtless for the same motive he was considered the patron saint of

2375-716: Is structured after creation, fall, judgment and redemption. Those who hold this view say that the Temple's destruction (AD 70) had a profound effect on the Jewish people, not only in Jerusalem but among the Greek-speaking Jews of the Mediterranean. They believe the Book of Revelation provides insight into the early Eucharist, saying that it is the new Temple worship in the New Heaven and Earth. The idea of

2470-442: Is the motherhouse of this revived congregation. The buildings had been bought by a farmer during the 19th century, and were partially destroyed. 48°51′04″N 12°05′41″E  /  48.85111°N 12.09472°E  / 48.85111; 12.09472 This article about a Bavarian building or structure is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Saint Michael Michael , also called Saint Michael

2565-683: Is the only book of the New Testament that is not read during services by the Byzantine Rite Churches, although it is read in the Western Rite Orthodox Parishes , which are under the same bishops as the Byzantine Rite. Similar to the early Protestants, Adventists maintain a historicist interpretation of the Bible's predictions of the apocalypse. Seventh-day Adventists believe the Book of Revelation

2660-538: Is the symbolism meant to be pictured realistically. Pope Benedict XVI taught that Revelation "should be understood against the backdrop of" the early church's persecutions and inner problems, that "the Lamb who is slain yet standing" symbolizes Jesus' paschal mystery and Jesus being the meaning of life , that the vision of the woman and child symbolizes both Mary and the Church, that the New Jerusalem symbolizes

2755-554: Is therefore considered the first and greatest of all God's heavenly sons, God's chief messenger, who takes the lead in vindicating God's sovereignty , sanctifying his name, fighting the wicked forces of Satan and protecting God's covenant people on earth. Jehovah's Witnesses also identify Michael with the " Angel of the Lord " who led and protected the Israelites in the wilderness. Their earliest teachings stated that Archangel Michael

2850-707: The Aegean Sea , addressing letters to the " Seven Churches of Asia ". He then describes a series of prophetic visions , including figures such as the Seven-Headed Dragon, the Serpent , and the Beast , which culminate in the Second Coming of Jesus . The obscure and extravagant imagery has led to a wide variety of Christian interpretations. Historicist interpretations see Revelation as containing

2945-518: The Book of Tobit , "stand ready and enter before the glory of the Lord". The fact that Michael is introduced implies the knowledge of him and the other named angels. He is mentioned again in last chapters of the Book of Daniel , a Jewish apocalypse composed in the second century BC although set in the sixth, in which a man clothed in linen (never identified, but probably the archangel Gabriel ) tells Daniel that he and "Michael, your prince" are engaged in

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3040-475: The Catholic Church ), "Revelation to John", or "Apocalypse of St. John". Abbreviations of these are "Rev." (traditional), "Rv" (shorter), or "Apoc." These names come from the book's opening words , Rev 1:1 : "Revelation" and "Apocalypse" are respectively a translation and an anglicisation of the original Koine Greek word ἀποκάλυψις , which can also mean "unveiling". In the original Greek,

3135-581: The Easter rites, of early Christianity as background and context for understanding the Book of Revelation's structure and significance. This perspective is explained in The Paschal Liturgy and the Apocalypse (new edition, 2004) by Massey H. Shepherd , an Episcopal scholar, and in Scott Hahn 's The Lamb's Supper: The Mass as Heaven on Earth (1999), in which he states that Revelation in form

3230-649: The Islamic Calendar (AH 1260 or AD 1844). The " two witnesses " spoken of are Muhammad and Ali . The red Dragon spoken of in Revelation 12:3 – "And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads" – are interpreted as symbolic of the seven provinces dominated by the Umayyads : Damascus, Persia, Arabia, Egypt, Africa, Andalusia, and Transoxania. The ten horns represent

3325-545: The Leonine Sacramentary . The seventh-century Gelasian Sacramentary included the feast "S. Michaelis Archangeli" , as did the eighth-century Gregorian Sacramentary . Some of these documents refer to a Basilica Archangeli (no longer extant) on via Salaria in Rome. The angelology of Pseudo-Dionysius , which was widely read as of the sixth century, gave Michael a rank in the hierarchy of angels . Later, in

3420-624: The Litany of the Saints . In the shortened version used in the Easter Vigil , he alone of the angels and archangels is mentioned by name, saints Gabriel and Raphael being omitted. In Roman Catholic teachings , Saint Michael has four main roles or offices. His first role is the leader of the Army of God and the leader of heaven's forces in their triumph over the powers of hell. He is viewed as

3515-531: The Qumran community, he defends or leads the people of God in the eschatological (i.e., end-time) battle. And in other writings, he is responsible for the care of Israel (and he may be the "one like a son of man" mentioned in Daniel 7:13–14) and the commander of the heavenly armies; he is Israel's advocate contesting Satan's claim to the body of Moses; he intercedes between God and humanity and serves as High Priest in

3610-460: The Virgin Mary ) victory over Satan (" symbolic interpretation"), to different end time scenarios ("futurist interpretation"), to the views of critics who deny any spiritual value to Revelation at all, ascribing it to a human-inherited archetype . This interpretation, which has found expression among both Catholic and Protestant theologians, considers the liturgical worship, particularly

3705-481: The 16th-century Protestant Reformation . Martin Luther called Revelation "neither apostolic nor prophetic" in the 1522 preface to his translation of the New Testament (he revised his position with a much more favorable assessment in 1530), Huldrych Zwingli labelled it "not a book of the Bible", and it was the only New Testament book on which John Calvin did not write a commentary. As of 2015, Revelation remains

3800-433: The Apocalypse of John was accepted as a canonical book and rejected at the same time: The Apocalypse of John is counted as both accepted (Kirsopp. Lake translation: "Recognized") and disputed, which has caused some confusion over what exactly Eusebius meant by doing so. The disputation can perhaps be attributed to Origen. Origen seems to have accepted it in his writings. Cyril of Jerusalem (AD 348) does not name it among

3895-626: The Archangel , Archangel Michael and Saint Michael the Taxiarch is an archangel in Christianity , Judaism , Islam , and the Baháʼí Faith . The earliest surviving mentions of his name are in third- and second-century-BC Jewish works, often but not always apocalyptic, where he is the chief of the angels and archangels , and he is the guardian prince of Israel and is responsible for

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3990-564: The Archangel Michael. In Ukraine, the Archangel Michael is the patron saint of the capital city, Kyiv. He became popular since the time of Prince Vsevolod of Kievan Rus'. While in the Serbian Orthodox Church Saint Sava has a special role as the establisher of its autocephaly and the largest Belgrade church is devoted to him, the capital Belgrade 's Orthodox cathedral , the see church of

4085-469: The Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan, and all the evil spirits, who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. The Eastern Orthodox accord Michael the title Archistrategos , or "Supreme Commander of

4180-422: The Book of Revelation is best understood as a handbook for radical discipleship; i.e. how to remain faithful to the spirit and teachings of Jesus and avoid simply assimilating to surrounding society. In this interpretation the primary agenda of the book is to expose as impostors the worldly powers that seek to oppose the ways of God and God's Kingdom. The chief temptation for Christians in the 1st century, and today,

4275-488: The Book of Revelation should not be read as an enigmatic warning, but as an encouraging vision of Christ's definitive victory over evil. In the Coptic Orthodox Church , Armenian Apostolic Church and Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church the whole Book of Revelation is read during Apocalypse Night after Good Friday . Biblically Ugo Vanni and other biblical scholars have argued that the Book of Revelation

4370-445: The Church fathers of the 2nd to 5th centuries and the 6th-century Greek commentary on Revelation by Andreas. Divisions in the book seem to be marked by the repetition of key phrases, by the arrangement of subject matter into blocks, and associated with its Christological passages, and much use is made of significant numbers, especially the number seven, which represented perfection according to ancient numerology. Nevertheless, there

4465-468: The Church in its glory on Judgment Day , and that the prayers in Revelation reflect 1st century Jewish-Christian liturgy and Jewish-Christian understanding of the heavenly liturgy. According to Catholic Answers , the author of Revelation identifies the beast as the Roman Empire, the dragon as Satan, and Babylon as Rome. The meaning is that Rome "cannot win. It will be completely overthrown, and

4560-434: The Church is sure to triumph. This prophecy is as it were the hub of the Apocalypse. Around it John gradually unfolds the plan God has for the future of his Church." Eastern Orthodoxy treats the text as simultaneously describing contemporaneous events (events occurring at the same time) and as prophecy of events to come, for which the contemporaneous events were a form of foreshadowing. It rejects attempts to determine, before

4655-502: The East through the 15th century. Dionysius (AD 248), bishop of Alexandria and disciple of Origen , wrote that the Book of Revelation could have been written by Cerinthus although he himself did not adopt the view that Cerinthus was the writer. He regarded the Apocalypse as the work of an inspired man but not of an Apostle (Eusebius, Church History VII.25). Eusebius , in his Church History ( c.  AD 330 ), mentioned that

4750-456: The Eucharist as a foretaste of the heavenly banquet is also explored by British Methodist Geoffrey Wainwright in his book Eucharist and Eschatology (Oxford University Press, 1980). According to Pope Benedict XVI some of the images of Revelation should be understood in the context of the dramatic suffering and persecution of the churches of Asia in the 1st century. Accordingly, they argue,

4845-569: The Forgiveness of Sins, but in no vicarious sacrifice for sin ... they accepted Christ in the full realisation of the word; his life, not his death, was the keynote of their doctrine and their practice." James Morgan Pryse was an esoteric gnostic who saw Revelation as a western version of the Hindu theory of the Chakra . He began his work, "The purpose of this book is to show that the Apocalypse

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4940-469: The Heavenly Hosts". The Eastern Orthodox pray to their guardian angels and above all to Michael and Gabriel. The Eastern Orthodox have always had strong devotions to angels. In contemporary times they are referred to by the term of "Bodiless Powers". A number of feasts dedicated to Archangel Michael are celebrated by the Eastern Orthodox throughout the year. Archangel Michael is mentioned in

5035-543: The Muslims recited the names of both in the obligatory daily prayers (the salat). The place of Michael, and some of the other archangels, is not clearly identified in the major sources, and among ordinary Muslims knowledge of them is drawn from non-Islamic sources, notably Jewish. Book of Revelation The Book of Revelation or Book of the Apocalypse is the final book of the New Testament (and therefore

5130-418: The Orthodox Faith (Book IV:7) listed "the Revelation of John the Evangelist " as a canonical book. The Council of Laodicea (AD 363) omits it as a canonical book. The Decretum Gelasianum , which is a work written by an anonymous scholar between 519 and 553, contains a list of books of scripture presented as having been reckoned as canonical by the Council of Rome (AD 382). This list mentions it as

5225-559: The Qurʾān in one mode, and Michael told him to ask more, till he reached seven modes, each mode being sufficiently health-giving. According to another hadith in Sahih Muslim , Michael, along with Gabriel both dressed in white, were reported to have accompanied Muhammad on the day of the Battle of Uhud . Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri has recorded in his historiography works of Quran and Hadith revelation in Prophetic biography , that Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas testified has saw Jibril and Mikail during that battle. In Shia Islam , in Dua Umm Dawood,

5320-410: The Roman province of Asia, in what is now western Turkey. The seven cities where churches were located are close together, and the Island of Patmos is near the western coast of Turkey. The term apocalypse means the revealing of divine mysteries; John is to write down what is revealed (what he sees in his vision) and send it to the seven churches. The entire book constitutes the prophecy—the letters to

5415-502: The advocate of Israel, and sometimes had to fight with the princes of the other nations (Daniel 10:13) and particularly with the angel Samael , Israel's accuser. Their enmity dates from the time Samael was thrown from heaven and tried to drag Michael down with him, necessitating God's intervention. The idea that Michael was the advocate of the Jews became so prevalent that in spite of the rabbinical prohibition against appealing to angels as intermediaries between God and his people, he held

5510-429: The angelic model for the virtues of the "spiritual warrior", his conflict with evil taken as "the battle within". The second and third roles of Michael in Catholic teachings deal with death. In his second role, he is the angel of death, carrying the souls of Christians to heaven. Catholic prayers often refer to this role of Michael. In his third role, he weighs souls on his perfectly balanced scales. For this reason, he

5605-475: The angels" he led the angels and thus the statement in Revelation 12:7–9 identifies/refers to Jesus as Michael. Jehovah's Witnesses believe Michael to be another name for Jesus in heaven , in his pre-human and post-resurrection existence. They say the definite article at Jude 9 —referring to "Michael the archangel"—identifies Michael as the only archangel. They consider Michael to be synonymous with Christ, described at 1 Thessalonians 4:16 as descending "with

5700-408: The belief in the full deity and eternal preexistence of Jesus Christ, nor does it in the least disparage his person and work. According to Adventist theology, Michael was considered the "eternal Word", and the one by whom all things were created. The Word was then born incarnate as Jesus. They believe that name "Michael" signifies "One Who Is Like God" and that as the "Archangel" or "chief or head of

5795-409: The biblical canon as a whole. Rather, an open and ongoing dialogue between God and the modern-day Prophet and Apostles of the LDS faith constitute an open canon of scripture. Christian Gnostics are unlikely to be attracted to the teaching of Revelation because the doctrine of salvation through the sacrificed Lamb, which is central to Revelation, is repugnant to Gnostics. Christian Gnostics "believed in

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5890-403: The body of Moses, "did not presume to pronounce the verdict of 'slander' but said, 'The Lord punish you!' Michael was venerated as a healer in Phrygia (modern-day Turkey). The earliest and most famous sanctuary to Michael in the ancient Near East was also associated with healing waters. It was the Michaelion built in the early fourth century by Constantine the Great at Chalcedon , on

5985-417: The canonical books (Catechesis IV.33–36). Athanasius (AD 367) in his Letter 39 , Augustine of Hippo ( c.  AD 397 ) in his book On Christian Doctrine (Book II, Chapter 8), Tyrannius Rufinus ( c.  AD 400 ) in his Commentary on the Apostles' Creed , Pope Innocent I (AD 405) in a letter to the bishop of Toulouse and John of Damascus (about AD 730) in his work An Exposition of

6080-484: The care of the people of Israel . Christianity conserved nearly all the Jewish traditions concerning him, and he is mentioned explicitly in Revelation 12 :7–12, where he does battle with Satan , and in the Epistle of Jude , where the author denounces certain "ungodly persons" by contrasting them with Michael. The Book of Enoch lists him as one of seven archangels (the remaining names are Uriel , Raguel , Raphael , Sariel , Gabriel , and Remiel ), who, in

6175-410: The context of a conflict within the Christian community of Asia Minor over whether to engage with, or withdraw from, the far larger non-Christian community: Author Mark B. Stephens posed that the Revelation chastised those Christians who wanted to reach an accommodation with the Roman cult of empire. This is not to say that Christians in Roman Asia were not suffering due to withdrawal from and defiance of

6270-448: The disciples, the goal being to accuse them, but the accusation is opposed by Jesus, who thus takes on the role played by angels, and especially by Michael, in Judaism. Michael is mentioned by name for the second time in the Epistle of Jude , a passionate warning against divisive, abusive, ungodly persons. In verses 9–10 the author denounces the ungodly persons by contrasting them with the archangel Michael, who, disputing with Satan over

6365-457: The exact number of allusions or the allusions themselves. Revelation rarely quotes directly from the Old Testament, yet almost every verse alludes to or echoes ideas of older scriptures. Over half of the references stem from Daniel , Ezekiel , Psalms , and Isaiah , with Daniel providing the largest number in proportion to length and Ezekiel standing out as the most influential. Because these references appear as allusions rather than as quotes, it

6460-476: The fact, if the events of Revelation are occurring by mapping them onto present-day events, taking to heart the Scriptural warning against those who proclaim "He is here!" prematurely. Instead, the book is seen as a warning to be spiritually and morally ready for the end times, whenever they may come ("as a thief in the night"), but they will come at the time of God's choosing, not something that can be precipitated nor trivially deduced by mortals. Book of Revelation

6555-411: The final book of the Christian Bible ). Written in Koine Greek , its title is derived from the first word of the text: apokalypsis , meaning 'unveiling' or 'revelation'. The Book of Revelation is the only apocalyptic book in the New Testament canon . It occupies a central place in Christian eschatology . The author names himself as simply "John" in the text, but his precise identity remains

6650-437: The following categories: Additionally, there are significant differences in interpretation of the thousand years (the "millennium") mentioned in Revelation 20:2. According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops the Book of Revelation contains an account of visions in symbolic and allegorical language borrowed extensively from the Old Testament. Symbolic descriptions are not to be taken as literal descriptions, nor

6745-467: The heavenly sanctuary; and he accompanies the souls of the righteous dead to Paradise. The seven archangels (or four – the traditions differ but always include Michael) were associated with the branches of the menorah , the sacred seven-branched lampstand in the Temple as the seven spirits before the throne of God, and this is reflected in the Book of Revelation 4:5 ("From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before

6840-478: The name of the angel (malaika = creature with a knowledge) from whom he received his revelations; when he told them it was Gabriel, the Jews said that Gabriel was their enemy, and that revelations came from Michael. The hadith (sayings of and about the Prophet collected by his followers) quote Muhammed mentioning both Gabriel and Michael as two angels who showed him Paradise and hell, and in the early years of Islam

6935-644: The only New Testament book not read in the Divine Liturgy of the Eastern Orthodox Church , though Catholic and Protestant liturgies include it. There are fewer manuscripts of Revelation than of any other part of the New Testament. As of 2020, in total, there are 310 manuscripts of Revelation. This number includes 7 papyri, 12 majuscules, and 291 minuscules. But, in fact, not all of them are available for research. Some of them have burned down, vanished, or been categorized wrongly. While it

7030-471: The patriarch, is devoted to Archangel Michael (in Serbian: Арханђел Михаило / Arhanđel Mihailo ). The place of Michael in the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria is as a saintly intercessor . He is the one who presents to God the prayers of the just, who accompanies the souls of the dead to heaven, who defeats the devil. He is celebrated liturgically on the 12th of each Coptic month . In Alexandria ,

7125-531: The reader stops many times and the people respond; additionally the entire book is read in a liturgical setting that culminates with the Eucharist) shows great support for this biblical hypothesis, albeit with some notable difference. Additionally, the Book of Revelation permeates many liturgical prayers and iconography within the Coptic Church. Most Christian interpretations fall into one or more of

7220-402: The reign of the emperor Domitian . The beast with seven heads and the number 666 seem to allude directly to the emperor Nero (reigned AD 54–68), but this does not require that Revelation was written in the 60s, as there was a widespread belief in later decades that Nero would return . Revelation is an apocalyptic prophecy with an epistolary introduction addressed to seven churches in

7315-478: The seven individual churches are introductions to the rest of the book, which is addressed to all seven. While the dominant genre is apocalyptic, the author sees himself as a Christian prophet: Revelation uses the word in various forms 21 times, more than any other New Testament book. The predominant view is that Revelation alludes to the Old Testament , although it is difficult among scholars to agree on

7410-532: The site of an earlier temple called Sosthenion . Epiphanius of Salamis (c. 310–320 – 403) in his Coptic-Arabic Hexaemeron referred to Michael as a replacement of Satan . Accordingly, after Satan fell, Michael was appointed to the function Satan served when he was still one of the noble angels. A painting of the Archangel slaying a serpent became a major art piece at the Michaelion after Constantine defeated Licinius near there in 324. This contributed to

7505-570: The standard iconography that developed of the Archangel Michael as a warrior saint slaying a dragon. The Michaelion was a magnificent church and in time became a model for hundreds of other churches in Eastern Christianity ; these spread devotions to the Archangel. In the fourth century, Saint Basil the Great 's homily ( De Angelis ) placed Saint Michael over all the angels. He was called "Archangel" because he heralds other angels,

7600-469: The symbolism contained in the Book of Revelation. Topics include: the sea of glass, the four beasts and their appearance, the 24 elders, the book with seven seals, certain angels, the sealing of the 144,000, the little book eaten by John, and the two witnesses in Chapter 11. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe that the warning contained in Revelation 22:18–19 does not refer to

7695-555: The ten names of the leaders of the Umayyad dynasty: Abu Sufyan, Muawiya, Yazid, Marwan, Abd al-Malik, Walid, Sulayman, Umar, Hisham, and Ibrahim. Some names were re-used, as in the case of Yazid II and Yazid III and the like, which were not counted for this interpretation. The Book of Mormon states that John the Apostle is the author of Revelation and that he was foreordained by God to write it. Doctrine and Covenants , section 77, postulates answers to specific questions regarding

7790-689: The thirteenth century, others such as Bonaventure believed that he is the prince of the Seraphim , the first of the nine angelic orders. According to Thomas Aquinas ( Summa Ia. 113.3), he is the Prince of the last and lowest choir, the Angels. Catholics often refer to Michael as "Holy Michael, the Archangel" or "Saint Michael", a title that does not indicate canonisation . He is generally referred to in Christian litanies as "Saint Michael", as in

7885-542: The throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God" – ESV). Michael is mentioned explicitly in Revelation 12:7–12, where he does battle with Satan and casts him out of heaven so that he no longer has access to God as accuser (his formal role in the Old Testament). The fall of Satan at the coming of Jesus marks the separation of the New Testament from Judaism. In Luke 22:31 Jesus tells Peter that Satan has asked God for permission to "sift"

7980-532: The time of the Exodus and destroyed Sennacherib 's army. In Islam, Michael, or Mīkāʾīl, is the angel said to effectuate God's providence as well as natural phenomena, such as rain. He is one of the four archangels along with Jibril (Gabriel, whom he is often paired with), ʾIsrāfīl (trumpeter angel) and ʿAzrāʾīl (angel of death). Michael in Islam is tasked with providing nourishment for bodies and souls and

8075-548: The title Ἀρχαγγέλος (archangelos) being used of him in Jude 1:9. Into the sixth century, the view of Michael as a healer continued in Rome; after a plague, the sick slept at night in the church of Castel Sant'Angelo (dedicated to him for saving Rome), waiting for his manifestation. In the sixth century, the growth of devotions to Michael in the Western Church was expressed by the feasts dedicated to him, as recorded in

8170-602: The verse of Surah Al Imran 3:124 that Gabriel, Michael, Raphael and thousands of best angels from third level of sky, all came to the battle of Badr. Various hadith traditions linked to the Surah Al Imran 3:124 , has stated that those angels has taken form of Zubayr ibn al-Awwam , companion of Muhammad . In a version of a hadith by an-Nasāʾi , Muhammad is quoted as saying that Gabriel and Michael came to him, and when Gabriel had sat down at his right and Michael at his left, Gabriel told him to recite

8265-399: The wider Roman society, which imposed very real penalties; Revelation offered a victory over this reality by offering an apocalyptic hope. In the words of professor Adela Collins , "What ought to be was experienced as a present reality." There is also theological interpretation that the book mainly prophesies the end of Old Covenant order, the Jewish temple and religious economy. Revelation

8360-575: The word is singular, so the name "Revelations" sometimes found in English is often considered erroneous. The author states in Rev 1:9 that he is on Patmos , and so he is conventionally called John of Patmos . He was a Jewish Christian prophet, probably belonging to a group of such prophets, and was accepted by the congregations to whom he addresses his letter. The New Testament canon has four other " Johannine works " ascribed to authors named John, and

8455-483: The work of salvation for all humankind, "This remnant announces the arrival of the judgment hour, proclaims salvation through Christ, and heralds the approach of His second advent." The three angels of Revelation 14 represent the people who accept the light of God's messages and go forth as his agents to sound the warning throughout the length and breadth of the earth. By reasoning analogous with Millerite historicism, Bahá'u'lláh 's doctrine of progressive revelation ,

8550-460: Was a Christian prophet. Modern theological scholars characterize the Book of Revelation's author as " John of Patmos ". The bulk of traditional sources date the book to the reign of the Roman emperor Domitian (AD 81–96), which evidence tends to confirm. The book spans three literary genres: the epistolary , the apocalyptic , and the prophetic . It begins with John, on the island of Patmos in

8645-534: Was among the last books accepted into the Christian biblical canon , and to the present day some churches that derive from the Church of the East reject it. Eastern Christians became skeptical of the book as doubts concerning its authorship and unusual style were reinforced by aversion to its acceptance by Montanists and other groups considered to be heretical. This distrust of the Book of Revelation persisted in

8740-604: Was not to be worshipped. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe that Michael is Adam , the Ancient of Days (Dan. 7), a prince, and the patriarch of the human family. They also hold that Michael assisted Jehovah (the pre-mortal form of Jesus ) in the creation of the world under the direction of God the Father ( Elohim ); under the direction of the Father, Michael also cast Satan out of heaven. According to rabbinic tradition , Michael acted as

8835-517: Was the Logos and Gabriel the Holy Spirit . Controversy over Clayton's views led the government to order his prosecution, but he died before his scheduled examination. The Lutheran Churches of St. Michael's Church, Hamburg and St. Michael's Church, Hildesheim are named for Michael. In Bach 's time, the annual feast of Michael and All the Angels on 29 September was regularly celebrated with

8930-524: Was the "one that had escaped" (Genesis 14:13 ), who told Abraham that Lot had been taken captive (Midrash Pirke R. El.), and who protected Sarah from defilement by Abimelech. Michael prevented Isaac from sacrifice by his father by substituting a ram in his place. He saved Jacob , while yet in his mother's womb, from death by Samael. He later prevented Laban from harming Jacob.( Pirke De-Rabbi Eliezer , xxxvi). The midrash Exodus Rabbah holds that Michael exercised his function of advocate of Israel at

9025-515: Was written with the intention to be read entirely in one liturgical setting with dialogue-elements between the reader (singular) and the hearers (plural) based on Rev 1:3 and Rev 1:10. Beniamin Zakhary has recently shown that the structure of the reading the Book of Revelation within the Coptic rite of Apocalypse Night (this is the only biblical reading in the Coptic church with a dialogue in it, where

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