Joe Murphy
2022
Born in Pennsylvania and raised by Christian parents, I learned about God and His Word as they lived before me an example of morality and service. On several occasions during my teens I sensed the Lord calling me to open myself to Him, but I resisted. Fortunately, at nineteen I turned to receive His grace and to follow Him through life.
He led me to undergraduate majors in Bible and Theology and then to a Master of Divinity. After marrying a godly and beautiful woman, we served as pastors in several locations. My life as a believer has been marked by a love for God’s word and a passion for teaching it to others. Part of that focus has been a desire to understand the complex book at the end of the New Testament. I wanted to grasp the traditional view from my own fellowship, but also to comprehend the views of other Christians as I sought to stake out my conclusions.
(1) I learned to appreciate what other Christians believe and why they see Revelation as they do. (2) I learned to trust the integrity and faith of so many who hold other positions about this book. (3) I learned to articulate an understanding of Revelation which focuses not on historical periods but on practical matters of following the example of the Lamb in our daily affairs.
This has brought Revelation to life in a way I had not imagined. I seek to allow its message to guide me in decisions. I use it to re-evaluate my stands on public issues. I desire to share this message with the church for her insight and strengthening.
A View From Above: Options for Understanding the Revelation of Jesus Christ
Have you always been told there's just one way to understand Revelation? Does it surprise you that faithful Christians over the years have viewed it in different ways? How would you feel if you were able to discuss it graciously with other believers who see it differently than you do? Imagine if you could confidently express your point of view without being argumentative.
This book seeks to enable Christians to lock arms rather than locking horns as we keep, defend, and propagate the faith of Jesus.
Reflecting Jesus: Putting Revelation's Message into Practice
The last book of the Bible doesn’t have to be the least understood. Every Christian wants to understand what the future holds. But, does reading Revelation leave you feeling confused? Despite the strange messages, visions, and warnings, Revelation can impact not only how you view the end times – but how you walk in the present. God’s world-shattering message to the church offers amazing answers for living today. Bible teacher and former pastor, J. W. Murphy, has spent years studying the intricate passages of Revelation. In Reflecting Jesus, he deciphers the text to show how the vulnerable actions of Jesus reveal incredible insights for a Christian’s life.
In Other Words: How Revelation Restates the Bible's Message
Revelation is often treated only as a category by itself. Similarities between Revelation and other biblical works can be obscured by its picturesque style. When people consider the relationship of Revelation to the New Testament, they often think of Jesus’ Olivet discourse (Mt. 24; Mk. 13; Lk. 21). Yet the affinity is much more widespread. In Other Words seeks to connect and integrate, showing how Revelation’s images express many of the same truths as other evangelists.