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Approaches to Interpreting the Book of Revelation
Topic Started: Apr 22 2014, 02:58 PM (182 Views)
Random0wl
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Good afternoon everyone,

Lately, we have been talking about the book of Revelation in my New Testament class at college
and I did not realize that there were so many different ways that people interpret the book of
Revelation. What are some of the main concepts people disagree on within the book? I suppose that the two key ways would be figurative and literal. However, what is your opinion on the approaches to interpreting the book of Revelation? I know one main concept that is debated is that of premillennialism, postmillennialism, and amillennialism.
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stratcat79
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Well, like any other book of the Bible, it is not subject to man's private interpretation, but holy men spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. One cannot discuss the book of Revelation without also seeing the book of Daniel, Ezekiel, Job, in some parts of each book of the Bible, in fact, are found in Revelation.

Let the Bible interpret itself, and don't let anybody convince you of what something means unless the Bible backs it up. Figurative references would include words to describe something with either "like" or "as" in the description. Otherwise, you can pretty well count on the description being literal. Yes, it is a challenge, but let the Bible be your teacher. Nothing wrong with college education, just be careful. My son is in college and went from being a libertarian to a socialist, almost communist as an Economics major. He seems to hate America and the people in it. These changes occurred while he has been in school, and he ain't done yet!

The Word of God is all the more important, so we really need to be careful what we believe and what we are being taught. Good luck, and I hope the truth will out. God Bless and good having you on board with the forum.
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S.T.Ranger
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Random0wl
Apr 22 2014, 02:58 PM
Good afternoon everyone,

Lately, we have been talking about the book of Revelation in my New Testament class at college
and I did not realize that there were so many different ways that people interpret the book of
Revelation. What are some of the main concepts people disagree on within the book? I suppose that the two key ways would be figurative and literal. However, what is your opinion on the approaches to interpreting the book of Revelation? I know one main concept that is debated is that of premillennialism, postmillennialism, and amillennialism.
I take a "literally figurative" view.

;)

While typology, symbology, metaphor, parable, et cetera are used, we should keep in mind the teaching and the intent of the teaching. Many that say "This is only figurative!" do so for the purpose of negating the teaching itself.

I am asked on occasion "You don't really believe there is a seven headed dragon...do you?" to which I respond...of course I do. Is he literally a dragon? No, but he exists.

Concerning the different approaches, I take a Futurist pre-millennial view because it reconciles Scripture. Any other view involves negating Prophecy and Promises of God, just as one might deny Satan's existence because figurative language is used.

God bless.
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stratcat79
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I agree with ST. I am a bit confused by the meaning of "pre-millenial", as I am not sure what is meant. I think it means that the millennium takes place after the Great Tribulation period of 7 years, at which time Jesus reigns on the earth 1,000 years.
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theophilus
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Random0wl
Apr 22 2014, 02:58 PM
I suppose that the two key ways would be figurative and literal.
Another pair of ways to interpret it is preterist or futurist. Preterists believe that most of Revelation was fulfilled in the first century. For example they believe the Beast is the Roman emperor Nero. (Of course they think the last part, about the return of Christ and the new heavens and new earth, are still in the future.) Futurists believe that all of Revelation beginning at chapter four will take place after the rapture. When John is told "Come up here" the rapture takes place. The futurist interpretation make the most sense to me.

Revelation is a literal account of what will happen but it contains many figurative and symbolical elements within it.


Edited by theophilus, Apr 23 2014, 09:58 AM.
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S.T.Ranger
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stratcat79
Apr 23 2014, 08:06 AM
I agree with ST. I am a bit confused by the meaning of "pre-millenial", as I am not sure what is meant. I think it means that the millennium takes place after the Great Tribulation period of 7 years, at which time Jesus reigns on the earth 1,000 years.
"Pre-Millennial" refers to those that believe there will be a Millennial Kingdom and that Christ will return before it begins.

That group is broken up into Pre, Mid, and Post-Tribulational believers.

A song comes to mind:

"Oh Lord Jesus, how long, how long, 'til we sing the glad song, Christ returneth.

Hallelujah, hallelujah! Amen...hallelujah!"

I use to often say that it was not a critical issue whether one embraced a pre or post position, but I no longer say that. The more I study Prophecy the more convinced I am that a pre-tribulational view is critical to a number of doctrines.

And it is the only one that reconciles all of Prophecy without the need to import extrabiblical views, though we all think we have the right view. But the more others study Prophecy they will see that we are right.

;)


God bless.
Edited by S.T.Ranger, Apr 23 2014, 04:35 PM.
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S.T.Ranger
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theophilus
Apr 23 2014, 09:56 AM
Random0wl
Apr 22 2014, 02:58 PM
I suppose that the two key ways would be figurative and literal.
Another pair of ways to interpret it is preterist or futurist. Preterists believe that most of Revelation was fulfilled in the first century. For example they believe the Beast is the Roman emperor Nero. (Of course they think the last part, about the return of Christ and the new heavens and new earth, are still in the future.) Futurists believe that all of Revelation beginning at chapter four will take place after the rapture. When John is told "Come up here" the rapture takes place. The futurist interpretation make the most sense to me.

Revelation is a literal account of what will happen but it contains many figurative and symbolical elements within it.


There are among the different views both those that take things figuratively, and those that take it literally, and those in between, which is where I fall in. It is figurative language to call Satan a serpent or dragon, but it speaks of a literal being.

There are:

Preterist: interprets Revelation to as a description of first century events.

Historicist: interprets Revelation as a panoramic view of Church History from Apostolic times to present.

Idealist: interprets Revelation as a timeless depiction of the cosmic struggle between the forces of good and evil. MacArthur study note states: "In this view, the book contains neither historical allusions nor predictive prophecy.


Futurist: insists that the events of Chs. 6-22 are yet future, and those chapters literally and symbolically depict actual people and events yet to appear on the world scene.

Note: taken from MacArthur Study Bible (if you don't have one...get one! lol)


Again, among all of the groups there are literalists and those that take it figurative, and I think we would be hard pressed to find someone that did not enter into both categories, though some, like fundamental Baptists I have know, take a hyper literal view that can sometimes get a little too much, lol. But rather would I err on a literal side than to negate meaning through seeing everything as figurative and meant only to point in a direction, rather than spell out events as they are without question recorded in this book.


God bless.
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S.T.Ranger
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Random0wl
Apr 22 2014, 02:58 PM
Good afternoon everyone,

Lately, we have been talking about the book of Revelation in my New Testament class at college
and I did not realize that there were so many different ways that people interpret the book of
Revelation. What are some of the main concepts people disagree on within the book? I suppose that the two key ways would be figurative and literal. However, what is your opinion on the approaches to interpreting the book of Revelation? I know one main concept that is debated is that of premillennialism, postmillennialism, and amillennialism.
Hey folks, how much you want to bet the youngin posts and then never interacts with her thread again?

Yes, I am goading...

;)

God bless.
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theophilus
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Here are two sites that may be helpful in understanding prophecy.

http://compellingtruth.org/truth_End.html

http://raptureready.com/

The first provides a good introduction to the subject. The second has a lot more information and more is being added but it might be confusing for someone who doesn't already know something about the subject.
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Random0wl
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S.T.Ranger
Apr 23 2014, 04:49 PM
Random0wl
Apr 22 2014, 02:58 PM
Good afternoon everyone,

Lately, we have been talking about the book of Revelation in my New Testament class at college
and I did not realize that there were so many different ways that people interpret the book of
Revelation. What are some of the main concepts people disagree on within the book? I suppose that the two key ways would be figurative and literal. However, what is your opinion on the approaches to interpreting the book of Revelation? I know one main concept that is debated is that of premillennialism, postmillennialism, and amillennialism.
Hey folks, how much you want to bet the youngin posts and then never interacts with her thread again?

Yes, I am goading...

;)

God bless.
Most likely because the "yougin" has been writing 5+ 3,000 word papers and is in finals week. Just an assumption. :) Thanks for your input everyone! I have to write a paper on this topic and it's due next week, so I'm trying to get my research in.
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Shim
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Hi Randomowl,

I'm currently studying the various camps each follows with regards to theological consistency. Here's a link to an article and an active thread that you may find of interest: Identifying the Major Eschatological Positions on the Millennium

As I expressed in the thread towards the end, I do not fall in any camp yet, but right off the bat am having an issue with the Amillennialist position. It's too early right now for me to accept or reject any camp. My only reading has been guided by Professor William Barclay who is a preterist. Reading the Book of Revelation from a historical point of view helped me ease into it, as I do not fair well with an allegorical interpretation. As I mentioned elsewhere, I seemingly fall into a bottomless pit questioning the meaning of everything regarding symbolism. So it was well accepted, that is, Barclay's teaching, that helped ground me enough to get through the book. Not that it has anything to do with his commentary, but I began rejecting him when reaching the book of Jude, for he's a universalist that wasn't apparent until reading several of his commentaries on different books in the Bible.

Hope this helps.
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Random0wl
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What are your opinions on the different views of interpretations for Revelation, primarily the following: Idealism, Preterism, Historicism, and Futurism?
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S.T.Ranger
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Random0wl
Apr 30 2014, 06:49 PM
What are your opinions on the different views of interpretations for Revelation, primarily the following: Idealism, Preterism, Historicism, and Futurism?
I think this topic presents a good example of how we can go to extremes on a particular issue. For instance, I think we can incorporate, at least to some extent, a little of each view into a singular view which balances the Word and leaves the integrity of the teaching and what God meant for us to have.

Can we say the Bible speaks about the battle of good and evil? Of course. The parenthetical, for example, reaches back into history and gives an overview of the enmity between Satan and Israel. We would view Revelation as containing history, both past and prophetic. Can we liken first century events to what is detailed in Revelation? I think so. Consider Daniel, which applied to near events as well as reached into the future, to the events we now await to be fulfilled.

And we wait to see them fulfilled because, no matter how well one tries to make our own history fit the prophecy, it always falls short. We know that there remains prophecy to be fulfilled.

So as a Literalist, Futurist, and Pre-Tribulation believer, I do not discount incorporation of these other views into my own, because we can see a logical application in some areas. However, just like Daniel, we understand that there will be a literal fulfillment of the prophecy, and that has not taken place yet.

And just a word or two on literalism: when I say I am a literalist, some will jump to the conclusion that this must mean I believe Satan is a literal dragon, or that a literal sword comes out of Christ's mouth. It does not. We understand that Scripture employs figurative speech, symbols, metaphor, et cetera, and usually Scripture indicates quite clearly when this is taking place. Some of it is simply using common sense, such as the Lord "spewing from His mouth" those that do not overcome. This does not mean we are in the Lord's mouth, but this is a figure of speech which denotes disgust with the referent.

But as I was saying, it is when we go to extremes on an issue that we fall into a snare, I believe. Certain views will lock the adherent into a position which cannot reconcile the discrepancies of his view.

It is just my view that a futurist, as well as a pre-tribulation view is the view that is easiest to reconcile. I can appreciate how others can come to embrace the views they do, as I have seen some pretty convincing presentations that support their view, but, it is when we consider the discrepancies that we are challenged, and it is there, where we test that which we believe, that I think God blesses us in our study.

But we have to test what we believe. And what better way to do that than to discuss it with brothers and sisters in Christ who hold a different view?


God bless.
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