Learning to Read Prophecy

While it is often advantageous to study historical works, philosophy and science, psychology and religion, it is always best to let Biblical scripture guide us in interpreting Biblical scripture—provided, of course, that we pay due attention to those parts of the Bible that so boldly emphasizes the spiritual application of scripture.

While all four of the major methods or schools of interpretation discussed earlier do indeed utilize other Biblical works to interpret the book of Revelation, they also all rely heavily on the study of other works. The preterist and the historicist rely largely on works of history and studies of societies, while the idealist might rely heavily on philosophy, ethical codes, and comparative religion. Even the futurist is not without outside aid; typically, though the futurist is very literal, he relies on the analysis of other commentators to interpret those literal prophecies which he sees.

There is, however another major method of interpretation, another system applied to the Bible, that is recommended by the author of Revelation. This is the method I will be using throughout our study, though all are of course welcome to share from whatever perspective, listed and unlisted, as they so desire.

The Revelator gives us major clues as to how to interpret and read his Revelation. Being under heavy persecution, even banished to the island of Patmos, John had lots of time to study the scriptures in the Spirit of the Author, to dwell on the prophecies of Christ, and to reflect on his experiences with the mortal and the resurrected Jesus. Subtly, he offers us these two directions for interpretation:

Revelation 1.1-2 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

Many Bibles title this work “The Revelation of St. John the Divine,” or something to that effect. Perhaps “The Apocalypse of John the Seer.” But, in reading the first four words of the book, we see that John considered saw his visions not as revelations about him or from him, but as “The Revelation of Jesus Christ.”

There is much debate about what this phrase means. Some Christians argue that it means the contents of Revelation are revealed by Christ. Other Christians argue that it means the contents of Revelation actually reveal Jesus Christ—his coming, his character, his words. Yet also we should notice what John considers his role to be; he bares record of God’s word, and also bares record of the testimony—the story, tale, report, witness, proof, evidence, or demonstration—of Jesus Christ, as well as bearing record of all the things that he saw.

The Revelator gives us at least one more clue to aid us in our efforts to understand the message of Revelation. In the midst of all his visions, between the purification of God’s Bride and the arrival of God’s Word to pass judgment on God’s enemies, John reports an event pregnant with meaning:

Revelation 19.10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy. (Ref. 2 Peter 1.19-21)

Here is a very key verse—perhaps the key verse—for understanding the book of Revelation. Restricted from preaching the gospel, banished to a desolate isle, far removed from civilization, the Revelator still found a way to do the thing that he was commanded to do—bear witness of the One he loved. Unflagging in his devotion to Christ, the Revelator found a way to bear witness of the things he had seen and heard of Jesus: by using the imagery and symbolism his audience was most familiar—the Old Testament and even New Testament works—to describe the way in which Jesus Christ had fulfilled the prophecies of God, the Revelator continued in the face of persecution to be faithful to the Great Commission of his Lord.

Many of the symbols in Revelation are difficult to determine with any degree of certainty; of note are the bizarre locusts, the three frogs, the horns of the beast. But if we apply this principal to the majority of the symbols found in Revelation, we are presented with amazing and even clear solutions to these and other symbolic puzzles:

 The four horsemen
 The number of the Beast
 Armageddon
 The first and second resurrections
 The New Heaven and the New Earth
 The four creatures around the throne
 The saints under the altar
 The Bride of Christ
 New Jerusalem
 The tree and river of life
 The reaping angels
 The war in heaven
 Antichrist
 The two witnesses
 The Dragon and the Beast
 The winepress of God
 The plagues, the vials, and the trumpets
 The woman and her Son
 The bittersweet book that the prophet eats
 The city spiritually called Sodom and Egypt

These references all had strong symbolic meaning to the Revelator's original audience, which was the various congregations in the various churches scattered throughout Asia Minor. Each of these churches probably had a Jewish contingent, who would be familiar, as most Jews were, with the Old Testament references. These people, being much closer to the symbolism and language used to write his Revelation, would be able to immediately understand the references that are now obscure to us—and which were obscure to the Roman oppressors that were trying to stamp out the treasonous Christian religion.

But Revelation does not only predict the overthrow of the Roman government; it was not only predicting the victory of the Church over a temporary foe. Its prophecies are still very relevant today, for they speak of the coming of Christ, which we still wait for. They speak of heaven, which we long for. They speak of the crucial things every believer must know to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And these are the things we will continue to explore.

Justin Staller - Moderator
justinstaller@yahoo.com

Search the scriptures--for in them ye think ye have eternal life: They are they which testify of me--and ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. (John 5.39-40)