Revelation
Arguments against inspiration of Revelation
- Not accepted by the eastern church
- Not included in Syriac Peshitta
- Late date of writing - 96 A.D.
- Question of authorship
- Multiplicity and divisiveness of interpretations
- Late date of acceptance
- List of those who questioned the canonicity of Revelation
- Martin Luther
- Ulrich Zwingli
- Oecolampadius
Arguments favoring
- Widely accepted
- Early date of writing - 67 A.D.
Interpretations of the book of Revelation
- Futurist
- Preterist
- Typico-Spiritual(Symbolic, Idealist)
- Parallel Septenary
- Historicist(Continuous Historical)
Origin of interpretations of the book of Revelation
Symbols in the book of Revelation
- Two Witnesses, Rev. 11
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- Lamentations and Woe - in belly, bitter - you are under babylon.
- Honey for Sweetness - in mouth, sweet as honey - you will be delivered.
- Symbolizes the two messages for Israel.
- Takes place during the 1,260 day-years
- Ezekiel 1,2, Amos 3
- Souls Under the Altar, Rev. 6:9-11
- Old Covenant symbol
- Genesis 4:10 Abel’s blood cries from the ground. “the voice of thy brother’s blood is crying unto Me from the ground;” Hebrews 11:4 “and through it, he being dead, doth yet speak.”
- Under the Altar
- Leviticus 4:7 blood poured “out at the foundation of the altar.” Isaiah 53:12
- Leviticus 17:14 Life of the flesh is in the blood
- Seven Seals
- Historicist interpretation
- Rome Victorious, A.D. 96-180, Rev. 7:1-2
- Civil War, A.D. 185-284, Rev. 6:3-4
- Taxation Depression, A.D. 200-250, Rev. 6:5-6
- Decay and Death, A.D. 250-300, Rev. 6:7-8
- Christian Martyrs, A.D. 303-313, Rev. 6:9-11
- Fall of Paganism, A.D. 313-395, Rev. 6:12-17
- Seven Trumpets, A.D. 400-1917+, Rev. 8-11
- Battle of Armageddon, Rev. 16:16
- Mount of gathering - where the carnal mind is destroyed. Old Covenant symbolism - the Israelites gathered at the mountain to receive the Law of God.
- Earthquake, Rev. 16:18
- Lake of Fire
- Where the carnal mind is destroyed.
- God is a consuming Fire Hebrews 12:29
- City of NewJerusalem
- Typico-spiritual interpretation
- Walls - fiery law of God Zachariah 2:5, Deuteronomy 33:2
Other symbols pertaining to end time events
- Son of Man coming in the clouds - the Holy Spirit coming at Pentecost.
External Resources