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
    • Modified Futurist
  • Preterist
  • Typico-Spiritual(Symbolic, Idealist)
  • Parallel Septenary
  • Historicist(Continuous Historical)

Origin of interpretations of the book of Revelation

  • Jesuit
    • Preterist
    • Futurist

Symbols in the book of Revelation

  • Two Witnesses, Rev. 11
      1. Lamentations and Woe - in belly, bitter - you are under babylon.
      2. 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
      1. Rome Victorious, A.D. 96-180, Rev. 7:1-2
      2. Civil War, A.D. 185-284, Rev. 6:3-4
      3. Taxation Depression, A.D. 200-250, Rev. 6:5-6
      4. Decay and Death, A.D. 250-300, Rev. 6:7-8
      5. Christian Martyrs, A.D. 303-313, Rev. 6:9-11
      6. Fall of Paganism, A.D. 313-395, Rev. 6:12-17
      7. 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
    • Resurrection
  • 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