How Should We Interpret the Book of Revelation? | 4 Views

Type of Doctrine: Tertiary

"The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near."

-Revelation 1:1-3 ESV

Why does it matter?

The book of Revelation is the last book of the Bible. It was written by John, and it refers to the second coming of Jesus. The book has been interpreted in various ways (covered in the next section). Have the events in Revelation already happened? Are they symbols? Will they happen in the future?

Full preterism (i.e., the belief that all of Revelation has already happened and Jesus has already come back) is a heresy. Why? Two main reasons: (1) the creeds show that Christians have always interpreted Jesus second coming as a future event and (2) if Jesus has come back then we are currently living in the new heavens and the new earth (i.e., with sin, sickness, suffering, and Satan removed). This would be a primary issue. However, picking among partial preterism (i.e., the belief that some of Revelation has already happened but Jesus has not come back yet) and the other views is likely considered a tertiary issue. Well-meaning believers can typically disagree on this issue and remain in the same church.

What is it?

How should the book of Revelation be interpreted? This is a question that has been given different answers. Some say to interpret it as events that will happen throughout church history in order. Others agree, but say the events may not happen exactly in order. Others say the events will mostly take place in the future. Lastly, others say most of the events have already taken place.

The manner that is used to interpret the book of Revelation will lead to various interpretations so it is good to be aware of the methods of interpretation that you are using.

There are four main schools of interpretation. The section below will cover the 4 main views, and it is adapted from pages 2456 to 2458 in the ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2008).

View	What Is It?
Historicism	Understands the literary order of visions in Revelation to symbolize historical events that take place in order throughout the church age (i.e., the time period from the early church to the second coming of Jesus and the new heavens and new earth). Put simply, Revelation will happen in order throughout church history.
Futurism	Understands the literary order of visions in Revelation to be future events that will mostly take place during the seven year tribulation (i.e., the seven years prior to the second coming of Jesus). Put simply, Revelation will happen in the future during the tribulation.
Preterism	Two types: - Partial Preterism: many events in Revelation have already been fulfilled (typically fulfilled in the early church) but the second coming of Jesus is yet to come. Put simply, Revelation has mostly already happened. - Full Preterism (this view is a heresy): all the events in Revelation have already taken place including the second coming of Jesus. Put simply, Revelation has all happened.
Idealism	Understands the literary order of visions to go in cycles. In other words, the events in Revelation symbolize historical events that take place throughout the church age but not necessarily in order (i.e., in contrast to the historicism view). Put simply, Revelation will happen throughout church history but not necessarily in order.

Application

Regardless of the view that you and I settle on, let's lock arms with other Christians and pray for the second coming of Jesus! Even though we haven't seen him we love him and find inexpressible joy in him. Peter says it this way, "Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls" (1 Peter 1:8-9).

In the meantime, we must abide in him. John says: "And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming" (1 John 2:28).

Where can I learn more?

Bibliography:

-ESV Study Bible. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2008.

-Pate, C. Marvin. Four Views on the Book of Revelation. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1998.