The Book of Revelation
Vital advice for present day Christians
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PREAMBLE

Interpretation of Revelation

This series of studies aims to highlight spiritual guidance for all Christians in the book of Revelation. The author does not believe that the book is confined to specific historical events. He believes it has relevance to Christians of every age from the beginning of the church up to the time of the Lord's return. He believes it is portraying spiritual conflict that any Christian in any period of time might face. Here are some of the reasons why:

There is blessing for anyone who reads (Rev.1:3 and 22:7). There are warnings to anyone who reads, not to add to or detract from it's concepts (*Logous = concepts). Our spiritual welfare and even our salvation is in peril if we add to the concepts or take away from the concepts of Revelation. With that in mind here are principles of interpretation, drawn from the scriptures, which the author has endeavoured to follow.
[* "words" in chaper 1 verse 3 and chapter 22 verses 18 and 19 from logouV (logous) plural of logoV (logos) meaning concept, idea]

1) There is only one way of salvation for everyone of all time from the cross to the coming of our Lord. So the way of salvation has got to be the same throughout the NT. So different concepts on the way of salvation are not introduced in the book of Revelation. Any method of interpretation that introduces extra conditions for salvation has to be wrong.

2) If the word "words" (Logous) referred to the actual Greek words that John wrote, then every copyist and every translator is at risk of eternal salvation if he fails to select from the many variants the correct Greek text and also if he fails to give a precisely correct word for word equivalent in his translation. That would prove too much and so prove nothing at all. Nowhere in the New Testament does it make absolute precision in these matters a condition of Salvation.

The word "words" has got to refer to concepts. Therefore since salvation is at risk on how we portray these concepts to others - we must not add our own ideas to them nor detract from their importance.

3) There are numerous interpretations using the historical approach. It is a minefield. If care with the "words" is saying we must correctly interpret the visions to specific historical events in the course of history - the 'this vision refers to that event' type of approach - then every interpreter is in peril. That would prove too much and so prove nothing at all.

4) So all the concepts portrayed in all the visions throughout the book of Revelation will be applicable to any period of time where the same sort of scenarios exist. They were applicable in the Roman Empire situation. They are applicable now under whatever evil forces are prevalent, even now, in our Governments, Industries, media, education systems, leisure industry etc...

To illustrate - here is an example. If an employer requires us to do a beast type thing - even something as simple as lying to clients - under threat of losing your job - then we must neither have his mark in the forehead - i.e. not agree in thought - nor must we succumb to doing it even though not agreeing with it - i.e. the mark of the beast in the hand. The same would apply to legislation. We cannot even make the excuse that we are under orders.

It may be that folk prefer historical interpretations because it makes it comfortably remote from us - e.g. If a vision it refers specifically to the Roman situation then it has nothing to do with us - But in this they would be taking away from the concepts of the book.

Seeing how these concepts were appropriate in the crises early Christians faced could help us to see how they could apply to us in our day and age, but if you are hoping to see the course of history predicted then this course of studies might disappoint you. On the other hand, if you are looking to see how the book of Revelation could guide you in your Christian life here and now, in the vicissitudes of life you face, then may it be a blessing to you and may that lead to the Almighty God and the Lord Jesus Christ being glorified.

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