The Book of Revelation
Unit 1
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PRINCIPLES OF INTERPRETATION

Before we plunge into the Revelation, groundwork must be done. Certain principles of interpretation must be appreciated and born in mind at every step of the way.

ONE

The Book of Revelation is a book of symbols. The significance of things that are outside our understanding are being illustrated by things that we can understand.

The things referred to are real but they are described in symbolic language. E.g. the lake of fire is not an actual lake of actual fire but it does represent something real. Something which is at least as awesome and at least as severe, but they are not the same as the symbols used to describe them. Almighty God is not sat on an actual chair, a throne encircled by an emerald coloured rainbow and in front of a glass sea. This vision portrays the awesome majesty of the creator of the entire universe and everything in it.

Let me illustrate it this way. Suppose a man born totally blind asks "What is colour and what do you mean about colours harmonising or clashing with each other?". How can you explain harmony in colour to him when he has never seen light or colour? You could say that just as you can have harmony and discord in music and it pleases or annoys you, so you can have harmony or discord in colour and it pleases or annoys you. It is similar. It is at least as awesome and yet it is materially different.

Similarly pearly gates and streets of transparent gold might convey to us some of the awesomeness of the eternal city but it is different in essence. Gold is physical. The eternal city is spiritual. This is what is meant in Revelation 1.1:

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

The word "signified" (Greek semeion = made known by signs). So we must expect to find symbolism throughout the book. It is a book of signs. We are not left in the quandary of trying to decide which is symbolical and which is not. It is all symbolism.

TWO

The Bible does not contradict itself.

A symbolic passage of scripture will not contradict a plain passage of scripture.

So if the symbolic language of the Revelation is interpreted so as to contradict plain passages of scripture elsewhere in the Bible, then the interpretation must be wrong.

THREE

The way of eternal life is the same in the book of Revelation as it is the rest of the New Testament.

So,where considered relevant, for comparison, passages are quoted from the rest of the New Testament. But bear in mind that it is written to Christians. It is not advising non-Christians on how to become Christians. It is encouraging Christians to remain faithful.

APPLICATION

ONE

Read chapter one verses one to five. Note the following words "words", "blessed", "hear" and "keep" in verse three.

Read chapter twenty two, verses six to twenty one. Note a similar statement in verse seven to that in verse three of chapter one.

The word "words" is translated from the Greek word Logous which means; concepts, ideas, principles etc.. The book Revelation contains concepts, principles for us to heed and keep. If we keep them we will be blest. These concepts are in symbolic language. They will be the same kind of principles given elsewhere in the New Testament because the way of eternal life is the same everywhere in the New Testament. For the same reason, the blessings described in the picture language of the Revelation (e.g. in chapter twenty two verses fourteen and seventeen) will be the same as those described elsewhere in the New Testament.

TWO

Turn again to chapter twenty two and read verses eighteen and nineteen. Here too the word "words" is translated from the Greek word Logous which means; concepts, ideas, principles etc..

Anyone who adds to or takes away from the concepts concerning eternal life as revealed in the book of Revelation will suffer the consequences symbolically described in these verses.

Remember, the concepts of eternal life revealed in the picture language of the book of Revelation are necessarily the same as given in the rest of the New Testament. Also the consequences of deviating from those concepts are the same as described in the rest of the New Testament.

SUMMARY
The book of Revelation is a guide, guard and encouragement for us in every aspect of our spiritual life. Every principal concerning eternal life, spiritual death and the consequences thereof, is the same as in the rest of the New Testament.

RESEARCH TOPICS

You will have to do some research to find the answers to these questions.

ONE
In which language was the New Testament written?

TWO

Were the book titles (e.g. "The Revelation of St. John The Divine"), chapter and verse divisions were part of the original documents.?

Find the answers in the New Testament to the following questions:-

THREE
Who wrote the Book of Revelation?

FOUR

How many ways of salvation are there?

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