Understanding Revelation
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Revelation is confusing! It’s easily the most difficult book to interpret in the New Testament. If you are interested in studying Revelation for yourself, here are some tips to get you started:
1. Take a Literal Approach
One of my favorite Marvel movies, Guardians of the Galaxy, features a character named Drax who provides comic relief by constantly taking everything literally. The meaning of every joke and figure of speech is completely lost on him. Here’s a quick example:
(Peter): “Yeah, I’ll have to agree with the walking thesaurus on that one.”
(Drax): “Do not ever call me a thesaurus.”
(Peter): “It’s just a metaphor, dude.”
(Rocket): “His people are completely literal. Metaphors are gonna go over his head.”
(Drax): “Nothing goes over my head - my reflexes are too fast. I would catch it.”[1]
There are two extremes when interpreting prophecy: Some use the “Drax” method, interpreting every word and phrase completely literally (don’t be like Drax). On the other hand, some approach prophecy with a certain outcome in mind, which forces them to spiritualize everything that does not fit within their predetermined beliefs. Both of these extremes will inevitably result in confusion and disagreement.
To clarify, a literal approach really means that we should take the meaning of the words at face value, while also allowing for symbolism, figures of speech, and historical context. Use the normal, everyday understanding of language as a starting point, trusting that all Scripture is inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16) and is not meant to confuse you! Revelation has enough symbolism already - there’s no need to complicate straightforward language when we see it.
“When the plain sense makes good sense, seek no other sense lest you end up with nonsense.”[2]
Looking back, it’s clear that every Old Testament prophecy concerning Jesus’ first coming was fulfilled literally and exactly as described. Why should we treat the prophecies in the New Testament any differently? Pastor and author Dr. Mark Hitchcock writes,
“The prophet Micah foretold, seven hundred years in advance, that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). The Messiah was born in Bethlehem. Zechariah 14:4 says that Jesus will return to the Mount of Olives. John says that when Jesus comes, armies will be gathered at Armageddon in northern Israel (Revelation 16:16). We should learn from fulfilled prophecies as we consider what is still to come. We have no more license to spiritualize Scripture’s clear words about the end times than we do to say that Bethlehem was only figurative. The first essential key to accurately interpreting biblical prophecy is to consistently use a literal system of interpretation.”[3]
2. Let Scripture Interpret Itself
I recently listened to a radio show featuring Dr. Hitchcock. Throughout the hour, he was fielding questions from callers regarding Bible prophecy. One caller joined in and confidently announced that he had discovered the identity of the red dragon in Revelation 12 - Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping! His evidence? China has done some evil things and the name Jin means “dragon” (a quick Google search tells me this is not the case). In response, Dr. Hitchcock calmly informed the man that if he had read just a little bit further, he would have realized that the dragon is actually a symbol for Satan:
“And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world - he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.” - Revelation 12:9 (ESV)
In many cases, the book of Revelation is not as puzzling as it seems. Many of the symbols found in each passage are actually interpreted for us if we continue reading carefully! Here are a few examples:
Symbol Meaning
- Seven stars (1:16) - Seven angels (1:20)
- Lampstands (1:13) - Churches (1:20)
- Morning star (2:28) - Jesus (22:16)
- Incense (5:8) - Prayers (5:8)
- Time, times, & - 1,260 days (12:6)
half a time (12:14)
- Rider on the white - Jesus Christ
horse (19:11-16, 19) (19:11-16, 19)
In other cases, John simply borrows symbolism from other parts of the Bible. For example, Revelation 19:15 says that Jesus will strike down His enemies with a sharp sword that comes from His mouth. Does this mean that Jesus will come swinging His head around with a literal sword clenched between His teeth? Although that would be quite a spectacle, I think a better answer can be found in the following verses:
“Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God…” - Ephesians 6:17 (ESV, emphasis added)
“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow…” - Hebrews 4:12a (NIV)
Simply put, God’s word has power, and the sword in Jesus’ mouth is the very word of God! Just as God spoke the universe into existence by the power of His word alone, Jesus will simply speak, and His enemies will be defeated.
Some symbolism requires a bit more detective work. Take, for instance, the characters in Revelation 12 - the red dragon, the woman, and her child. We already know that the dragon represents Satan (v. 9), but what about the others? John describes the woman as “clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars” (v. 1). We also read that her child is “one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron” (v.5), who was caught up to heaven despite Satan’s attempts to destroy him at birth (v. 4). Once again, when we consult the rest of the Bible, we discover who these symbols represent:
The Woman - Israel
“Then [Joseph] dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said… ‘Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.’” - Genesis 37:9 (ESV, emphasis added)
**This is in reference to Jacob and his sons, who were ancestors to the twelve tribes of Israel
“From [the Israelites] is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised!” - Romans 9:5 (NIV, emphasis added)
The Child - Jesus
“From [Jesus’] mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron…” - Revelation 19:15a (ESV, emphasis added)
“While [Jesus] blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven.” - Luke 24:51 (ESV), emphasis added)
3. Compare Parallel Passages
In a similar vein, we should understand that prophecies concerning the end times are not exclusive to the last book of the Bible! There are many passages throughout the Bible that support and expand upon the same prophecies found in Revelation. These parallel passages not only help us understand Bible prophecy but also validate one another. Passages like Matthew 24-25, Mark 13, Luke 21, and the book of Daniel all speak about the same events. Daniel, in particular, is extremely useful because it uses the same style of apocalyptic literature found in Revelation, while also providing clear interpretations rooted in reality. In essence, Daniel is a guide for how to interpret apocalyptic symbolism in the Bible.
Other important prophetic passages can be found in Ezekiel 38-39, 1 Thessalonians 4-5, and 2 Thessalonians 2. By referencing these passages, we can gain considerable insight into the book of Revelation.
4. Understand the General Outline
There are two important points to understand when reading Revelation:
John frequently alternates perspectives back and forth between heaven and earth
The chronological order of events - the seal, trumpet, and bowl judgments - is regularly interrupted by sections that fill us in with more information
With that in mind, here is a general outline of the entire book of Revelation that shows the alternation between Heaven and Earth:[4]
If I could boil everything down to one point, it would be to know your Bible! If Revelation was the final exam, then the other 65 books of the Bible would make the perfect study guide. Every prophecy, symbol, and theological principle in Revelation is supported by the rest of Scripture. Even though it takes time and dedicated study, Revelation can be understood - we just need the proper tools, and the right approach!
Notes
[1] James Gunn, (Director), 2014, Guardians of the Galaxy, (Film), Marvel Studios.
[2] Ron Rhodes, “Introduction to Bible Prophecy,” in The End Times in Chronological Order: A Complete Overview to Understanding Bible Prophecy (Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 2012), Hoopla Digital Library.
[3] Mark Hitchcock, The End: A Complete Overview of Bible Prophecy and the End of Days (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale, 2012), 54.
[4] Ibid, 81.