More keys to Understanding the Book of Revelation
The three keys to interpreting Revelation that I am suggesting will help us to have a framework for understanding this book and give us keys to help spot abuses of this inspiring and challenging book.
First, let me point out something important. The title of this letter is most often translated in English as revelation. That is a good translation of the word, for it means “to reveal, to uncover, to take out of hiding.” Yet, the Greek word (apokalupsis) gives us the word “apocalyptic” in English and that word does not mean “to reveal, or to uncover.”
The English word “apocalyptic” means: “describing or prophesying the complete destruction of the world: resembling the end of the world; momentous or catastrophic.” I cannot over-emphasize the fact that this is not the definition of the Greek word. The Greek word does not have anything to do with the destruction of the world and the second coming of Christ. The word simply means a “revealing.”
Now, what that means is that the book of Revelation was not meant to conceal or to hide or to confuse anyone! It is a “revealing,” an “uncovering.” Now, what it “reveals” or “uncovers” is the matter of disagreement in interpretation. Yet, again, I think these three keys to understanding Revelation will help us understand what Jesus is wanting to reveal or uncover through this unique book of the New Testament, indeed, a unique book of the whole Bible.
KEY #2 –
The second key to understanding Revelation is also in 1:1 – “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place.” Again, immediately we are impressed with the idea that John’s message does not refer to the year 2014! Or 3014! Or 4014!
What does “soon take place” mean? It means it must happen within a relatively short time from the time John received this revelation.
Now, consider these other phrases scattered throughout the entire book of Revelation, from the beginning, middle, and end:
1:3 – “the time is near”
2:16 – “I am coming to you quickly”
3:10 – “testing is about to come upon the whole world”
3:11 – “I am coming quickly”
6:10 – “How long, O Lord …will you refrain from judging and avenging?”
10:6 – “there will be delay no longer”
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16:15 – “I am coming like a thief”
16:17 – “It is done”
17:12 – “one hour”
18:10, 17, 19 – “one hour” (Incidentally, is this “one hour” figurative or literal? If it is figurative, why don’t we understand the 1,000 years in chapter 20 as figurative?)
22:6 – “must soon take place”
22:7 – “I am coming quickly”
22:10 – “the time is near”
22:12 – “I am coming quickly”
22:20 – “Yes, I am coming quickly”
Whatever the events are that are symbolized in the book of Revelation, they were to take place soon, quickly, within an hour from the time John wrote in the first century. Clearly, he is not talking about something that was 2,000 years in the future!
Key #1 – Revelation is full of symbols. Key #2 – Revelation deals with events to happen shortly after the book was written…
If someone brings up Revelation, ask him: “How does your interpretation of Revelation fit in with the three keys to its understanding?”
–Paul Holland