The Book of Revelation #11 Interpretation
The Book of Revelation #11 Interpretation
There are two (2) main issues of interpretation when dealing with the Book of Revelation:
1) Literal versus Figurative interpretation
2) Sequential versus Cyclical interpretation
Firstly, regarding Literal versus Figurative interpretation, generally, Pre-Tribulation Rapture, 1000 year (365,000 days, during which Jesus reigns here on earth) Millennial believing Christians hold to a more Literal interpretation of the Book of Revelation, while Amillennialist (who say there is a “Millennium” but it is not 365,000 days of Jesus reigning here on earth) believing Christians hold to a more figurative understanding. The pivotal item is how the 1000 years of Rev 20 is understood.
Generally, if that 1000 years is understood literally, it is believed that there is an actual 1000 year (365,000 day) rule of Christ on earth, with his throne at Jerusalem, the temple re-built, etc; but if it is understood figuratively, than it is believed that Christ, while obviously ruling, does not rule for an actual 1000 years (365000 days) physically present on earth.
It is then assumed that if you hold to a literal understanding of the 1000 years, you understand everything in the book literally, but if you hold to a figurative understanding of the 1000 years, you understand everything in the book figuratively; at least that is what those holding the opposite view, represent your position to be.
BUT IN FACT, no one holds 100% to either a literal or a figurative understanding of the book.
There are verses literalists understand figuratively, and there are verses figurativists take literally!
For example, verses which literalists understand figuratively would include:
Rev 8 and Rev 16: no one says the sea becomes real blood with platelets, hemoglobin, and white blood cells
Rev 9: no one says the locusts with the faces of men and the hair of women, who come from pit, are real locusts/grasshoppers.
Rev 12: no one believes that while the woman was giving birth, the earth opens its mouth and swallowing the flood
Rev 13: no one believes the beast is a talking animal
Rev 17: the great whore is figurative for a city, Babylon, Jerusalem, who sits on waters, figurative for people, with seven heads, figurative for seven mountains; whore is taken figuratively; we are not talking about a street walker in NYC; we are talking about an institution that has prostituted itself to the devil
And here are verses which figurativists understand literally:
Rev 4: There is a Throne, and there is Someone sitting on the Throne
Rev 5: There are 24 elders, real men; 4 living creatures, real beings
Rev 6 and on: the Plagues are real, real people will die
Lastly, where both literalists and figurativists are inconsistent are with the verses that speak of sealing/marking, both regarding the mark of the beast, and the sealing of God’s people. The sealing of God’s people in Rev 9:4, is taken figuratively; no one thinks there will be a visible mark on our body/skin. BUT, with the mark of the beast in Rev 13, is taken literally by most: there will be a real, physical “thing” in/on our body/skin.
The point is, the issue of literal versus figurative is not an across the book issue, rather each side selectively applies their thinking to particular, individual verses, interpreting the verses to support their system; neither side in 100% consistent across the entire book, therefore, we should not make this a great issue. Regardless of how we interpret the book, we are inconsistent.
Regarding the literalness or figurativeness of the 1000 years, I believe there is much more common ground than we would like to think. First off, all Christians say there is a last day; THE Last Day. There is a Last Day, and a Last Judgment. It seems that Mat 25, 2Co 5:10, and Rev 20 all clearly say that all people will stand before God/Jesus at the same place, and at the same time. While 2Co might be construed to mean there is a separate judgment/review of works for Christians (the “we” referring only to Christians), and then reasoning that there must be another for unbelievers, it seems a bit hard to support that line of argument in light of Matt 25 and Rev 20, where clearly all people are together at one time and at the same place. There is a Last Day.
We who say the 1000 years in Revelation 20 is figurative, appeal to the fact that there is no teaching in the NT about what goes on during this 1000 years; there is in fact no other verse in the Bible that speaks of a 1000 time period, or even of Jesus ruling physically on earth. 1000 years, i.e. 356000 days, is a long time, and for the NT to be silent about it give us pause to wonder. Much of the support for the literal 1000 years comes from OT verses like “the lion will lie down with the lamb”, which are understood to mean a “heaven on earth” for a 1000 year period, but interpreting those verses in that way does not have support from the context of the verses, it simply supports the system; and again, there is no 1000 year time period mentioned in those OT verses.
From today, 2024, until the LAST DAY what happens? Is there a Rapture when Christ takes his people to heaven, and then returns with them later to rule here on earth literally physically for a 1000 years? I don’t think so, and would simple ask, “Show me a verse that clearly says that.”
Rather from Mat 24:21-22 it seems we Christians live through the Tribulation, which God shortens to be merciful to the elect, his people, and then the Last Day and the Judgment occur.
But good men have been on both sides of the issue; we will all see what happens as it unfolds.
Secondly, regarding a Sequential verses Cyclical interpretation of the book, this question refers ONLY to the plagues/judgments.
Everyone believes that Rev 1-5 are sequential, and everyone believes that 19-22 are also sequential.
The question is: Are there 7 plagues/judgments, which are revealed to us 3 times, using 3 different pictures, i.e. once as bowls, once as vials, and then once as trumpets … or are there 3 sets of 7 different plagues/judgments totaling 21 all together?
Over my 48 years of being a Christian, I have bounced back and forth between these two opinions; I have settled on the Sequential understanding, here are the reasons:
1) the three sets are not at all the same; the angels are different, delivery method is different, and the plagues themselves are different
2) there is a progression from injuring 1/3 of a group, to destroying the entire group
3) the last set is specifically called “the last plagues”, twice!
The first set, Rev 6-8, originate when Jesus opens the seals on the scroll.
They are:
1) the rider on the white horse with a bow conquering
2) the rider on the red horse with a sward taking away peace and killing
3) the rider on the black horse with a scale causing famine
4) the rider on the pale horse, whose name is Death, killing with sword, hunger, beasts, ¼ of the earth
5) the martyrs under altar crying “how long” and receiving white robes
6) an earthquake, the sun going black, the moon turning red, the stars falling, heaven being rolled up, and people hiding
7) and then a ½ hour of silence in heaven, which ends with seven angels each being given a trumpet
At least to me, the ending of the ½ hour of silence, and then the seven angels being given trumpets, seems very much to indicate sequence, i.e. another set of new things will happen.
The second set, Rev 8-11, originate when the 7 angels who stand before God, are given trumpets, but it is not stated by whom, and they then each blow their trumpets.
Upon each trumpet being blown, the following happens:
1) hail, fire, blood are cast to the earth, killing 1/3 of the trees and grass
2) a mountain of fire is cast into sea, and 1/3 of the sea becomes blood, and 1/3 of the sea creatures die
3) a burning star from heaven, called Wormwood, falls upon rivers and water springs, and 1/3 of them become bitter/poisoned, causing many people to die
4) 1/3 of the sun, and 1/3 of the moon, and 1/3 of the stars are struck and become dark; and then an angel flies and calls out “woe when the next 3 angels blow their trumpets”
5) a star/angel comes down from heaven having the key to the bottomless pit, he opens the door, and releases locusts who are to attack the people who do not have the seal of God
6) an angel is told to release the 4 angels that are by the Euphrates River, who have an army of 200,000,000 to kill 1/3 of the men who have not repented of their murders, sorceries, fornication, nor thefts
7) an angel calls out “The kingdoms of the world have become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ, a and He shall reign forever and ever” Rev 11:15
The third set, Rev 15-16, originate when 7 angels, who come out of the temple having plagues, are each given a vial by one of the 4 living creatures, these vials contain the full wrath of God (i.e. his complete and final wrath; last), and they each pour out their vial upon the earth.
Note two (2) things: 1) these are specifically called “the seven last plagues” (Rev 15:1 and Rev 21:9), and 2) they destroy not 1/3, but 100% of what they effect.
When each vial is poured out, the following happens:
1) sores come up upon those who have the mark of the beast, and note, these people received the mark of the beast between the second and third sets of plagues, again sequence
2) the entire sea becomes blood, and everything dies
3) all rivers and springs become blood
4) the sun scorches men with fire, and they blaspheme God
5) the kingdom of the beast becomes dark, and they gnaw their tongues
6) the Euphrates river dries up
7) a great voice from the temple and throne of heaven calls out “it is done”
“It is done” is only said here at the end of these plagues; sequence.
As I compare the 3 lists, there is no correlation at all! And so I have settled upon a sequential understanding of the plagues, meaning that there are 3 sets of 7 plagues, for a total of 21.
Now there is one interesting text which we need to address. Rev 14 speaks of a harvest BEFORE the last set of plagues, which again speaks of sequence, but regarding that statement itself.
This is a section which the mid-Tribulation Rapture believing Christians say refers to the Rapture. They say is supports the mid-Tribulation position, because it happens in the middle of the Tribulation period, between the 2nd set and 3rd set of plagues.
However, I would say the “harvest” of Rev 14 refers to a time of great gospel advance, like the Reformation, The Great Awakening, The Second Great Awakening, The Korean Pentecost, etc.
Jesus uses the word “harvest” to refer to regular missionary work, regular preaching to extend the kingdom: “pray ye the Lord of the harvest, that he send forth laborers into his harvest.”
I am not saying Rev 14 refers to one of those events which has already occurred, for that would mean that we are in the middle of the Tribulation, which I do not believe; what I am saying is that the “harvest” is Rev 14 does not absolutely support Rapture theology, it could mean a time of greater than normal gospel advance.
So to sum this up, much mental energy, and arguing among Christian occurs, because we struggle with the literal-figurative issue and the cyclical-sequential issue. It would be prudent, because we will be judged for every idle word, and because it would benefit the advance of Christ’s kingdom, if we stopped arguing among ourselves, and worked together as best we can to advance his kingdom.
As I said in the first Blog on Revelation, the message is: Jesus wins, and so do we,” it is not a script of events!
18 June 2024