Introduction to the Book of Revelation

Introduction to the Book of Revelation 

I. The four interpretations of the Book of Revelation

A. Futurists view Rev. 1-3 as fulfilled, and Rev. 4-5 as in heaven with Rev. 6-22 as referring to the coming End-Time events released at Jesus’ Second Coming.

B. Preterists see the events in Revelation as being fulfilled in the past, believing nearly all the prophecies in the Book of Revelation have already been fulfilled usually in context to the destruction of Jerusalem and the fall of Rome in the first 3 centuries after Christ. However, Jesus said the Book of Revelation was clearly prophecy and not history. (See Letter E)

C. Historicists interpret Revelation as a progressive unfolding of Church history from the Book of Acts until the Second Coming. They usually view the prophecies as partly fulfilled and partly to be fulfilled in the generation that the Lord returns. They feel it is one continual unfolding.

D. Idealists do not see historical or prophetical meaning in the Book of Revelation. They interpret it as simply giving us symbolic presentations, applicable of the spiritual conflict of good and evil that is true through all times with good winning in the end. They feel the Book is symbolic of spiritual realities.

II. The events of 70 AD do not fulfill the prophecies about the End-Times

 

Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand)…21 for then there will be GREAT TRIBULATION, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved (physically killed); but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened. (Matt. 24:15, 21-22)

Some see the Great Tribulation as being fulfilled in 70 AD when 1,000,000 people died in Rome’s attack on Jerusalem. However, in World War II, 50 million died which invalidates the 1,000,000 deaths (in 70 AD) as the worst time in history.

The events of World War II did not involve the abomination of desolation in the Jerusalem Temple, thus, they did not fulfill End-Time prophecy. Neither 70 AD nor World War II came close to threatening the very existence of the human race as the Great Tribulation would have expect it was shortened by God’s sovereignty. If God has not shortened it then no flesh would have been spared from death.  

The  events of 70 AD do not fulfill most of the details of many Scriptures about the Great Tribulation. For example, Rev. 13 requires a talking image, the mark of the Beast, a healed head wound, mandatory worship of the Antichrist worldwide and a False Prophet. Jesus said the Great Tribulation would happen until after we see the abomination of desolation standing in the holy place which would result in the threat of every human being killed.

 Nothing close to this happened in the first Jewish Revolt against Rome (66-73) in which Jerusalem and the Second Temple were destroyed in 70 AD ending at Masada (73 AD). The Second Jewish Revolt against Rome (500,000 Jews killed with destruction of 1000 villages (132-135 AD). Hadrian renamed Jerusalem Aelia Capatolina and erected a Pagan temple over the site of the Herod’s Temple and refused to let Jews to live there (136 AD).

The 50 million babies aborted each year world wide overshadows both 70 AD and WWII.

1. These events in history are prototype scenarios, that we may have a grid of understanding for what lies ahead. The unfathomable can be fathomed when we review the atrocities in our recent history. (For Example: The 1930’s Holocaust, Abortion, AIDS, STDs, etc.)

B. Common lies related to End-Time prophecy:

1. It is not relevant (it is just for the curious).

2. Revelation is to be spiritualized (not taken literally) because is impossible to understand (it is only for scholars).

3. Another lie is in thinking that every generation has believed they were the final generation. It is true that each generation has had a fraction of 1% who believed this, yet only two generations have had a universal conviction about this (first century and now).

4. If this is not the last generation for the world before Jesus returns, it is surely your last generation.

*          All believers can understand the book of Revelation and End-Time prophecy