Revelation 6-19
Listen with Me
There are many different schools of thought, many different ways of looking at these chapters of Revelation, each of which has both curious onlookers as well as die-hard advocates. These views have been categorized into four major “schools”.:
- The Preterists believe that all the events in chapter 6 through 19 took place in the first through fifth centuries, from the founding of the Church through the fall of Jerusalem, and down to the fall of the Roman Empire. Only chapters 20 to 22 remained to be fulfilled. They interpret the word “soon” to mean in the time of John and immediately thereafter.
- On the opposite end of the interpretive spectrum are the Futurists, who teach that the entirety of the prophecies concern things that are either yet to happen or that have started to happen.
- The Historicist view is that the book foretells the entire history of the Church, from the time of Jesus all the way to Jesus return and the end of time, with each set of events foretelling a specific epoch in the development of the Church.
- The Idealist view teaches that the book is not prophetic at all, but is symbolic of the path of salvation and is emblematic of the eternal struggle between good and evil.
Each of these views have strong adherents, and over the centuries since the book was written, each of these views has risen to prominence and then receded as the proponents of another view take the podium. And since all claim strong scriptural support, it is difficult to label one view as absolutely right and another is absolutely wrong.
My view could be seen as a hybrid of the Preterist in the Futurist views, although I do not discount the things that the other two views can bring to the discussion. The reason for my view is first, that it seems odd that the letter that Jesus specifically dictated to the seven Churches of Asia, ostensibly to comfort them and encourage them in a time of active persecution, would actually have nothing to say about the persecution they were going through, but would only be relevant to Christians thousands of years in the future.
Next is the fact that history really does seem to be cyclical, not strictly linear. Mark Twain was reputed to have said, “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes.” All through history, Christians under persecution have been encouraged and strengthened by the words of this book and have felt in the aftermath of that persecution that they had seen all these prophecies fulfilled in their own situation as the Lord came to the aid of His people.
As we study these chapters of Revelation, attention will be given both to how the words written by John applied to his immediate audience and the time of trial they were going through (the Great Tribulation, as people then called it), as well as to what it has meant to persecuted Christians through the ages, and what it means to us as a return of Jesus draws ever closer.
Pray with Me
Father, thank you that Your word is deeper and broader than any other book ever written. Because You are timeless, Your word is timeless as well, perfectly applicable to Your people at all times and places if we allow You to give us eyes to see. Help me to keep my eyes and heart continually open to You, so that I can see well and learn thoroughly from Your word. Amen.