The meaning of Revelation

[Nick Moser]

I know contemporary Christians from Jehova's Witnesses to Evangelicals put a great emphasis on the apocalypse/rapture( millennialism). I was wondering what the traditional interpretation of Revelations and the rapture would be? Not just by Church fathers but by the general view of each of the *Big Three.

*Orthodox(East and Oriential), Catholic, and Mainline Protestants

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

I know contemporary Christians from Jehova's Witnesses to Evangelicals put a great emphasis on the apocalypse/rapture( millennialism). I was wondering what the traditional interpretation of Revelations and the rapture would be? Not just by Church fathers but by the general view of each of the *Big Three.

*Orthodox(East and Oriential), Catholic, and Mainline Protestants

Welcome to CF!
Great thread!
I am Amill, but leaning toward full fulfillment.
I and many others view 1st Jerusalem in Revelation.
I do not believe in a future "rapture".

I view Armegeddon and Gog Magog as the same event, but have to study on that more.
According to this thread, I am of course in the minority on that view, but was surprised to see at least 11 agreeing with me.

Armegeddon/Gog-Magog same event?

This commentator has a 198 part series [and still adding to it, tho since he died, his wife is now posting doing it]

Kingdom Bible Studies Table of Contents

Kindgdom Bible Studies Revelation Series Part 1

The mark of the beast. Armageddon. The Four Horsemen. The false prophet. Babylon the great. Falling stars, stinging locusts, and giant hailstones. The seven last plagues. The bottomless pit. The lake of fire. These images of terror and catastrophe from the book of Revelation have greatly influenced the thinking of millions of Christians through the ages. Even the secular press uses images such as "Armageddon" and "four horsemen of the Apocalypse" to describe calamities in our world. Despite 1900 years of fascination with the book of Revelation, John’s letter to the seven Churches of Asia continues to be misunderstood. And badly misinterpreted!,.........

One misconception shared by some is that the Revelation has nothing of importance to say to us. It’s considered to be merely a bizarre piece of first-century writing with no relevance for today. Another wrong idea is that the Revelation is a code book describing a specific outline of history written in advance. Countless interpreters have tried to "decode" the book from a historical perspective to find all the major world events of the past 1900 years. Others interpret it more literally as a handbook for predicting the cataclysmic events that will bring the final wrath of God and the end of the world. The claims of Christian groups from the early church to the present — that the Revelation pinpoints the events, personalities, and time periods of "the end" — have all failed. This should be a caution to believers for using the book of Revelation as a predictive handbook. Other people’s interpretation of the book of Revelation is based on the "Pan Theory" — it’s all going to pan out in the end! Beloved brethren, the fact is, it’s not panning out the way the end-time prognosticators are projecting!................

The book of Revelation is THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST. Revelation is a book that teaches who and what Jesus Christ is. It reveals Him in all of His glory, unveils Him in all of His fullness. You will find Jesus the Christ in every chapter of the book, for it is the revelation of Himself. When we read the message of the Revelation with a heart that seeks after Christ, we see in every page His face and hear from every line His voice. If we do not see Christ in the pages of the Revelation, then all we see is vanity. By drawing near to this book in the power of the Holy Spirit, we draw near to Christ. How beautiful that is! May the elect of God receive much grace to see more and more of Christ in the pages of this book......................

 

[mark kennedy]

I know contemporary Christians from Jehova's Witnesses to Evangelicals put a great emphasis on the apocalypse/rapture( millennialism). I was wondering what the traditional interpretation of Revelations and the rapture would be? Not just by Church fathers but by the general view of each of the *Big Three.

*Orthodox(East and Oriential), Catholic, and Mainline Protestants

I'm not familiar with the Orthodox view of Revelations but I think it focuses on the seven year tribulation period that happens just before the return of Christ. I'm a little unconventional since I believe the rapture (resurrection) happens just prior to the battle of Armageddon. My approach is that the seals are opened in the beginning, trumpet blasts in the middle and vials of wrath toward the end.

 

[anna ~ grace]

I have been reading a tiny, tiny bit on Revelation from a Catholic pov, and many Catholic commentators have a highly mystical / symbolic view of Revelation. Other take an historical / literal approach but are more likely to see parts of Revelation as already fulfilled. Others do both.

 

[dreadnought]

I know contemporary Christians from Jehova's Witnesses to Evangelicals put a great emphasis on the apocalypse/rapture( millennialism). I was wondering what the traditional interpretation of Revelations and the rapture would be? Not just by Church fathers but by the general view of each of the *Big Three.

*Orthodox(East and Oriential), Catholic, and Mainline Protestants

I think you oversimplify a bit. Mainline Protestants have large extreme right and extreme left groups. I do know that the subject has rarely come up in sermons I've heard, though we are about to get a new pastor.

 

[mark kennedy]

I have been reading a tiny, tiny bit on Revelation from a Catholic pov, and many Catholic commentators have a highly mystical / symbolic view of Revelation. Other take an historical / literal approach but are more likely to see parts of Revelation as already fulfilled. Others do both.

That's one of the things that confuse the issue, some things can be fulfilled without the ultimate fulfillment happening. Roman Catholics got the idea that at the turn of the millennium would usher in the tribulation, they even had a big mass at St. Peter's square, bottom line, it didn't happen. A lot of Protestant denominations don't really bother with end times teaching, some are really into it.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

That's one of the things that confuse the issue, some things can be fulfilled without the ultimate fulfillment happening. Roman Catholics got the idea that at the turn of the millennium would usher in the tribulation, they even had a big mass at St. Peter's square, bottom line, it didn't happen. A lot of Protestant denominations don't really bother with end times teaching, some are really into it.

I have never been into it, except with the Preterist view.
I hear the Catholicism is of the Amill view, which is about as close to full preterism one can get.
Partial preterism views the Olivet Discourse as only half fulfilled [and why I find PP quite confusing]

Eschatology - Endtimes & Prophecy Forum
Eschatology - Endtimes & Prophecy Forum
[/quote]

The Endtimes & Prophecy Forum.
No full preterist views.
Partial preterists welcomed.

What are 'preterists'? ... 'full' or 'partial'?

This is my first time in this forum. I notice that there is a note below the link to this forum which says "No full preterist views. Partial preterists welcomed."

What does that mean? What are 'preterists' and what are 'full' and 'partial'? And why are 'full' preterists not welcome here. I was a Catholic, but I no longer attend and have been considering changing to a different church. I believe in eschatology, signs of the times, tribulations, etc., and that Christ will come again as prophesied...........

 

[ViaCrucis]

I know contemporary Christians from Jehova's Witnesses to Evangelicals put a great emphasis on the apocalypse/rapture( millennialism). I was wondering what the traditional interpretation of Revelations and the rapture would be? Not just by Church fathers but by the general view of each of the *Big Three.

*Orthodox(East and Oriential), Catholic, and Mainline Protestants

Short answer: There is no official interpretation in the Big Three, as you refer to it.

Long answer: Futurist, Historicist, and Preterist views can be found; though Historicism tends to be more commonly associated with historic Protestantism, though it's not an official view of any Mainline Protestant group that I am aware of.

I think there's wisdom in not getting too dogmatic with the text, given its incredibly complex nature and controversial history in the Canon.

The best use we can get out of it, I'd argue, is the way in which it points us toward hope in Jesus in the midst of suffering. The Revelation reminds us that Jesus is the One who has conquered death and hell, and that he holds the keys of hades; it points us to the Lamb who is worthy to open the scroll, who overcame all earthly powers, and who we look forward to on the Last Day, and the renewal of all things on that Day. That the Day is coming when God will make all things new, and every tear is wiped from our eye, and there is no more death, sickness, or suffering, and peace, healing, and justice reign on the earth forever.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[straykat]

The main meaning of it is encouragement, to tell the Church the victory of Christ... to not lose hope. The details get muddied though, obviously

And by Church, I especially mean the one of John's time. But all could find hope in it (rather than dread.. this is the most disgusting thing about end times teachings to me. Turning hope into fear).

 

[Kristen Davis]

The main meaning of it is encouragement, to tell the Church the victory of Christ... to not lose hope. The details get muddied though, obviously

And by Church, I especially mean the one of John's time. But all could find hope in it (rather than dread.. this is the most disgusting thing about end times teachings to me. Turning hope into fear).

Yes because faith means to have hope for the things we cannot see. (Hebrews)

 

[Ron Gurley]

SEE: Rev. 1

 

[Jon Osterman]

I have always found the description of the New Jerusalem (in the last two chapters) to be inspiring. I understand that it is all symbolic, but the imagery is so well done and gives us a small glimpse of God's true majesty.

I recommend Tom Wright's commentary on Revelation. I found this quite helpful.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

I have always found the description of the New Jerusalem (in the last two chapters) to be inspiring. I understand that it is all symbolic, but the imagery is so well done and gives us a small glimpse of God's true majesty.

I recommend Tom Wright's commentary on Revelation. I found this quite helpful.

Have you or others ever looked at Preston Eby's commentary?

Kingdom Bible Studies Table of Contents

Kindgdom Bible Studies Revelation Series Part 1

Part 1 of 197

The mark of the beast. Armageddon. The Four Horsemen. The false prophet. Babylon the great. Falling stars, stinging locusts, and giant hailstones. The seven last plagues. The bottomless pit. The lake of fire. These images of terror and catastrophe from the book of Revelation have greatly influenced the thinking of millions of Christians through the ages. Even the secular press uses images such as "Armageddon" and "four horsemen of the Apocalypse" to describe calamities in our world.
Despite 1900 years of fascination with the book of Revelation, John’s letter to the seven Churches of Asia continues to be misunderstood. And badly misinterpreted!

One misconception shared by some is that the Revelation has nothing of importance to say to us. It’s considered to be merely a bizarre piece of first-century writing with no relevance for today.
Another wrong idea is that the Revelation is a code book describing a specific outline of history written in advance. Countless interpreters have tried to "decode" the book from a historical perspective to find all the major world events of the past 1900 years.
Others interpret it more literally as a handbook for predicting the cataclysmic events that will bring the final wrath of God and the end of the world. The claims of Christian groups from the early church to the present — that the Revelation pinpoints the events, personalities, and time periods of "the end" — have all failed.

This should be a caution to believers for using the book of Revelation as a predictive handbook. Other people’s interpretation of the book of Revelation is based on the "Pan Theory" — it’s all going to pan out in the end! Beloved brethren, the fact is, it’s not panning out the way the end-time prognosticators are projecting!......................

 

[ewq1938]

I was wondering what the traditional interpretation of Revelations and the rapture would be?

Revelation is essentially about what will happen before the second coming, what happens when the second coming occurs, and what happens after the second coming. The main views of it are Amill and Premill.

The rapture is about the catching up of the saints that are still alive when Jesus returns. The main views on that are pre-trib and post-trib with some holding midtrib. Pre-trib believes the return is a secret one not the official second coming, while post-trib believes it is the second coming. As with anything, there are some variations in all of these things with some people.