Revelation is perhaps one of the most confusing books of the Bible. And anyone who tells you otherwise often attracts skepticism and distrust due to their certainty in interpretation.
Due to its heavy symbolism we need to be faithful and mature in our study of Revelation. We must not simplify it or sensationalize it. We can’t become too comfortable in declaring that we have grasped the meaning of the book with minimal study. On the other hand, we must not fall into thinking that Revelation is impossible to understand. We may have grace with our fellow Christians who disagree with us on specific points of interpretation (or even full approaches to interpretation) but we cannot throw up our hands and assume that no one can ever really know what the Revelation means and signifies.
I continue to carefully study Revelation as I seek to understand it and interpret it accurately. This article will not be a full examination of the variety of interpretive approaches or specific interpretations of the book and its elements. Instead, I want to lay out three principles we ought to keep forefront in our reading and study of Revelation, regardless of our interpretive approach.
1. Profitability
All three of these principles have less to do with Revelation in particular and more to do with Scripture as a whole. The first principle is drawn from Paul’s writings to Timothy:
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:14-17, ESV
Here we see two emphases from Paul concerning the purpose of Scripture: making us wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus, and making us complete and equipped for every good work.
All Scripture, Paul declares, is God-breathed, divinely-inspired, and profitable. The Scriptures he is referring to here are the Old Testament scriptures but the principle applies to the New Testament as well. God’s Word is not just a theological textbook that explains ideas and philosophies. It is meant to make us wise for salvation and equip us for the good works that God has set before us, that we should walk in them (Eph. 2:10).
Revelation is no different than any other book of the Bible in this way. It is written to make us wise for salvation and equipped for good works. It has an impact on our walk, not just our theological positions. We must steer clear of any interpretive approach to Revelation that strips the book of its practical equipping for good works. This is not just a handbook for understanding the conflict-ridden modern Middle East or a way to see the future. It is profitable for our lives today.
2. Christ-Centrality
Another principle that should guide our reading and study of Revelation is the centrality of Jesus Christ. The whole Bible speaks of Jesus and we cannot make true sense of any of the books contained in the Bible if we divorce them from Christ. Jesus tells the Jews in John 5:39 that the Scriptures “bear witness about me”. He joins his disciples on the road to Emmaus and “beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” (Luke 24:27)
Christ is central in Revelation. There are a number of characters who join Him on the stage including the Beast, the Dragon, the Whore, the False Prophet, the Two Witnesses, the Bride, etc. But He remains the main character.
The very title of the book, along with its opening words, clue us into the centrality of Jesus. The Greek word apokalypsis means “unveiling”. Revelation 1:1 introduces the book as “The Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,”. Thus, we see that the real author of this book is Christ. John is just the scribe, if you will.
This principle is important to keep in mind during our reading of Revelation. The book of Revelation is not primarily about the antichrist, or about the dragon, or even about the end times/the end of the world. It is about Christ. It’s an unveiling of His power and rule over the universe on gracious behalf of His people.
3. Scripture Interprets Scripture
Finally, we ought to make sense of Revelation by humbly submitting our interpretation to the rest of Scripture. There are many ways to interpret the Bible and determine its truth and meaning. For example, we can interpret the Bible through the lens of modern science. We can interpret it through the lens of history. We can interpret it through the lens of literary criticism/analysis. But ultimately, these fall short. We can certainly use them to certain degrees but our primary interpretive lens of the word of God should be the word of God. We interpret Scripture with Scripture.
We must do this with Revelation. The book of Revelation is filled with references and allusions to other portions of Scripture, particularly the Old Testament. With so many symbols that confuse modern readers like us, we can find great hope in applying this principle of scriptural interpretation. The meaning of these symbols are not left to our imagination or the sensationalism of current events. We can read Revelation confidently and study it carefully, knowing that the key to making sense of this book is found in the 65 books that precede it in the canon of Scripture.
A Blessed Invitation
I’ll close by noting the great promise of blessing that Jesus Himself gives to the readers and hearers of His Revelation:
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.
Revelation 1:3, ESV
If you read Revelation and keep what is written in it, by walking according to its words, you will be blessed. Revelation is profitable for our walk of faith, it is centered around the glorious person of Jesus Christ, and its meaning is revealed to us through the word of God itself.
Happy reading!