Reflection on Revelation

A letter to my sister.

You asked me about my view of Revelation, but we never got to finish that conversation.

I believe the book of Revelation is John's account of a vision he experienced, in which God communicated to him in symbolic imagery about events and concepts incomprehensible to the human mind. There is a definite message that we are meant to understand, but many of the details remain a mystery.

Is it literal? I do not believe Jesus really has a sharp double-edged sword coming out of his mouth (1:16), although I suspect that is really how he appeared in John's vision.

The central message of Revelation, as I see it, is that the universe has been at war since before creation, the forces of heaven battling the forces of hell, with mankind caught in the middle. However, the ultimate outcome of this war is already known. The key purpose of the book is to encourage believers, letting them know that they only need to endure to the end to enjoy the benefits of eternal peace.

Early in the book are letters to the seven churches under John's tutelage (ch. 2-3). I am fairly certain these are intended to be actual letters to actual congregations that existed at that time. I am also comfortable in suggesting that the later church can also profit from the instruction and rebuke in these letters. Whether the letters represent seven ages in church history, as some have suggested, I have no strong opinion one way or another.

Revelation does, I believe, describe real events, but in symbolic terms. Events are depicted as past, present, near-future, and far-future, with the distinctions often unclear. It is possible, indeed I would say likely, that many of these events do not map into our conception of chronological space-time at all.

Some of the symbolism appears fairly straightforward. For instance, “a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter” (12:5) almost certainly refers to Jesus, and the dragon in that chapter is identified as Satan (12:9). It has been proposed that, “His tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth,” means that a third of the angels chose to follow Satan. I am inclined to agree with this interpretation, but it is hardly incontrovertible. As for the identity of the woman who gave birth to the son, she does not appear to refer to Mary, and I am at a loss how to interpret the events surrounding her.

Babylon almost certainly refers to the city of Rome, as indicated by the seven hills that contemporary readers knew to be the symbol of Rome (17:9). However, Babylon also appears to represent the embodiment of those who choose to follow Satan rather than God.

Regarding prophetic events, I am inclined to believe that there really will be a series of tribulations, gradually escalating warnings of God's coming wrath, similar to what Egypt once experienced. Whether these judgments will be miraculous interventions or the natural results of our own actions is less clear to me. I'm inclined to think the latter, but I could easily be wrong. I suspect that we may already have experienced as many as four seals (ch. 6), and that the trumpets may come within this century (ch. 8), but again, I could easily be wrong.

I am inclined to believe that in the last days, there really will be two great prophets on a par with Elijah and Elisha (ch. 11), but they will ultimately be defeated by a real person who is the antichrist, the incarnation of evil. I expect that this antichrist will, indeed, achieve a position of power over all the inhabitants of the earth (13:7-8), although whether this power will correspond to an earthly government or be at another level entirely, I cannot predict. It is even possible we are already there, although I doubt it.

When God's patience is exhausted, I believe that Jesus will return with unmistakable displays of power, and he will overthrow the powers of Satan in a great battle (19:11-21; c.f. Mt 24; 1Th4; 2Th2). Will this be a literal, physical battle? I have no idea. However, various prophecies agree that it will have dramatic physical signs felt over the entire earth.

This battle will initiate the millennium, whatever that is. The above account is incompatible with postmillennialism as I understand it, but is compatible with various other interpretations. Amillennialism would have us believe that Satan is currently bound and incapable of deceiving the nations, which I find hard to accept (20:2-3). Dispensationalists believe that Jesus is planning to reinstate a theocracy through the modern nation-state of Israel, which I find absurd. I tentatively side with historical premillennialists, who believe that the coming millennium will be an actual event initiated by the Second Coming, but details of its nature are hidden. I might even posit that the millennium will occur outside chronological history, but that is pure speculation.

The millennium will be followed by a final, decisive battle, when death and sin will be wiped away (20:9). Again, I do not know whether this will be a physical battle; I am inclined to think not. Then will come the ultimate day of judgment, when anyone whose name is not “written in the book of life” is cast into the lake of fire (20:15). I take this to be the time when each person will be faced with the results their own decision to spend eternity either with Jesus or without him, although I do not draw that belief from Revelation.

It seems apparent to me that the New Jerusalem is symbolic of heaven (ch. 21), although Dispensationalists insist it is a distinct entity. I don't believe it will have walls and gates (21:12). I do believe it will include people from every nation, tribe, people and language (7:9). I don't believe it will contain a literal river or tree (22:1-2). I do believe there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain (21:4), and joy beyond our comprehension.