Interpreting Revelation

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Interpreting Revelation
Vern Sheridan Poythress Westminster Theological
Seminary
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A. Clarity of Revelation
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Revealing (11)
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave
him to show his servants the things that must
soon take place. He made it known
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Blessing for Reading (13)
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.

• The only book of the Bible with an explicit
  blessing for reading. Extra encouragement.
• Keep means its practical. Strengthening the
  heart, not tickling the fancy.

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Are Its Symbols Difficult?
Yes
No

• Unfamiliar
• Apocalyptic
• Need OT background

• Its obvious.

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Its Simple

• A picture book, not a puzzle book.
• For children also.

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See the Whole
Hmm. Lets see now. What does the locust of
Rev. 9 mean? The horse part must refer to one
of the months of the Chinese calendar. Crowns
of gold must refer to Babylonian kings.
Womens hair surely suggests that it is women
who will bring about the final downfall of
mankind. Scorpion tails hmm... Now let me
see.
College Student
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Confidence in God
Dont be the expert.
You cant possibly understand without my help!
Youre right. I give up.
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The Majesty of Christ

• Christ is our friend (John 1514-15).
• He is also our majestic, awesome king!

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B. Symbolism
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Why the Dispute over Revelation?
clear
controverted
and yet
?
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Meaning of a Symbol
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Two Approaches to Symbols
1. Code

• One referent
• Meaning referent
• Isolated

• Multiple allusions
• Multifaceted impact
• Holistic

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Decoding by the Schools
Beast
Future Antichrist
Beast
Pope
Idolatrous Government
Beast
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Prophecy is Poetic
Day of the Lord
Locust Plague (Joel 1-2)
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Expanded Understanding of Prophetic Fulfillment
A

• Adapted from Irving Jensen, Bible Study Charts

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Olivet Discourse (Luke 21)
fall of Jerusalem 70 A.D.
tribulation
Double Perspective of Olivet Discourse
Adapted from Irving Jensen, Bible Study Charts
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Rev. 179 Has Two Referents
7 heads of the Beast
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More Than Two Planes of Interacting Meaning
Beast
For

• Referent (Roman Emperor?).
• Hideous monstrosity (repulsiveness).
• Combination of beasts from Daniel 7.
• With background of Genesis 1-3, where beasts are
  subordinate to man.

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God-Centered Symbolism
God
God in theophany is rich, multifaceted,
nonexhaustible, Trinitarian.
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Summary of Views
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Schools Decoding is Inadequate
Beast
Future Antichrist
Beast
Pope
Idolatrous Government
Beast
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C. A Positive Approach
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God Is Involved with Us

• Roman Empire
• Final Crisis
• Application NOW
• Repeated

• God loves 7 churches.
• God will come.
• God loves us NOW.
• God is the same at all times.

God is central.
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Fourfold Interpretation
A Symbol
represents

• First century embodiment
• Final embodiment
• Embodiment NOW
• A general principle

• Roman
• Final
• Church
• Repeated