A Cogent Unfolding of Revelation
Divergent Viewpoints
What is the most daunting book in the New Testament? For most people it is the book of Revelation. Once people get 
beyond chapter three it’s “bits and pieces”: Grab a tidbit here or apiece of a chapter over there, but understand the overall flow of the book? You have to be kidding!
There are also those who pick and choose in order to make Revelation fit their particular fanciful end-time scenario. I’ve watched these scenarios that thrust the “present” geopolitical state of affairs into the various visions come and go over the last forty years. Sometimes several such scenarios are being set forth by different “prophetic experts” at the same time.
Too there are the preterits. They claim that the visions have already been fulfilled in history. Got Questions notes that “the preterist interpretation of Scripture regards the book of Revelation as a symbolic picture of first-century conflicts, not a description of what will occur in the end times.” That view leaves me scratching my head.
My Approach to Unfolding John’s Visions
Now, I do not claim to have all the answers when it comes to interpreting the book of Revelation. However, in my book, Unveiling John’s Visions: An Intelligible Unfolding of the Book of Revelation I have attempted to us sound principles of biblical interpretation. The following is taken from the preface to my book.
Throughout my study and the writing of this book I have attempted to consistently apply the following principles of interpretation:
1. Determine the meaning of what was being said by how the people hearing or reading would have understood it in relation to normal use of language, historical data, and commonsense logic.
2. Approach the Scriptures as a unified whole.
3. Take the Scriptures at face value. The simplest interpretation is generally the correct interpretation (while taking other rules of interpretation into account).
4. Compare Scripture with Scripture, and as much as possible let the Scriptures interpret themselves.
5. Interpret every text of Scripture within its context.
6. Depend on the Holy Spirit for insight, guidance, understanding and wisdom. Be God dependent and honest when interpreting God’s Word.
7. If there is a passage you do not understand, then stick with what the church has historically recognized as being true, as well as what has been recognized as error. There is no place for being cavalier with our approach to Scripture.
8. Interpretation is different from application. There is one correct interpretation, while there may be many applications.
To approach the writing from the perspective of what does the book of Revelation say, and what does it “not” say, rather than approaching it from the perspective of what do I “want” it to say, is a daunting challenge. Throughout I have attempted to be scrupulous in that regard.
I do not approach unfolding John’s visions from the position that my understanding of the book is the final word. Often I will say, here is a possible interpretation, or here are several possible constructs.
On the other hand, I do believe that Unveiling John’s Visions unfolds the book of Revelation in a way that most anyone can comprehend. It makes sense of that which at first blush appears to make no sense.
I encourage you to give it a read; give me your feedback; and write a review at Amazon or B&N (or both).
To go to my book in paperback at Amazon click: Revelation. For Kindle click: Digital
To see all of my books at Amazon click: John’s Books
Leave a Reply