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How to Read the Book of Revelation

The book of Revelation is a complex book and famously difficult to interpret. So how should we go about reading it? Here are some basic keys to keep in mind.

Revelation was written around the end of the first century as a prophetic critique of the Roman Empire. It’s a daring proclamation that Jesus is the world’s new emperor. Revelation is a wild and creative portrayal of the conflict between the beastly empire of Rome and the peaceable reign of the Lamb. What it foretells is the eventual triumph of the kingdom of Christ. It does this in a genre of macabre comedy—hideous monsters finally conquered by a little Lamb, a slaughtered Lamb who lives again. This is how John the Revelator tells of the triumph of Jesus over the Roman Empire and all beastly empires.

Remember that everything in Revelation is told in the language of symbol. From the seven-eyed Lamb and the seven-headed dragon to the burning lake and the bejeweled city, everything is encased in symbol. But these symbols point to glorious and terrible realities. One of our challenges is that we are 2,000 years removed from the origin of these symbols. Today, if we see a cartoon of a donkey and an elephant wearing boxing gloves, we recognize it as a commentary on American politics. But it would likely be hard for someone 2,000 years from now to discern this political meaning. So keep in mind that most of the monstrous images in Revelation are symbols for cosmic evil working through the Roman Empire.

But most importantly remember what Revelation is, and what it isn’t. It’s not a coded newspaper foretelling geopolitical events of the 21st century. It is a glorious revelation of the triumph of Jesus Christ. Jesus’ lamblike kingdom brings a saving alternative to the beastlike empires of the world. Revelation doesn’t anticipate the end of God’s good creation; it anticipates the end of violent empire.

John confessed that Jesus is Lord and Caesar is not, which is why he was exiled to the island of Patmos. From that deep faith there spilled forth all kinds of creative images to communicate this glorious reality: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” (Revelation 11:15) This is the great revelation of Revelation!

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