Bible Study: Introduction to Revelation

Four things to consider when studying Revelation:

1. There is a difference between prophecy and apocalyptic literature. Prophecy can consist of either prediction or proclamation. We tend to think of prophecy, and the prophetic books of the Bible as merely predictive, but they are not necessarily so. Apocalyptic literature is a genre that uses cryptic language to obscure the author's message. Revelation is apocalyptic in nature and may or may not be predictive in a prophetic way.
2. When reading Revelation, or any other apocalyptic literature, the reader ought to interpret what he is reading consistently. So, for example, if you believe that the seven heads and ten horns are a symbol for something else, you should probably consider the Mark of the Beast and the number 666 as symbols for something else as well.
3. Make special note of similes, metaphors and analogies in Revelation. The author often makes use of these literary devices. When God's voice is describes as being like a trumpet, that does not mean that God's voice is a trumpet. It means that His voice has some sort of trumpet-like quality.
4. Many people believe that Revelation has a future and a present interpretation. This means that John had a message that was true for 1st Century believers living under Roman occupation. That message also has an application for 21st century believers and perhaps a future fulfillment as well.