5 Keys to Understanding Revelation

The book of Revelation is probably the most misunderstood, abused, and mischaracterized book in the Bible. This article could’ve been titled “How Not to Screw Up Reading Revelation.”

It’s written in a style of writing that is utterly foreign to modern readers—apocalyptic literature, with a touch of epistle and prophecy thrown in for good measure. We have no comparison for this in contemporary literature. That’s why it’s so easy to get wrong.

 But, if we keep a few critical interpretive principles in mind, we can protect ourselves from driving our interpretive car off the highway, crashing into a ravine, and bursting into flames.

1. It’s Centered Around Jesus Christ

Jesus is the #1 subject of this book. This is the unveiling from Jesus Christ about Jesus Christ. He is present in every chapter of this book. But when I hear people talk about Revelation or post videos, it seems they talk about everything except Jesus.

• Who’s the beast? Who’s the antichrist?

• What’s the timeline? Are you premillennial or amillenial? Pre-trib, post-trib, pan-trib (it’ll all pan out in the end)?

• Is this political event a sign of the end times? What about that natural disaster?

Notice that Jesus wasn’t in any of that. All of those are secondary issues. Jesus is primary. Don’t fall into the trap of looking for the antichrist but forgetting the risen Christ.

Revelation is good news about Jesus, the risen Lamb who shares God’s throne and is the key to our past, present, and future. Therefore, this book is also about our faithfulness to Him, which leads to unwavering hope, even in the face of hardship and evil.

2. It Uses Lots of Symbols and Images

The primary language of The Revelation is metaphor. The book wants to speak to your heart and imagination, not just your head.

We all understand symbolism. If I mention “Goldilocks and the Three Bears,” you don’t immediately think that bears sleep in beds and blond-haired girls will steal your food. Why? Because we understand the genre of nursery rhymes.

Likewise, if I show you a political cartoon of a bald eagle in an Uncle Sam hat, you don’t immediately think, “Eagles wear hats!” (At least for my U.S. readers.) But people will read The Revelation and say, “Eagles wear hats!”

This book contains fantastical symbols, images, and animals used to convey broader ideas and truths. Please don’t get stuck on what the text says; focus on what it means. And resist the temptation to say, “Eagles wear hats!”

Here are a couple of examples:

• Psalm 91:4 says, “God will cover you with his feathers, and you will find refuge under his wings.” After reading this, nobody ever says, “God has feathers? He has wings! Is God an eagle? Does he wear a hat?” No, we understand it’s the symbolic language of God’s care and protection over us.

• In Revelation 1:16, Jesus is described as having a sword coming out of his mouth. He doesn’t actually have a sword in his mouth. That would be very uncomfortable. 4 out of 5 dentists would not recommend having a sword in your mouth. Instead, it’s symbolic of God’s holy word. Isaiah 49:2 says, “He made my mouth like a sharpened sword,” and Hebrews 4:12 says, “God’s word is sharper than any two-edged sword.” This image says that Jesus speaks God’s words.

Why do so many people have trouble with this? One reason is that modern evangelical Christianity emphasizes reading the Bible “literally.” It’s often described as a “plain” reading of Scripture and seen as the “correct” way to read the Bible.

In truth, that’s terrible advice. And I would argue that nobody does that 100% of the time. (Remember, “Does God have feathers?”) We don’t always read the Bible literally, but we must always read the Bible faithfully. That means we pay attention to how and why it was written, and sometimes that means not literally. While much of the Bible is literal, sometimes the Bible is figurative, symbolic, or hyperbole.

3. It Uses Numbers Symbolically

We all understand that sometimes numbers don’t actually mean their numerical value.

• “If I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a thousand times.”

• “I can’t dance. I have two left feet.”

• “I got the raise! I’m on cloud nine.”

None of these are meant to tell you a numerical value. They’re intended to make an impression on you.

The same goes with numbers in The Revelation. They are usually symbolic of something broader or meant to make a big impression. Here are some of the common numbers.

• 3 = God. Think of the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Who was, and is, and is to come. Holy, holy, holy. Gory, honor, and power

• 6 = Humanity and Sin. Humans were created on the 6th day. So, of course, the worst possible evil would be represented by 666.

• 7 = Divine Perfection and Completeness. God rested on the 7th day. The Lamb in Revelation (Jesus) has seven horns and seven eyes, representing complete power (horns) and knowledge (eyes).

• 12 = God’s People. The 12 tribes of Israel and 12 apostles. The New Jerusalem has 12 gates, 12 angels at each gate, 12 foundations

• 1,000 = A really large amount.

So, be careful interpreting numbers literally. Instead, think about what they represent instead.

4. It Draws Heavily on The Old Testament

I had a seminary professor once tell us, “You can’t understand Revelation unless you understand the prophets.” So much of The Revelation comes from books like Ezekiel, Daniel, Isaiah, and others. There are hundreds of references, allusions, and symbols from the Old Testament.

That’s why the first-century listeners would have understood it, and we often don’t. Because most of us don’t know the Old Testament very well. I certainly didn’t before seminary. Revelation is a book written in a different language—the language of Old Testament symbolism.

There are references to Egypt, the plagues, the Song of Moses, the Passover Lamb, Babylon, the Dragon, visions of a throne, angels, the river of God, and so much more.

If you’re trying to figure out what some part of The Revelation means, don’t go to YouTube and don’t go to the headlines. Instead, go to the Old Testament. Google “chapter:verse + Old Testament.” Start there.

5. It’s Difficult to Understand

Any person that says, “It’s obvious that Revelation says…” is wrong. The only thing obvious in Revelation is that few things are obvious. It’s written in an unfamiliar style, uses references we don’t understand, and addresses current events 2,000 years old. We simply can’t read it with our modern eyes.

The Most Important Thing

The most important thing you need to interpret Revelation correctly is humility. When interpreting this book, there is no place for rigidity, arrogance, or dogmatism. You need an open heart, a reliance on the Holy Spirit of God, and faith that God will help you understand his Word.

Without humility, you are sure to get it wrong. Why? Because you get Jesus wrong. And Revelation is all about Jesus.