Unique Use of Symbols
The
Book of Revelation
is unique within the New Testament because of its heavy use of symbols.
How one interprets these symbols has
tremendous influence
over the meaning one derives from the text.
Two Extremes
1)
Suffering from enemies: the existence of these symbols shows that the book
cannot be understood as anything other than a description of the
general conflict between good and evil.
2)
Suffering from friends: symbols are used for unchecked speculation and
sensationalism when attempts are made to interpret them in terms of current
events.
A Denial of Logic
Some assert that the symbols indicate the book is
not subject to the normal rules of logic and language.
Motivation for Apocalyptic Genre
Once the book has been categorized as
apocalyptic
or
apocryphal
in genre, interpretation focuses upon hidden, mysterious, or unstated "secondary meaning" below the text itself.
Importance of Interpretation
Hermeneutics
" The word hermeneutics is ultimately derived from Hermes the
Greek god who brought the messages of the gods to the mortals,
and was the god of science, invention, eloquence, speech, writing,
and art. As a theological discipline hermeneutics is the science
of the correct interpretation of the Bible. " -- Bernard Ramm, Protestant Biblical Interpretation, 11.
The Second of Three Critical Steps
1)
Observation: examining the text to see what it contains.
2)
Interpretation: understanding the meaning of what has been observed.
3)
Application: how does the understanding affect me? How does the information
apply to my life today?
Incorrect Interpretation
When
interpretation
goes astray, the intended
application
no longer follows!
The Word of God cannot change the reader in the way God intended
without proper application which depends upon proper interpretation!
'Normal' Interpretation
Golden Rule of Interpretation
" When the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense, seek no
other sense, therefore, take every word at its primary, ordinary,
usual, literal meaning unless the facts of the immediate context,
studied in the light of related passages and axiomatic and
fundamental truths, indicate clearly otherwise. " -- D.L. Cooper cited in J. Dwight Pentecost, Things to Come: A Study in Biblical Eschatology, 44.
The 'Safety Net'
The "analogy" of Scripture: "Scripture interprets Scripture."
Symbolism: License to Break the Rule?
The "Golden Rule" is often rejected by those who utilize the presence of
symbols or the genre of the book to invert normative
rules of interpretation.
Why 'Normal' Interpretation?
The Sufficiency of Language
God created language. God created the human brain. God intends language to
be sufficient for communication between intelligent beings.
The Pattern of Scripture
This is the pattern demonstrated by the prophets, apostles, and
Jesus when they interpret the Scriptures.
The Pattern of Past Fulfillment
Prophecy was fulfilled literally. Unfulfilled prophecy will be too.
An Interpretive 'Anchor'
Once the "Golden Rule" is jettisoned, interpreters drift away upon a "sea of subjectivity."
Minimalistic
Interpretation contributes the thinnest layer on top of the bare text from
God: "The best interpretation... is no interpretation..."
The Foundation of All Interpretation
All interpreters use "normal" (also called "literal")
interpretation
most
of the time.
What Normal Interpretation is Not
Not 'Wooden Literalism'
" To interpret Scripture literally is not to be committed to
a 'wooden literalism,' nor to a 'letterism,' nor to a neglect of
the nuances that defy any 'mechanical' understanding of language.
Rather, it is to commit oneself to a starting point and that
starting point is to understand a document the best one
can in the context of the normal, usual, customary,
tradition range of designation which includes 'tacit' understanding. " -- Ramm, Protestant Biblical Interpretation, 121.
Does not Deny Figures of Speech
Normal interpretation does not deny typical figures of speech
(e.g., simile, metaphor, hyperbole)
(see Zuck, Basic Bible Interpretation, 148-161).
Allegorical Interpretation
Allegorical Interpretation
Searching for a hidden or secret meaning underlying but remote from and
unrelated in reality to the more obvious meaning of the text. The literal
reading is a sort of
code
which needs to be deciphered.
Superior Revelation?
Allegorical interpreters believe they are interpreting on a higher, more "spiritual" plane. Any literal or material aspect is considered inferior.
Motivation for Allegorical Interpretation
Arose from a desire to reconcile Old Testament Scriptures with Greek philosophy.
A Convenient Tool
Provides a convenient way to reinterpret or deny unfavorable
teachings found within God's Word. "If you can't dismiss the text, then change its meaning!"
Searching for Meaning
Why Can't We Understand?
Our lack of familiarity with the rest of Scripture, especially the Old
Testament.
" The Apocalyptist, however, does not limit himself to O.T. imagery,
but has much that is
his own,
or that belongs to the common stock of the later apocalyptic.
The Woman with Child
(Rev. 12:1-2)
has no parallel in the O.T. " -- Swete, The Apocalypse of St. John, cxxviii.
Where Should We Look?
The following three sources are frequently suggested:
1)
the Old Testament
2)
pagan mythology
3)
Jewish apocryphal writings
Old Testament is the Foundation
Allusions to Old Testament from Revelation
Swete identifies 278 references to the Old Testament (out of 404 verses).
Fruchtenbaum identifies over 500.
" [Unlike apocalyptic writings] St. John's... symbols are not obscure ravings hatched from a fevered imagination; they are rooted firmly in the Old Testament (and the reason for their seeming obscurity is that very fact: We have trouble understanding them only because we don't know our Bibles). " -- Chilton, The Days of Vengeance, 26.
The Sufficiency and Primacy of Scripture
" But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been
assured of, knowing from whom you have learned
them , and that
from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able
to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ
Jesus. All Scripture
is
given by inspiration of God, and
is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction
in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete,
thoroughly equipped for every good work. " (2Ti. 3:14-17)
Meaning of Numbers
Primary Literal Meaning
Like elsewhere in Scripture,
Numbers in the
Book of Revelation
carry a primary literal meaning.
Secondary Symbolic Meaning
Revelation is unique in the frequency with which it employs numbers
which have
additional symbolic meaning .
The symbolic meaning of a number is derived from a study of the
use of the number throughout Scripture.
The study of these symbolic meanings is known as
Biblical Numerology.
Symbolic Meaning of Numbers
Two: Witness
Example: the two witnesses of Revelation
(Rev. 11:3,
10).
Three: Life, Resurrection, Completeness, the Trinity
Example: the doxological triad
(Rev. 4:8
cf
Isa. 6:3), the "unholy trinity" (the beast from the sea
Rev. 13:1,
the beast from the earth
Rev. 13:11,
and the dragon
Rev. 13:4).
Four: the Entire World, the Earth
Example: the four horsemen
(Rev. 6:1-8),
the four angels standing on the four corners of the earth
holding back the four winds of the earth
(Rev. 7:1).
Six: Incompleteness, Man
Example: the number of the beast
(Rev. 13:18).
Seven: Perfection, Completeness
Too many examples to list!
Twelve: Jewish Tribes, Completeness
Example: the twelve tribes
(Rev. 7:5-8;
14:1), the woman's garland of twelve stars
(Rev. 12:1).
Summary
The Importance of Interpretation
The meaning we derive is dependent upon how we interpret the text.
Departure from 'Normal' Interpretation
Leads inevitably to a wide range of subjective opinion. Confusion
and obscurity result. "The Book of Revelation" becomes "The Book of Obscurity."
Watch for Interpretive Inconsistency
Learn to recognize inconsistency in interpretive approach, both in the
teaching of others and in your own studies. Understand the difference
between non-literal interpretation and the proper and necessary
handling of figurative language within the literal framework.
For additional information on this topic, see the commentary.