The following writing seems to address the status of the Book of Revlation accurately.
REVELATION: Fact or Fiction?
March 27, 2011 by Derrick Garland Coy
Recently I was watching MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell on his show, The Last Word, when, in responding to a rival TV host who claimed that the Japanese earthquake and tsunami were evidence of the last days as depicted in the book of Revelation, he retorted, “The book of Revelation is a work of fiction that describes how a truly vicious God would bring about the end of the world. No half-smart religious person actually believes the book of Revelation anymore. Those people are certain that their God would never turn into a malicious torturer and mass murderer beyond Hitler’s wildest dreams.�
Opinions (with evidence please).
Is the book of Revelation fact or fiction?
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Re: Is the book of Revelation fact or fiction?
Post #2[Replying to post 1 by polonius.advice]
I believe in the Book of Revelation. I'm pretty certain there are at the very least 8 million Jehovah's Witnesses that feel the same way as I do.
FURTHER READING:
The book of revelation - what does it mean?
https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/q ... revelation
RELATED POSTS
Is the book of Revelation fact or fiction?
viewtopic.php?p=918897#p918897
Revelation: Literal or Symbolic?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 95#p890395
Verse by Verse expanation manual (Revelation, it's Grand climax at hand!)
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 36#p917136
I believe in the Book of Revelation. I'm pretty certain there are at the very least 8 million Jehovah's Witnesses that feel the same way as I do.
Are those the only choices? In my personal opinion, Revelation is symbolic prophecy, ie prophecy conveyed in a series of symbolic visions that have been or are being fulfilled during our present era (20th & 21st Century).REVELATION: Fact or Fiction?
FURTHER READING:
The book of revelation - what does it mean?
https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/q ... revelation
RELATED POSTS
Is the book of Revelation fact or fiction?
viewtopic.php?p=918897#p918897
Revelation: Literal or Symbolic?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 95#p890395
Verse by Verse expanation manual (Revelation, it's Grand climax at hand!)
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 36#p917136
REVELATION [Index]
Was the Revelation given in signs and symbols? (Rev 1:1)
viewtopic.php?p=1102443#p1102443
Will every eye literally see Jesus when he "returns"? (Rev 1:7)
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 50#p874750
Was the Revelation wrong as it says the events it described would happen "soon"?
viewtopic.php?p=1032146#p1032146
Who are the four horsemen to of the Apocalyps? (Rev 6)
viewtopic.php?p=1080387#p1080387
Who are the 144,000 (Rev 7:4)?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 94#p846594
Who are the "two witneses" of Revelation 11:3?
viewtopic.php?p=1021948#p1021948
Does America figure in bible prophecy?
viewtopic.php?p=1018451#p1018451
What does the SCARLET beast of Revelation 13 & 17 represent?
viewtopic.php?p=1018325#p1018325
What does the 666 mark of the beast represent? (Rev 13:16)
viewtopic.php?p=1085897#p1085897
What is "The Lake of fire" (Rev 14:9)?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 66#p337866
Who or what is "The Whore of Babylon"?
viewtopic.php?p=1065532#p1065532
What is Harmageddon? Q&A (Rev 16:16)
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 78#p917178
What will living conditions be like on this planet EARTH after Armageddon?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 44#p917144
What of the "ten horns" on the scarlet beast represent? (Rev 17:3)?
viewtopic.php?p=1066644#p1066644
Who or what is represented by the 8th King of REV 17:11?
viewtopic.php?p=1056167#p1056167
When does Revelation 18 &19 take place?
viewtopic.php?p=1061284#p1061284
How does Revelation 20 fit in with various themes in the bible?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 19#p904219What is symbolized by the sea that will be no more in Revelation 21?
- REV 20: 1-3What will happen to SATAN during the 1000 year rule of Christ?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 25#p905325
REV 20:6 What is the 1000 year reign of Christ?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 04#p909204
REV 20: 4-6: What conditions will be enjoyed during the 1000 year rule of Christ?
url=http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 04#p909204
In what sense will the rest or the dead come To life (Rev 20)? [Onewithim]
viewtopic.php?p=965585#p965585
What will happen after the 1000 year rule of Christ?
viewtopic.php?p=909208#p909208
REV 20: 7-14 When will Satan be released from "the pit" and why?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 08#p909208
REV14:9 /20:10 What is the "lake of fire"/"the second death"?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 66#p337866
How does the sequencing of Daniel and Revelation correspond?
viewtopic.php?p=1022583#p1022583
viewtopic.php?p=1066266#p1066266
*The Return of ChristTo learn more please go to other posts related to
DANIEL'S PROPHECIES , .THE SECOND COMING * and ... THE BOOK OF REVELATION
Last edited by JehovahsWitness on Sat Dec 03, 2022 12:28 pm, edited 34 times in total.
INDEX: More bible based ANSWERS
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 81#p826681
"For if we live, we live to Jehovah, and if we die, we die to Jehovah. So both if we live and if we die, we belong to Jehovah" - Romans 14:8
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 81#p826681
"For if we live, we live to Jehovah, and if we die, we die to Jehovah. So both if we live and if we die, we belong to Jehovah" - Romans 14:8
Re: Is the book of Revelation fact or fiction?
Post #3[Replying to post 1 by polonius.advice]
Lawrence O Donnell hasn't got a clue, all he is doing is appealing to the widest audience. spend some time on Christian forum sites and you will see most that call themselves Christian follow his line of thinking. their idol in their hearts in their own image of what a god to them ought to be, is the feel good about themselves god. a god in their own image, and likeness.
you should also note that it is the way God the Creator and Judge wants it, the reprobate mind following their own judgement of what is good and evil.
guys like that say anything if it keeps their audience listening.
Lawrence O Donnell hasn't got a clue, all he is doing is appealing to the widest audience. spend some time on Christian forum sites and you will see most that call themselves Christian follow his line of thinking. their idol in their hearts in their own image of what a god to them ought to be, is the feel good about themselves god. a god in their own image, and likeness.
you should also note that it is the way God the Creator and Judge wants it, the reprobate mind following their own judgement of what is good and evil.
guys like that say anything if it keeps their audience listening.
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Re: Is the book of Revelation fact or fiction?
Post #4[Replying to post 1 by polonius.advice]
The book of Revelation contains a number of visions, which John received and recorded.
Visions are neither fact nor fiction, but communications from God about spiritual realities, usually conveyed by metaphors that are not to be taken literally.
Neither; yet both.REVELATION: Fact or Fiction?
The book of Revelation contains a number of visions, which John received and recorded.
Visions are neither fact nor fiction, but communications from God about spiritual realities, usually conveyed by metaphors that are not to be taken literally.
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Re: Is the book of Revelation fact or fiction?
Post #5[Replying to post 2 by JehovahsWitness]
I agree, but see "our present era" as the period between the first coming and the second.In my personal opinion, Revelation is symbolic prophecy, ie prophecy conveyed in a series of symbolic visions that have been or are being fulfilled during our present era (20th & 21st Century).
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Re: Is the book of Revelation fact or fiction?
Post #6[Replying to post 1 by polonius.advice]
The more we learn, the less many tend to see God and workings of God as anything special. Society has changed as we learn more about our universe. In that, some of us tend to extend God's reach and abilities to, seemingly, keep him several steps ahead of our current knowledge.
With so much symbolism in the bible, it's a good bet the book is nothing but symbolism.
That said, it's not possible to say 100% that this book is anything more than a book. The best we have is opinion.
The more we learn, the less many tend to see God and workings of God as anything special. Society has changed as we learn more about our universe. In that, some of us tend to extend God's reach and abilities to, seemingly, keep him several steps ahead of our current knowledge.
With so much symbolism in the bible, it's a good bet the book is nothing but symbolism.
That said, it's not possible to say 100% that this book is anything more than a book. The best we have is opinion.
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Post #7
When it comes to understanding Biblical texts, it’s important to look at the purpose of a book and how the audience of the day would have understood it. Basically, the Book of Revelation was intended to offer comfort and encouragement for believers who were being persecuted for their beliefs. It tells them that God is going to deal with evil once and for all. In the end, the victory will be his and, therefore, theirs.
That message is as pertinent today as it was then. Evil still flourishes in this world, but there will come a day when it will end and God will re-establish his kingdom on earth. This is the promise of Revelation.
The content of the book is revealed in a vision. Most of it is prophetic and, of course, symbols are used throughout it. Many of those symbols would have been familiar to its original audience. As Craig Keener points out in his commentary on the book, too many interpreters have tried to discover what it means today when they should be looking at what it meant to people at the time of its writing. Hence, we get fanciful suggestions such as the locusts in chapter 9 being helicopters. That's the wrong way to approach the book.
For more, see here:
https://bible.org/article/argument-book ... ion-part-1
https://bible.org/article/introduction-book-revelation
That message is as pertinent today as it was then. Evil still flourishes in this world, but there will come a day when it will end and God will re-establish his kingdom on earth. This is the promise of Revelation.
The content of the book is revealed in a vision. Most of it is prophetic and, of course, symbols are used throughout it. Many of those symbols would have been familiar to its original audience. As Craig Keener points out in his commentary on the book, too many interpreters have tried to discover what it means today when they should be looking at what it meant to people at the time of its writing. Hence, we get fanciful suggestions such as the locusts in chapter 9 being helicopters. That's the wrong way to approach the book.
For more, see here:
https://bible.org/article/argument-book ... ion-part-1
https://bible.org/article/introduction-book-revelation
Post #8
[quote="Overcomer"]
When it comes to understanding Biblical texts, it’s important to look at the purpose of a book and how the audience of the day would have understood it. Basically, the Book of Revelation was intended to offer comfort and encouragement for believers who were being persecuted for their beliefs. It tells them that God is going to deal with evil once and for all. In the end, the victory will be his and, therefore, theirs.
That message is as pertinent today as it was then. Evil still flourishes in this world, but there will come a day when it will end and God will re-establish his kingdom on earth. This is the promise of Revelation.
The content of the book is revealed in a vision. Most of it is prophetic and, of course, symbols are used throughout it. Many of those symbols would have been familiar to its original audience. As Craig Keener points out in his commentary on the book, too many interpreters have tried to discover what it means today when they should be looking at what it meant to people at the time of its writing. Hence, we get fanciful suggestions such as the locusts in chapter 9 being helicopters. That's the wrong way to approach the book.
RESPONSE: Than can we agree that the Book of Revelation is fictional?
When it comes to understanding Biblical texts, it’s important to look at the purpose of a book and how the audience of the day would have understood it. Basically, the Book of Revelation was intended to offer comfort and encouragement for believers who were being persecuted for their beliefs. It tells them that God is going to deal with evil once and for all. In the end, the victory will be his and, therefore, theirs.
That message is as pertinent today as it was then. Evil still flourishes in this world, but there will come a day when it will end and God will re-establish his kingdom on earth. This is the promise of Revelation.
The content of the book is revealed in a vision. Most of it is prophetic and, of course, symbols are used throughout it. Many of those symbols would have been familiar to its original audience. As Craig Keener points out in his commentary on the book, too many interpreters have tried to discover what it means today when they should be looking at what it meant to people at the time of its writing. Hence, we get fanciful suggestions such as the locusts in chapter 9 being helicopters. That's the wrong way to approach the book.
RESPONSE: Than can we agree that the Book of Revelation is fictional?
