Is the book of Revelation fact or fiction?

[polonius]

[JehovahsWitness]

[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.

REVELATION: Fact or Fiction?

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).



FURTHER READING:

The book of revelation - what does it mean?
https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/q ... revelation


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REVELATION [Index]

Was the Revelation given in signs and symbols? (Rev 1:1)
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Will every eye literally see Jesus when he "returns"? (Rev 1:7)
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Who are the four horsemen to of the Apocalyps? (Rev 6)
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Who are the "two witneses" of Revelation 11:3?
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Does America figure in bible prophecy?
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What does the SCARLET beast of Revelation 13 & 17 represent?
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What does the 666 mark of the beast represent? (Rev 13:16)
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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)?
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Who or what is represented by the 8th King of REV 17:11?
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When does Revelation 18 &19 take place?
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How does Revelation 20 fit in with various themes in the bible?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 19#p904219

• 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?
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  In what sense will the rest or the dead come To life (Rev 20)? [Onewithim]
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  REV 20: 7-14 When will Satan be released from "the pit" and why?
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  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

What is symbolized by the sea that will be no more in Revelation 21?
viewtopic.php?p=1066266#p1066266

To learn more please go to other posts related to

DANIEL'S PROPHECIES , .THE SECOND COMING * and ... THE BOOK OF REVELATION

*The Return of Christ

[DPMartin]

[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.

[Checkpoint]

[Replying to post 1 by polonius.advice]

REVELATION: Fact or Fiction?

Neither; yet both.

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.

[Checkpoint]

[Replying to post 2 by JehovahsWitness]

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).

I agree, but see "our present era" as the period between the first coming and the second.

[imhereforyou]

[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.

[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.

For more, see here:

https://bible.org/article/argument-book ... ion-part-1

https://bible.org/article/introduction-book-revelation

[polonius]

[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?

[dio9]

I think the meaning of the Book of Revelations ,has been lost to history.

[Checkpoint]

I think the meaning of the Book of Revelations ,has been lost to history.

Why, therefore, is it in the Bible?