Is the book of Revelation fact or fiction?

[polonius]

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).

[Checkpoint]

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?

No, we cannot.

Why has the evaluation you responded to led you to ask that question?

[polonius]

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?

No, we cannot.

Why has the evaluation you responded to led you to ask that question?

RESPONSE: Because it doesn't answer the basic question (1) Did the events which are claimed actually happen(nonfiction), or are they fictional(didn't actually happen?)

[Checkpoint]

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?

No, we cannot.

Why has the evaluation you responded to led you to ask that question?

RESPONSE: Because it doesn't answer the basic question (1) Did the events which are claimed actually happen(nonfiction), or are they fictional(didn't actually happen?)

My answer remains the same.

See post 4.

[polonius]

https://psychologydictionary.org/vision/

What is VISION? definition of VISION (Psychology Dictionary)

Vision: a visual hallucination frequently inclusive of a religious or mystical encounter.

(A) misinterpretation of exterior visual stimulants which takes place as an outcome of either a pathological condition or a misperception of the stimulants

I prefer reality which the book of Revelation is not.

[EBA]

The book of Revelation has nothing to do with "end-time prophecy;" it is "The revealing of JESUS CHRIST"

God Bless.

[polonius]

[Replying to post 15 by EBA]

The book of Revelation has nothing to do with "end-time prophecy;" it is "The revealing of JESUS CHRIST"

QUESTION: Who made this claim, and when was it made?

[onewithhim]

[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


RELATED POSTS

Revelation: Literal or Symbolic?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 395#890395

Verse by Verse expanation manual (Revelation, it's Grand climax at hand!)
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 136#917136

REVELATION [Index]

Will every eye literally see Jesus when he "returns"? (Rev 1:7)
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 750#874750

Who are the four horsemen to of the Apocalyps?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 097#862097

Who is the rider of the white horse?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 841#867841

Who are the 144,000 (Rev 7:4)?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 594#846594

666 the mark of the beast
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 836#846836

What is "The Lake of fire" (Rev 14:9)?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 866#337866

Who or what is "The Whore of Babylon"?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 185#917185

What is Harmageddon? Q&A (Rev 16:16)
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 178#917178

What will living conditions be like on this planet EARTH after Armageddon?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 144#917144


How does Revelation 20 fit in with various themes in the bible?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 219#904219

• REV 20: 1-3What will happen to SATAN during the 1000 year rule of Christ?
  http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 325#905325
  
  REV 20:6 What is the 1000 year reign of Christ?
  http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 204#909204
  
  REV 20: 4-6: What conditions will be enjoyed during the 1000 year rule of Christ?
  url=http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 204#909204
  
  REV 20: 7-14 When will Satan be released from "the pit" and why?
  http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 208#909208

Excellent post.

One version says, at Revelation 1:3: "Happy is he who reads aloud and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and who observe the things written in it." It was meant to give us hope, foretelling events which would occur in the Last Days.

It depicts action of God toward all the evil in this world, eliminating all the causes for suffering. How can you call this God one that is sadistic and mean? He is going to do away with everything that hurts mankind and restore the planet to what it was meant to be---what it was like in the Garden of Eden before humans gave Jehovah the finger, so to speak.

Not every human will be destroyed. Just the "ungodly"---those that refuse to do things that help other people and contribute to true peace and security. (2 Peter 3:7) What kind of God would we have if he let ungodly people do their thing indefinitively?

[onewithhim]

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?

No, we cannot.

Why has the evaluation you responded to led you to ask that question?

RESPONSE: Because it doesn't answer the basic question (1) Did the events which are claimed actually happen(nonfiction), or are they fictional(didn't actually happen?)

Yes, many of the events have already happened, and I know that your questions could be answered if you gave post #2 your attention. Events have happened, and will happen in these Last Days, though presented in Revelation symbolically.

[onewithhim]

The book of Revelation has nothing to do with "end-time prophecy;" it is "The revealing of JESUS CHRIST"

God Bless.

And what is being revealed ABOUT Jesus Christ? He himself communicated with the Apostle John to write down things John saw in visions concerning the End Time. These told about the obliteration of mankind's governments and the reign of God's Kingdom by Christ over the earth. Christ is revealed as the King of God's government and the one who sets matters right on the earth.

[EBA]

[Replying to post 15 by EBA]

The book of Revelation has nothing to do with "end-time prophecy;" it is "The revealing of JESUS CHRIST"

QUESTION: Who made this claim, and when was it made?

Which claim are you asking about?

That it has to do with "end-time prophecy;" or that it is "The revealing of JESUS CHRIST" ?