Do moderate Christians take the book of Revelation seriously?

Question

That book of the Bible is so far out there when compared to everything else. In my Catholic upbringing we studied it as John's critique of the Roman Empire through the use of symbols. Anyone who isn't a radical fundamentalist take it seriously?

Answer 1

I take it seriously, however it is very symbolic and difficult to interpret meanings. I'm a moderate presbyterian

Answer 2

I'm a believer of 38+ years. I understand that G-d wrote the scriptures and told us everything we needed to know, even about the end times (which we are in). If that makes me a radicl fundamentalist, so be it. the question I would ask, is, why not believe that it is about what it says it's about. Is there anything which begins, which at some time does not end? You have lives which begin, and at some point may end (unless Christ comes first). Trying to relate Revelations to the Roman empire is just wrong. That wasn't the point. With respect to symbolism, here's a quote from a chaplain under whose tutelege I sat, who said, "If the plain sense makes good sense, look for no other sense." I always thought that makes sense. But, that may be simplistic. Without certain passages out of Daniel, Ezekiel and with connecting passages in the gospels and varous letters of Paul and Peter you cannot understand the book of Revelation as it's intended. In fact the entire bible is the interpreter for the entire bible.

With respect specifically to the book of Revelation, let me say, that in my study of it's chapters, two words stood out "and" and "then". One chapter and every section of each chapter is connected together by those words. You cannot take the part away from the whole (out of context), because it was not intended to b e read that way. Recognize that in the passaages to the various churches Philadelphia, Ephesus, etc, each church represents a particular church age. We are, and have been in the Laodicean age. Doubt that? Read in Pauls 2nd letter to Timothy ch 3 vs 1-13, understand that this is talking about today. In Daniel (ch 2:31 - 43) we find a statue which is representative of various governments which would (and have) rule the earth the bottom of the statue has feet of clay and iron the toes representing the revived roman empire which we see today in the European Economic community. Daniel ch 9 outlines that their are 70 weeks of years and essentially predicts that there will be a great time of tribulation. According to some Christians will not go through this period of time.

I take the bible seriously, and have. There were numerous prophecies which pointed to the coming of Jesus and all of those prophecies were fulfilled. Even prophecies about His death (read Psalm 22) and more. Just as those prophecies were fulfilled so will the future ones also be fulfilled (they are being fulfilled even now). We now have a thing called RFID and in Revelations it tells men being given a mark (mark of the beast). Guess what? It's going to happen, and probably very soon. Know this also, and hear this word of prophecy: G-d spoke these words to me about a dozen years ago "the end of all things is at hand (1 Peter 4:7a)". Why did He speak them to me? Because I have been looking for His coming for over 30+ years!

Your need is to get into some serious bible teaching and not of the Roman Catholic variety, sorry to say, for they are of a watered down and liberal theology; and I know because I was in the Catholic church for eight of my 38+ years as a Christian and know how and why they come from where they do. You would possibly do well to read some books by Father Malachai Martin, such as Vatican, Final Conclave and The Keys of This Blood. If you were to read a book called "In G-d's Name" by Yallop(?) you will find out a lot more about Pope John Paul I and why (and how) he was assassinated. This has gone longer then I intended yet these things needed to be said. Shalom

Answer 3

If your bible has a preface to the Book of the Revelation to John read it and the rest of the book will be easier to understand. As it is a recitation of ALL the Books of the bible and the fate of the Jewish(Israelite) nation.The KVJ does not have one, unless its in one of the more expensive copies.The New Jerusalem Bible(reader's edition) has a preface for each book of the bible.
Yes it is taken seriously by those that read it . They also read things into it that are not there.The more Fundamentalist the more this happens.Such as the world ending when it says the world will be transformed with the second coming. A big difference.

Answer 4

The book of Revelation needs to be taken seriously. John was being shown and told through visions how the world would end and how the Lord would come. We need to know that and be able to recognize the signs of His coming. Revelation is a book of predictive prophecy. To deny this is to disregard the style, the theme, and the future events of the Apocalypse.

It is a book that is hard to understand because of the complexity of the symbols, but it's not impossible. With deep study and comparison to the symbolism of Daniel it can be understood.

Answer 5

It was Martin Luther himslef who had wanted to remove the Book of Revelation from the Bible.

As a Catholic I do and don't take it seriously. I absolutely do not believe in that fundamentalist idea/notion of an immanent end of the world stuff. Jewish scholars (and many Christian ones) view Revelation as having been fulfilled back in the late first century (beginning in 90 AD) when the Church was being very severely persecuted and that Revelation's symbolic language was "code talk" to encourage Christians to be faithful to their beliefs.

Some fundamentalist groups believe that Jesus will rapture them before his millenial reign (or something to that effect). Others are called post-millenial (as opposed to pre-tribulation) or post-tribulation. Others are a-millenial.....heck they hardly agree with each other and so their teachings can't possibly be true....after all....Truth is one.

Answer 6

John's message would never have reached the Churches if he had not used symbolism. He was captive on the Isle of Patmos under Roman guard at the time he wrote it. The Romans were unable to decipher it then. Anyone who takes it literally has some serious problems understanding ANY OF IT! Have a great evening.
Eds

Answer 7

Many Christians read the book of Revelations in the same way that you have. Unfortunately, our fundamentalist friends read this and all the books/letters of The Bible literally, giving everyone the impression that being Christian means believing Jesus is going to return tomorrow to punish all non-Christians.

The book of Revelations SHOULD be taken seriously, but it should NOT be read literally. Doing so leads to all kinds of strange conclusions about God and Jesus, conclusions that are not consistent with the Jesus we meet on the Sermon on the Mount.

Thanks for your question...peace be with you.

Answer 8

Of course! Just because one does not see today's headlines in the Bible's prophecies does not mean that they (including Revelation) are not taken seriously.

Answer 9

Some do, most don't. Some have not a clue to what it means or what to do with it. I like to interpret it according to Harry Potter myself. The final scroll will be read on 7-7-7 and the battle to end all battles will begin in the middle east. Dumbledore will rise again and the world will end in the flick of a wand. (There are symbols in the HP books you know.)
;-)

Answer 10

you should take the whole word of God seriously. Yes there is alot of symbolisms in Revelation, which should be taken seriously.