Why is the Book of Revelations so difficult to understand?

Question

During my life, I have read it three times trying to figure out what it means. There are so many weird things that seem confusing and disturbing. All I got out of it was there will be some monsters holding candlesticks and dragons with swords coming out their mouths.

Answer 1

Because people try to apply it to the modern world, which is not what it was written for. It was written for Christians being persecuted by the Romans in the First Century. To them, it made perfect sense. All the symbols fell into place. It's intention was not to show the future, but instead to serve as a "keep the spirits up" for Christians at the time. It was written in this manner so Christians would understand, and the Romans would not.

Trying to apply it to Iran, Iraq, Osama bin-Laden, etc. is kind of like trying to figure out Nostradamus's prophecies: you can twist anything around and get it to say what you want it to.

"The Whore of Babylon" is the Roman Empire. Babylon was known to the Christians as a wicked place, and it even mentions seven mountains (the Seven Hills of Rome). Rome was also the defacto ruler of the world at the time (a world-wide empire). Christians at the time would have had no problem making the connection between the two.

"666" is the numerical equivalent of "Nero Caesar" in Hebrew numerology. Nero began the mass persecution of Christians after the Great Fire of Rome in AD 64 for which he blamed them for setting it (which they probably did not).

The Oxford Annotated Bible has exhaustive information about the meaning of much of it. Many libraries have a copy.

Answer 2

The Book of Revelation is written in symbolism, and that makes it even hairier. I have a study bible called "Life Application Study Bible", New Living Translation. Not only does it have the scripture, but it has footnotes at the bottom explaining in plain English what Revelation means. It needs to be studied thoroughly in order to understand it. It explains what is to happen in the future, the last prophecy yet to be fulfilled. In easier terms, Revelation speaks of the End Times after the rapture (christians who accepted Christ are taken out, sometimes referred to as "the church"), when the Great Tribulation is in full swing and the Anti-christ takes power. The Unholy Trinity will work together (Satan, Anti-christ, False prophet), to bring as many people down with them as possible. Some of these who are in the Great Tribulation will accept Christ and eventually join the raptured group in Heaven. During the Great Tribulation sorrows and catastrophes will happen like no other before, and on a global scale.

Answer 3

Me too, but I make headway each time I read it.

I have the same problem with MArtin Buber and Einstein and algebra.

OK, here's a try at it. You are sent 2,000 years into the future and you experience a thousand years of what is happening in less than a few hours. How to you explain it to US when you come back.

YOU and YOUR house are tranasported back 3,000 years to before Jesus, how do they describe your Ipod and Lap Top comptuer in their writings.

In the Bible there IS a passage about a MAN made of metal who ATE a roll of parchment and spoke.

I used to deal with computers running punch tape. Green punch tape.

Now you tell me, was that person describing some type of computer or robot. It sure sounds it.

We don't know for a fact if God has or doesn't have some form of technology.

We certainly know an ANGEL with a FLAMING SWORD was placed before the tree of life. So, God seems to have some type of technology.

God may not use it himself, but it is used in his service.

Otherwise why the flaming sword. Why can't the Angel just force people back with faith and will, like Jesus did walking on water.

If Jesus can walk on water, an Angel has no need for a weapon to keep man away.

Now, John saw the future. A future certainly BEYOND today's date.

How would JOHN describe our computers, missles, tanks, cars, airplanes. What BASIS would someone from 40 AD have to make accurate interpretations of what they see 3,000, 4,000, 5,000 years in the future.

Answer 4

Revelation is not difficult to understand.
Within the book, you'll find references to all other parts of the Bible, so reading it is really not enough. Take the extra time to study it and cross reference.
The book even comes with its own outline:
Jesus speaks to John and tells him in the first chapter,
Rev. 1:19
"Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;"

So the book begins with an outline, and proceeds from there as John writes about the past, present, and future.

Answer 5

Very good question. I gave you star.

Modern readers of the book of Revelation sometimes think that it must be written in a secret code. Some people even suppose that the first century Christians to whom John wrote Revelation could not penetrate its code, but only those of us who live today. Such is the nonsense that read tanks, helicopters, and computer bar codes into the symbols of Revelation.

Would a loving God inspire a message to his people in a code, which they could not understand?

In fact, the original readers of John's letters were not as confused by its style as we are today, for they were more familiar with apocalyptic writing. Never make a mistake of assuming that, because you don't understand the symbols in Revelation, the original audience didn't either - because to them the meanings were perfectly clear.

The book of Revelation spoke to early Christians, in symbolic language they could understand, about the situation they were facing, not about the situation Christians would face, 1900 years later.

If you want an exegetical interpretation of the book of Revelation from a Bible scholar go to this link. http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/1995/9510ntg.asp

Peace and every blessing

Answer 6

The Book of Revelation was writtten to the early Christian Church that was being persecuted by the Roman Empire. It is a book of encouragement to the churches for them to persevere in the faith in spite of persecution. The book gives warning to some churches regarding how they are behaving and tell a promise of a better life if they persevere.

Because the audience was being persecuted by the Roman Empire, the book was written using symbols and "code phrases" that the Christian Churches would understand, but the Roman Empire would not.

The Book of Revelation was never meant to be read as a way of predicting the future.

Personally, I think WAY too much attention is put on this Book and not enough on the Gospels.

Answer 7

Hello, Grace:

Revelation is very important; in fact, it is the only book in the Bible that tells you there is a blessing for reading and doing, as well as a curse against those who subtract or add to it.

It was written when Christ's church was under persecution by Rome and was wondering why Jesus had not taken them to those mansions.

It describes the church thoghout history until the earth is recreated and the Holy Jerusalem on earth, as well as the destruction of the wicked.

Because people don't really study history as they read it, they interpret it to their own situation or reasoning. But it is not incomprohensible, and keep in mind that the same Spirit that wrote it is the Spirit that will fill those who hunger and thirst after righteousness.

There are some numeric prophecies that appealed to me. When God applies a timed period, it is no accident. There is a page called: THE RISE, DECLINE, AND DEATHOF ISLAM IN BIBLE PROPHECY. You will find it answers your questions about Revelation's validity. http://abiblecode.tripod.com/islam.htm

Blessings and AGAPE, One-Way

Answer 8

You have to understand something important about symbolism interpretation. John was a first century man asked to describe wonders and horrors he couldn't begin to comprehend! He had to find a way to present what he saw that would keep the Roman authorities at bay if they should get their hands on it, for had he told it EXACTLY as he saw it, it would've made him to be dismissed as a crackpot and the Bible would've been discredited from that time forward. Also, had their been sufficient understanding of the symbolism then, the Book would've been viewed as a book of sedition and heresy, intended to inspire the Jews to overthrow the Roman occupation at the risk of massive slaughter and destruction of the Word! The symbols are all around us if we open our eyes. For instance, though God could easily create a "scorpion with hair like a woman's hair, a face alike a man, and wings that sounded like many chariots running to battle and etc.", think about something that exists TODAY that could've made JOHN think that that was what he was seeing! I heard a man say once about the "scorpion" that he felt it was a Cobra helicopter! They have "breastplates of iron" since they're covered with armor, their "teeth like lions" could be the guns mounted underneath, the "face like a man" could be the split cockpit windshield or even an actual MAN piloting it! The "hair like a womans' hair" could be it's rotors and the "sound of chariots going to battle" could be the sound of the engines/rotors whipping around! Look to the world around you as best you can to try and understand and you may just get it right with help from a God-led ministry and from God himself!

Answer 9

The Book of Revelation provides all of the necessary details, except for the precise coordinates in time and space, the very points at which all that is contained in it will become clear as crystal, and rapidly unfold.

God is the eternal master of time, and when the time he appointed arrives, all of the corresponding events will take place ... much as our redemption was at hand, and all things rapidly came to pass, when we first received our eternal king, Jesus Christ.

Answer 10

" Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" ( 2 Timothy 2:15 ). Revelation, no doubt, is a hard book to understand. However, it is not impossible if you are doing what the above verse says. Secondly, the Lord never has or will keep His truth from your understanding if, in fact, you truly are a child of God. 2 Corinthians 4:4 says, " But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ, who is the image of God, should shine upon them." Sweetheart, keep reading, keep studying, and never NEVER stop praying that the Lord would open your spiritual eyes. For years now I never attempt to read any of God's Word without first saying, " Feed me, Lord. Help me to see." It won't happen overnight, but I promise... it will happen if you don't give up or give in.