Four Views of Revelation

28 Jul Four Views of Revelation

The book of Revelation almost didn’t make it into the Bible.  Back then not everyone agreed about what it meant or how useful it was.  Today, it’s place in the Bible is less of an issue, but we are still coming to the place of consensus about what it means.  Here are the four major methods of interpretation for the book of Revelation, and something of an overview of each.

• Futurist
• Historicist
• Preterist
• Idealist

The Futurist Method of Interpretation

People who subscribe to this method, notably Baptists and Pentecostals, interpret the book of Revelation with as much of a literal approach as is possible.  Some things are clearly symbolic, but otherwise they endeavour to see things as being in the future, and being literally true.  For example, the 1000 years in Revelation 20 is a literal 1000 years.  The trumpets are literal trumpets, the bowls are literal bowls, and the plagues are literal plagues.   Futurists expect the world to be worse in the future, and for an AntiChrist figure to arise.  The Beast is a person who causes the world to follow after him.  They expect seven years of tribulation, but most futurists believe that faithful Christians are removed (ie raptured) out before this trouble.  This is called ‘pretrib premillennialism.’  Other futurists believe that the faithful must go through some of the tribulation (midtrib premillennialism) or all of it (posttrib premillennialism).  Futurists are always premillennialists in that they expect Jesus to return before (ie pre) the millennium and rule on Earth physically present for a thousand years.

In essence, futurists take Revelation as being about the future and with as much literalness as possible.  A key advocate of futurism was John MacArthur.

The Historicist Method of Interpretation

Historicists (typically Seventh Day Adventists) believe the book of Revelation is interpreted through the ages of history.   The seven churches of Revelation listed in chapters 2 and 3 represent seven historical periods through the age of Christianity.  The thought here is that we are currently living in the seventh of these historic periods – ie the Laodicean age – and this is a time of Lukewarm Christianity.  Historicists expect the future to get worse, for there to be times of terrible testing and plagues.  Seventh Day Adventists who subscribe to this theory believe the Beast is Roman Catholicism, and the mark of the beast is worshipping on a Sunday.  There are varieties of historicist interpretation, but most historicists are premillennial, that is they believe Jesus will return before a thousand years of rule by Christ.  While they are premillennial, and they are called historicists, they are NOT the same as historic premillennialists.  The terminology is confusing, but these two positions are different.

In essence, historicists see Revelation as being spread out over the course of history, but finding ultimate fulfilment in the future.  They have a unique angle upon the meaning of the symbols.

The Preterist Method of Interpretation

Preterism comes from the latin word praeter, meaning ‘in the past.’  Preterist believe that the events of Revelation have already happened.  People unfamiliar with preterist interpretation find this idea shocking because of the obvious future tense of the book of Revelation.  Preterists believe the events of Revelation were in the future of the people at the time it was written, but are all, (or nearly all) in our past.  Preterists believe that the events of Revelation were written to seven churches in Asia at the time it was written, and about “things about to happen.” (Rev 1:1)  Preterists find fulfilment in Revelation in the events of AD70, and the destruction of the Jewish temple and the winding up of the old covenant.  Some preterists are ‘partial preterists’ in that they see some of Revelation as fulfilled and some as yet to be fulfilled.  Preterists see Revelation more symbolically and less literally than futurists or historicists.  They believe in either postmillennialism, or millennialism, and do not typically believe that Jesus 1000 year reign in Revelation 20  is an actual 1000 years.  Preterist can have a very positive view of the future, because the plagues are behind us.  They look to the conquering gospel.

In essence, preterists see Revelation as having already happened either in full, or mostly.  They try to interpret the symbols in light of the Old Testament, or find fulfilment in what happened historically.  A number of Reformed, Presbyterian, or Lutherans can be found in this category.  A key advocate was RC Sproul.

The Idealist Method of Interpretation

Idealism looks for spiritual meaning in the book of Revelation.  It finds themes around worship, sacrifice, persecution, overcoming and more.  The book of Revelation is thus highly symbolic and speaks to Christians of all times and places.  Idealists are often amillennial, that is, they don’t believe there is an actual 1000 year physical reign of Christ.  Rather they believe that Christ is reigning now, and we are in the millennium.  They don’t see Revelation as being necessarily historical, or about the fulfilment of something in history.

In essence, idealists look for spiritual meaning in the book of Revelation.  A key advocate was Karl Barth.

What is Revelation About?

While there are varying methods of trying to get behind the book of Revelation, there is a statement right up front which is written in plain language and needs no interpreting.

‘A Revelation of Jesus Christ…’ (Rev 1:1a)

The book of Revelation is about the Lord.  While it has things to say about us, and is written for us, it is about Him.

Watch our 24 part video playlist, where we dig into Revelation and look for Jesus.  Start Right Here.