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The Book of Revelation is considered one of the most controversial and difficult books of the Bible, with many diverse interpretations of the meanings of the various names and events in the account.

There are several schools of thought concerned with how the symbolism, imagery, and contents of the Book of Revelation should be interpreted:

The Preterist View
The view of Preterism holds that the contents of Revelation constitute a prophecy of events that were fulfilled in the 1st century. This view depends critically on an early date of Revelation, circa AD 68, since any later date makes the "prophecy" postdate the events prophesied.

The Futurist View
The futurist view assigns all of the prophecy to some future time, shortly before the second coming. Futurist interpretations generally predict a Great Tribulation, a relatively short period of time where believers will experience worldwide persecution and be purified and strengthened by it, and a rapture, whereby all true Christians are taken from Earth by God into Heaven. Pretribulationists believe that all Christians then alive will be taken bodily up to Heaven before the Tribulation begins.

The Historicist View
The historicist view regards the prophecy as spanning the time from the end of the first century through the second coming of Christ. Politically, historicist interpretations apply the symbols of Revelation to the gradual division and collapse of the Roman Empire, the emergence of a divided Europe in the West and a Muslim empire in the East, and the collapse of the Eastern Empire while Europe attempts to reunite and recreate the Roman Empire.

The Spiritual or Idealist View
The Spiritual view (also called Idealist by some writers) does not see the book of Revelation as predicting specific events in history. Rather it sees the visions as expressing eternal spiritual truths that find expression throughout history. Only in the last few chapters are specifically predictive eschatological issues taken up.

The Eastern Orthodox View
Eastern Orthodoxy has an interpretation that does not fit well into any of the above classifications. It treats the text as simultaneously describing contemporaneous events and as prophecy of events to come, for which the contemporaneous events were a form of foreshadow. It rejects attempts to determine, before the fact, if the events of Revelation are occurring by mapping them onto present-day events, taking to heart the Scriptural warning against those who proclaim "He is here!" prematurely. Instead, the book is seen as a warning to be spiritually and morally ready for the end times, whenever they may come ("as a thief in the night"), but they will come at the time of God's choosing, not something that can be precipitated nor trivially deduced by mortals.
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Do you fit into any of these frames of thought? Or do you Interpret the Bibles readings entirely different from what is listed above????

I would definitely fit into the second, the futurist, post tribulation camp. It's the only view that's supported by the other 65 books of the Bible.

Even with my days back in catholic school, I've ALWAYS been fascinated by the Book of Revelations!!! The stories and the ways in which one can interpret them leave is turely amazing!!!

Just the name alone should hint at what the book is trying to reveal. REVELATIONS!!!
It's not that hard to understand. Again, I say let the Bible be it's own interpreter and things will become plain as day. People try to interpret the Bible to suit their own personal likes, but not so. Study Daniel and Revelation together with prayer and a honest yearning for understanding and you'll see how things start to unravel before your eyes.

I fit into this category.

Taliban is right on! You'd be amazed at how much is truely "revealed". Start with a prayerful heart, Daniel, the Revelation, some historical research, and prepare to see some things that make you go "WOW!"

would you care to expand on that meh dear

I dont want to see no bamsee in here. get rid of dat sig. plus yuh mekking it hard for me to open the threads at wuk

mad bad, ah mussie 4get tuh click d box. No bumcees in real talk or religion outa respect, but anywhere else is fair game.
Ah trying tuh help allyuh be more productive at work.

many thanks bossman!!! Although I don't think ANYTHING is going to help me be more productive in this place right before holidays!!!

Not really spiritual but more historical than anything. What I've come to learn is that Revelations seem to match the events that occurred in the 1st century, when it was written.