Few books of the Bible have produced as much disagreement, speculation, and confusion as the book of Revelation.
Some approach Revelation by beginning with today’s newspaper.
Others begin with modern nations, political leaders, wars, technology, or events occurring thousands of years after Revelation was written.
But what if Scripture itself provides the framework for understanding Revelation?
Before asking what Revelation means today, we should first ask:
WHAT WOULD ITS LANGUAGE AND SYMBOLS HAVE MEANT TO PEOPLE WHO ALREADY KNEW THE SCRIPTURES?
Revelation did not appear in isolation.
Its language is deeply rooted in the Law, the Prophets, the teaching of Jesus, and the rest of the New Testament.
REVELATION WAS WRITTEN TO REAL FIRST-CENTURY CHURCHES
John wrote:
“John to the seven churches which are in Asia…”
Revelation 1:4
Jesus then commanded:
“What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia…”
Revelation 1:11
These were real congregations facing real circumstances.
Whatever interpretation we give Revelation must respect the people to whom the book was originally addressed.
REVELATION SAID ITS EVENTS WERE NEAR
The book begins:
“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass…”
Revelation 1:1
John further wrote:
“…for the time is at hand.”
Revelation 1:3
And near the conclusion of the book:
“And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.”
Revelation 22:10
These statements matter.
We should not begin by moving the fulfillment thousands of years beyond John’s original readers without first accounting for the inspired time statements contained within the book itself.
REVELATION SPEAKS THE LANGUAGE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
Revelation repeatedly uses images already found throughout earlier Scripture:
A Lamb
A dragon
Beasts
Horns
Trumpets
Bowls
A harlot
A city
A temple
A throne
A river
The tree of life
A new heaven and a new earth
These images did not originate with Revelation.
Much of Revelation’s imagery draws upon language and concepts found in books such as Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy, Psalms, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Joel, and Zechariah.
Therefore, instead of assigning modern meanings to these symbols, we should first ask:
HOW HAD GOD ALREADY USED THIS LANGUAGE IN SCRIPTURE?
COVENANT LANGUAGE MATTERS
The Old Testament repeatedly records God’s covenant relationship with His people.
Israel received covenant blessings for obedience and covenant curses for rebellion.
Read Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28.
When God’s covenant people became unfaithful, the prophets frequently described their rebellion as spiritual adultery and harlotry.
Jerusalem itself was described this way.
Isaiah wrote:
“How is the faithful city become an harlot!”
Isaiah 1:21
Jeremiah likewise used the language of adultery and harlotry concerning covenant unfaithfulness.
This establishes an important biblical pattern:
COVENANT RELATIONSHIP → UNFAITHFULNESS → SPIRITUAL ADULTERY/HARLOTRY → COVENANT JUDGMENT
That pattern existed long before Revelation was written.
Therefore, when Revelation introduces a great harlot, we should not immediately search outside Scripture for an identity.
We should first examine how Scripture itself uses the imagery.
THE PROPHETS PROVIDE THE SYMBOLIC LANGUAGE
Consider Daniel’s vision:
“I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven…”
Daniel 7:13
Jesus used this same prophetic language.
He told the high priest:
“…Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.”
Matthew 26:64
Revelation begins with similar language:
“Behold, he cometh with clouds…”
Revelation 1:7
The responsible approach is therefore to compare these passages rather than automatically assuming that every reference to Christ “coming” must describe the same event.
Context determines meaning.
JESUS’ TEACHING PREPARES US FOR REVELATION
Jesus warned His generation of coming judgment.
Speaking of Jerusalem, He said:
“For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.”
Luke 21:22
He also gave a time indicator:
“Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.”
Luke 21:32
Those statements should not be separated from the prophetic framework that precedes Revelation.
Jesus’ teaching provides essential background for understanding the language John later uses.
THE APOSTLES ALSO PREPARE US FOR REVELATION
Revelation should not be isolated from Romans through Jude.
The apostles repeatedly discuss:
Christ’s reign.
The kingdom.
The church.
The new covenant.
The people of God.
The temple of God.
The priesthood of believers.
Persecution.
Apostasy.
Judgment.
Faithful endurance.
Victory in Christ.
These themes appear again throughout Revelation.
For example, Peter told Christians:
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people…”
1 Peter 2:9
Revelation similarly declares that Christ:
“…hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father…”
Revelation 1:6
Revelation continues themes that the rest of the New Testament has already established.
SCRIPTURE SHOULD INTERPRET THE SYMBOLS
Suppose Revelation mentions a beast.
Before asking:
Which modern political leader is the beast?
Ask:
Where have beasts appeared previously in biblical prophecy?
Suppose Revelation describes a harlot.
Before asking:
Which modern institution is the harlot?
Ask:
Whom did God previously describe as a harlot, and why?
Suppose Revelation speaks of heaven and earth being shaken.
Before assuming the physical universe must be destroyed in that particular passage, ask:
How did the prophets use cosmic language when describing God’s judgment upon nations?
That is the difference between imposing an interpretation upon Scripture and allowing Scripture to supply its own interpretive framework.
REVELATION IS ABOUT CHRIST’S VICTORY
Amid all the symbols, judgments, beasts, persecution, and conflict, we must not lose sight of the central figure of Revelation:
JESUS CHRIST.
He is:
The faithful witness.
The first begotten of the dead.
The prince of the kings of the earth.
The Lamb.
The King of kings.
The Lord of lords.
The Alpha and Omega.
Revelation was not given merely to satisfy curiosity about prophecy.
It called suffering Christians to faithfulness.
Jesus repeatedly told the seven churches:
“…To him that overcometh…”
Revelation 2–3
And He told Smyrna:
“…be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”
Revelation 2:10
The message is ultimately one of confidence:
CHRIST REIGNS.
CHRIST’S PEOPLE MUST REMAIN FAITHFUL.
GOD JUDGES HIS ENEMIES.
CHRIST AND HIS PEOPLE ARE VICTORIOUS.
BEGIN AT GENESIS—NOT WITH TODAY’S HEADLINES
If we want to understand the last book of the Bible, perhaps the greatest mistake we can make is beginning with the last book.
Start with Genesis.
Continue through the Law.
Study the Prophets.
Listen carefully to Jesus.
Follow the establishment of the church in Acts.
Study the doctrine revealed in the Epistles.
Then open Revelation.
Suddenly, its language is no longer foreign.
We have seen much of it before.
The biblical pattern is:
LAW → PROPHETS → JESUS CHRIST → ACTS → EPISTLES → REVELATION
The question should not be:
HOW CAN I MAKE REVELATION FIT CURRENT EVENTS?
The better question is:
HOW DOES THE REST OF SCRIPTURE TEACH ME TO UNDERSTAND REVELATION?
Open the Scriptures. Examine the context. Compare Scripture with Scripture. Test the conclusions.
ALLOW SCRIPTURE TO INTERPRET SCRIPTURE.
The Biblical Pattern
Biblical Studies & Books by Kevin L. Walker
The Biblical Pattern 