WHY REVELATION

MUST BE STUDIED
CLAIMS -REVELATION A
DIFFICULT BOOK
• Some: “There are many riddles in
Revelation as there are words”; “The
study of Revelation either finds or leaves a
man mad.”
• Luther: Revelation only contains images
and visions; Christ is neither taught nor
acknowledged in it.
CLAIMS -REVELATION A
DIFFICULT BOOK
• Zwingli: With apocalypse, we’ve no
concern, for it is not a biblical book; it has
no saviour or the mind of John with it.
(Barclay, 1: p.1).
 E.G. WHITE
COMMENTS
ON REVELATION
ELLEN G. WHITE
•
1 . Revelation an open book. In the
Revelation are portrayed the deep
things of God. The very name
given to its inspired pages, "the
Revelation," contradicts the
statement that this is a sealed
book. A revelation is something
revealed. The Lord Himself
revealed to His servant the
mysteries contained in this book,
and He designs that they shall be
EG WHITE CONT.

• Its truths are addressed to those living in

the last days of this earth's history, as well
as to those living in the days of John.
Some of the scenes depicted in this
prophecy are in the past, some are now
taking place; some bring to view the close
of the great conflict {AA 584.1}
2. IMPORTANCE FOR
SPIRITUALITY
2.1. Many ministers make no effort to
explain the Revelation. They call it an
unprofitable book to study. They look
upon it as a sealed book, because it
contains the truth in figures and symbols.
But the very name that has been given to
it--"Revelation"--is a denial of their
suppositions.
2.3. Let none think, because they cannot
explain the meaning of every symbol in the
Revelation, that it is useless for them to
search this book in an effort to know the
meaning of the truth it contains.
3. LINKED TO DANIEL
• In view of the testimony of Inspiration,
how dare men teach that the Revelation is
a mystery, beyond the reach of human
understanding? It is a mystery revealed,
a book opened. The study of the
Revelation directs the mind to the
prophecies of 341.2}
3. LINKED TO DANIEL

• Daniel, and both present most important

instruction, given of God to men,
concerning events to take place at the
close of this world's history. {GC88
341.2}
• 3.1. In the Revelation all the books of the
Bible meet and end. Here is the complement
of the book of Daniel. One is a prophecy; the
other a revelation. The book that was sealed is
not the Revelation, but that portion of the
prophecy of Daniel relating to the last days. The
angel commanded, "But thou, O Daniel, shut
up the words, and seal the book, even to the
time of the end." Daniel 12:4. {AA 585.1}
• 3.2. When the books of Daniel and
Revelation are better understood,
believers will have an entirely different
religious experience (FLB, 345.3).
• . All through the book of Revelation there are the most
precious, elevating promises, and there are also warnings of
the most fearfully solemn import. Will not those who profess
to have a knowledge of the truth read the testimony given to
John by Christ? Here is no guesswork, no scientific deception.
Here are the truths that concern our present and future
welfare. What is the chaff to the wheat? {8T 302.3}
 4. IMPORTANCE FOR MISSION

•There is need of a much closer study

of the word of God; especially should
Daniel and the Revelation have
attention as never before in the
history of our work. Letter 57, 1896
4.2. But I saw that this book is indeed a
revelation given for the especial benefit of
those who should live in the last days, to
guide them in ascertaining their true
position and their duty. {EW 231.1}
4.3. All who are preparing to meet
their Lord should make this book the
subject of earnest study and prayer.
{ST, July 4, 1906 par. 2}
APPROACHES TO REVELATION
Four Main Approaches or Method of Interpreting
Revelation
• A. Preterist method = (Luis de Alcazar, d. 1613)--
the book of Revelation addresses primarily the
situation of the Christian church in the Roman
province of Asia in the first century A.D. in this vein
of interpretation, the book does not contain any
predictive prophecy. Its purpose was rather to provide
encouragement for the church facing impending
persecution by imperial Rome in John‘s day.
• Futurist method = Revelation
(particularly 4-22) is prophecy of future
events to take place just prior to and after
the Second Coming. The book is relevant
for the last generation of Christians living
in the time of the end.
• Idealist method = argues against any
historical purpose of the symbols in
Revelation. Rather, the book contains a
description of the ongoing struggle between
good and evil which cannot be applied to any
historical time period or place.
Eclectic approach– combines preterism,
futurism and idealism, but exclude
historicism being incompatible with their
views. Supporters see no prophesied
events in Revelation except the future
Parousia; (Matthews, Jr., 92).
• Historicist method = the book of Revelation
provides a symbolic presentation of the
prophetic outline of the future course of
history from the apostolic times until the time
of the end. Thus the predictive prophecies are
in the process of fulfilment. Revelation is
rooted in the book of Daniel which deals
with sequential periods of history. Seventh-
day Adventists are historicists