NationStates Jolt Archive

Here's something I've always wandered about: where does the Book of Revelation stand when it comes to literal intepretation? I've often read stuff where people seem to view it as being symbolic, associating the seven headed dragon, whore of Babylon etc with current day events and peoples, why is this? Are there any schools that do take it completely literally? Or is it a special case when it comes to "symbolism" in the Bible? and if so, why?

The Book of Revelations should not, nor was it ever intended, to be taken "literal."

I know of a few small sects in the area that take the entire Bible full on literal, even Jesus parables, they don't seem to understand metaphor or symbolism. For, the most part though most of the people who say they use a literal translation of the Bible don't actually mean that they think everything in the Bible is to be taken literally but that the whole Bible is the literal truth.

For example, if the Bible says that Jesus told a parable about a rich man and a poor man, they believe that Jesus actually did tell that story, but not that the story is actually true. (since it's a parable see?)

I know of a few small sects in the area that take the entire Bible full on literal, even Jesus parables, they don't seem to understand metaphor or symbolism. For, the most part though most of the people who say they use a literal translation of the Bible don't actually mean that they think everything in the Bible is to be taken literally but that the whole Bible is the literal truth.

For example, if the Bible says that Jesus told a parable about a rich man and a poor man, they believe that Jesus actually did tell that story, but not that the story is actually true. (since it's a parable see?)
But that "literal truth" is a misuse of the concept of "literal". What is really meant is "actual truth" or some such?

I know of a few small sects in the area that take the entire Bible full on literal, even Jesus parables, they don't seem to understand metaphor or symbolism. For, the most part though most of the people who say they use a literal translation of the Bible don't actually mean that they think everything in the Bible is to be taken literally but that the whole Bible is the literal truth.

For example, if the Bible says that Jesus told a parable about a rich man and a poor man, they believe that Jesus actually did tell that story, but not that the story is actually true. (since it's a parable see?)

So how comes Revelation get to be symbolic? Why is it special?

But that "literal truth" is a misuse of the concept of "literal". What is really meant is "actual truth" or some such.
I know, I am just trying to explain to you what they mean when they say it.

So how comes Revelation get to be symbolic? Why is it special?
There is symbolism in the Bible from Gensis to Revelation, it's not so special it's just there is more of it there than in other parts, so you notice it more.

So how comes Revelation get to be symbolic? Why is it special?

Because it was written in symbolic language. :rolleyes:

Seriously, that's like asking what gave Frost the right to write The Road Not Taken.

Just remember that every single word in the bible was originally written down by ordinary people.

Just remember that every single word in the bible was originally written down by ordinary people.

Not the Torah. The Torah (the Five Books of Moses- Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) was written by the Lord God Jehovah.

So how comes Revelation get to be symbolic? Why is it special?

Style. The book is written in an Apocalyptic style. In that respect it is similiar to the Book of Daniel in the Old Testament. The style uses the future to give a lesson to those in the present, in this case the various churches that the book is addressed to.