by Robert W. McDonald

Created on: November 27, 2009   Last Updated: November 28, 2009

It goes without saying that the book of Revelation, also known as the Apocalypse of John, is the most controversial book in the New Testament canon. This essay will briefly review interpretations of this book that are not commonly entertained among the fundamentalist and Biblical literalist schools of Christianity, yet might be of interest to those seeking a non-denominational, non-dogmatic approach to this text.

1. Authorship and Date

The author identifies himself only as "John" and states that he was on the Island of Patmos when he was instructed to write down what was about to be revealed to him in two visions sent by "Jesus the Christ." Although tradition credits John the disciple of Jesus of Nazareth as the author, there is simply not enough evidence to verify or refute this contention.

The "traditional" date of composition is set at the end of the first century CE, which would place it roughly near the end of the reign of Domitian. Some modern scholars have proposed an earlier date, placing it near the end of Nero's "Reign of Terror," ca 65-70 CE. Barring some future discovery, these dates will remain a subject of academic debate.

2. Organization

The first vision (chapters 1 - 3) instructs John to write messages to the "... seven churches in the province of Asia..."

The second vision occupies the remainder of the book and is purported to be a foretelling of world events that will occur during what are now known as the "end times." These anticipated events include: the Tribulation, a battle on the Plain of Armageddon (Meddigo), the Second Coming of Jesus the Christ and with him 1,000 years of peace, the defeat of Satan, and the Final Judgment of humanity.

3. Interpretations

"Mainstream" interpretations such as premillennial, amillennial, postmillennial, dispensational, and "pure" allegorical are more than amply represented in other essays posted on these pages, and at numerous other locations online, and will not be discussed here except in passing relative to the concepts listed below.

3A. Eastern Orthodox Christian

The Eastern Orthodox position holds that the events in Revelation simultaneously describe past events in the early Church and events that are to happen in the future. The Eastern Church takes the Biblical injunction against attempting to predict the Second Coming literally and prohibits such speculations on the part of its clergy and laity.

3B. Preterism

In Christian eschatology Preterism is the belief that most, if not all, of the "prophecies"

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