Can I Be Christian and Read the Bible Allegorically

The Book of Revelation has vivid imagery and interesting characters every bit you read through its pages. At that place are details of four horsemen, strange creatures with faces like eagles, men, and calves, and is a dragon with feet that are shaped like a bear that come out of the sea. These images have acquired many to scratch their heads and speculate about what these things may, or many non be, and how to explain their meanings.

There are those in Christianity that say we should interpret (or explain) these vivid images found in the Book of Revelation using what is known as theallegorical method of interpretation,which is defined beneath:

Arepresentation of an abstract or spiritual meaning through concrete or material forms; figurative treatment of one subject area under the guise of some other.

To those who believe in an allegorical (or spiritual) method, the images and events in the Volume of Revelation are figurative.This ways the language of this book goes beyond the literal words that are written then a person can come up to an even deeper pregnant of spiritual truth. Alan Piper notes this when he comments:

The Book of Revelation is full of symbolic numbers. Since we have seen that Revelation is a book of prophetic visions, the elements of which are symbols of spiritual realities, it makes sense that the numbers present in the volume would be symbols of something else, not just random quantities.

Leo Checkai. Dominicana.com.Opening the Book of Revelation. Retrieved Feb 24, 2017 from http://world wide web.dominicanajournal.org/opening-the-book-of-revelation-x/

This type of interpretation is found in the writings of Augustine, who believed that every passage of sacred Scripture independent four different interpretations (or meanings): the "literal," the "emblematic," "the moral," and the "eschatological."  For example, according to Augustine State of israel in the "litera"l sense was a nation called of God, and given a land. State of israel, in the "allegorical" sense, too refers to the universal church, which would exist the "true spiritual Israel" that would inherit the world in the age to come. In a "moral" sense, State of israel had the 10 Commandments, simply the universal church is morally spring to them, but not the other 600 laws because those were fulfilled by Christ. In an "eschatological" sense, Israel refers to the New Heavens and the New Earth when the people of God will finally inherit the earth.

Others in Christianity state nosotros should interpret (or explain) these detailed events in the Volume of Revelation using what is known every bit theliteral-grammatical method. This ways the words that are in the Book of Revelation should be taken in their plain and normal sense, in relation to the context of the paragraph. This does not hateful that a person who observes a literal-grammatical method of reading the Bible does non recognize figurative language, as website explains:

This ways that we kickoff out by taking the words in their most normal meaning. If I say My house is red, yous will understand what I mean. In that location would be no question about it. However, if I say Heed to this parable near the Homeowner, or used comparative words similar the discussion like equally in similar a roaring lion, y'all would understand that my words might not be meant to be taken literally, but possibly figuratively.

Endtimes.org. The Literal Grammatical Historical Method. Retrieved Feb 24, 2017 from http://www.endtimes.org/grammat.html.

When it comes to God's word, what is the best method of interpretation one could use in observing the author's intent in the Book of Revelation?  Let usa examine some of the biblical reasons why the historical-grammatical method is not only the best way, but is the manner of interpreting the Book of Revelation.

• The Book of Revelation is prophetic: John, inspired by the Holy Spirit, points out that book is prophecy in verse three:

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it past His angel to His bond-servant John, who testified to the give-and-take of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and listen the things which are written in information technology; for the time is near.

Revelation 1:1-3 NASB

Prophecy in the Onetime Testament did have figurative language (east.g., Joseph's dream, Nebuchadnezzar dream, the prophets of State of israel, etc.). Yet the images and figures werealwaysexplained by the 1 who was interpreting the prophecy. In short, because John describes this book as prophecy, the reader does non take to hypothesize, theorize, allegorize, or spiritualize, the meaning of the events laid out in the Volume of Revelation. Nosotros should await the interpretation of the book be laid out in order for the states by the author who gave united states the prophecy, so that we may understand and exist blessed past information technology (Rev. i:3).

• The numbers and times in the Book of Revelation are specific: When a person observes the numbers in the Book of Revelation in their plain meanings one can run into these numbers are extremely specific. For instance, the numbers mentioned concerning Israel and how God volition pour His Spirit on a specific amount of people (i.e., 12,000) from each of the 12 tribes (Rev. 7:4-8). When the Lamb (who is Jesus) breaks the 7th seal, there is a specific corporeality of fourth dimension that the heavens are silent (i.e., a half hour)(Rev. eight:1). The scorpions of the earth are given the ability to torment people who insubordinate against God for a specific menstruum of time, which is five months (Rev. 9:three-five). In that location is a specific number given to the army later on the sixth trumpet has sounded, which is 200 one thousand thousand (Rev. ix:sixteen). The two witnesses are immune to prophesy for a specific number of days, which is 1,260 (Rev. 11:3).

How would i who uses the allegorical method interpret these specific numbers mentioned hither? There would be no reason to explain the specific numbers and times in the Book of Revelation any other manner, other than in their plain literal sense.

• The images that are seen in the Book of Revelation are explained past the writer: There are many images establish in the book of Revelation and these images are explained by the author with much item. For case, the Lamb, having seven horns and seven eyes, that took the book from God is Christ considering the image of the lamb appears as if information technology was slain (Rev. 5:1-3). This is also proclaimed by the twenty-4 elders who sing that the Lamb is worthy to take the volume because of His death He purchased men from every tribe, tongue, linguistic communication, and nation (Rev. five:9). At the beginning of the seal judgments, the four horsemen are also described in particular (Rev. 6:i-8). The cerise dragon described in the Book of Revelation, nosotros are told past the author, is Satan (Rev.12:1-9). Even the animal that comes out of the earth in Chapter 13 is described in clear terms (Rev. 13:one-10).

How would one who adheres to the allegorical method explain these passages when the images are already explained to us by the author?  One need not find a "spiritual," "moral," or "eschatological" meaning in any of these passages because the meaning of these symbols have already been given.

The literal-grammatical method is the way we should read, and interpret, the Scriptures because the Volume of Revelation according the qualities mentioned higher updemands to be read this way. To attempt to find a more than "spiritual," "moral," or "eschatological" significant in this volume is missing the intent of what John, through inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wanted to communicate. Let us observe the words in their plain, normal sense, paying close attending to the surrounding context of the passage. By doing this, we will award the intent of the author, and glorify our God, giving Him due recognition for all of His future works. Amen.

Until next time…

Soli Deo Gloria!

Dr. L.South.

If y'all would like to read other articles relating to theology, counseling, and electric current events, from a Biblical worldview delight visit my personal blog folio, which can be constitute here

whitworthglachind.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.calvary.edu/allegorical-literal-christians-read-explain-book-revelation/

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