Four Basic Approaches to Reading the Book of Revelation

BASIC APPROACHES PRETERIST Focus Historical Context and Setting is Most Important Preterist: Someone who believes all or almost all of Revelation is about events that happened in the 1st Century

REVELATION Basic Approaches: Preterist: Perspective-- History-- Strengths-- Weaknesses--

The Whole of Human History Must “DECODE” the “BLUEPRINT” BASIC APPROACHES HISTORICIST The Whole of Human History is Significant BUT Must “DECODE” the “BLUEPRINT” PRETERIST Focus Historical Context and Setting is Most Important Historicist: Someone who believes that Revelation is about events that happened throughout all of human history

REVELATION Basic Approaches: Historicist: Perspective-- History-- Strengths-- Weaknesses--

The Whole of Human History Must “DECODE” the “BLUEPRINT” BASIC APPROACHES HISTORICIST The Whole of Human History is Significant BUT Must “DECODE” the “BLUEPRINT” FUTURIST Focus PRETERIST Focus Historical Context and Setting is Most Important God’s Final Victory is the Emphasis Futurist: Someone who believes that most of Revelation is still to come.

REVELATION Basic Approaches: Futurist Perspective-- History-- Strengths-- Weaknesses

BASIC APPROACHES IDEALIST “General Spiritual Principles” HISTORICIST The Whole of Human History is Significant BUT Must “DECODE” the “BLUEPRINT” PRETERIST Focus FUTURIST Focus Historical Context and Setting is Most Important God’s Final Victory is the Emphasis IDEALIST “General Spiritual Principles” Operative in all ages

REVELATION Basic Approaches Idealist Perspective-- History-- Strengths-- Weaknesses--

New Jerusalem Age to come This age Fallen Babylon