Quote:
Originally Posted by Esaias
Where is this rule of interpretation found or upon what authority is it based?
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There is no rule of interpretation laid out in the bible. All that we have is the first verse's information saying the book is SIGNIFYING a message. That means it is symbolic. Literalists obviuosly ignore that verse, though.
When there is no rule in the book itself, with just a note of symbolism, we have to determine how to interpret those symbols correctly. The interpretations are not up for grabs. There has to be a systematic approach. Looking to the rest of prophetic scripture, we find apocalyptic language used with imagery over and over again. Read
2 Sam 22 for a very good example. So many things were said by David that cannot be taken literally. The same is found throughout the minor prophets. A sword is said to be made fat from consuming the blood of its victims in
Isa 34:6, when swords neither have mouths or stomachs.
The only rule that makes the most sense is to let the bible interpret itself. How can it do that? Revelation has some obvious patterns that everyone sees such as the LAMB in Rev who is only known to be Jesus because of the Passover references in it's blood redeeming us, as the passover lamb's blood redeemed the firstborn in Egypt. And since John called Jesus the Lamb who takes the sins of the world, we find the way Revelation is understood is by looking for the same symbol elsewhere in scripture.
Rev 5 does not say the Lamb is Jesus. Jesus' name is not even mentioned in that chapter. how do we know it's Jesus? By the understanding of Christ and the passover lamb that is found elsewhere.
So, the same method is obviously to be used for the rest of the Revelation. In that manner, it is self-evident.
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