An Introduction to Revelation Part 5a, Methods of Interpretation (The Study of the Apocalypse)

The next few series of blogs will focus on the different methods of interpreting the Apocalypse.  We will start with the Historicist view.

Historicist

This view goes back to the 12th century.  It basically means that Revelation tells the history of the West (Western Europe) from the time of the Apostles to the present.  Later, scholars like Martin Luther used this way of thinking to place the pope as the antichrist.  Still later, this gave way to dispensationalism where scholars used the seven letters as “periods of time” throughout history.  

As one would guess, it has weaknesses.  

1. This view only deals with Western European history.
2. The book would have meant nothing to the churches that John was writing to.
3. Believers in this method would have to rework the different dispensations as history changed.

Osborne*** (Pgs. 18-19)

***Revelation (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament) Grant R. Osborne