Before Jerusalem Fell

Revelation Studies 15
and Isaiah most notably, but it is sprinkled throughout Scripture in
numerous prophetic sections, including the teaching of Christ. “Of
all the books of the New Testament this is the farthest removed from
modern life and thought. . . . Apocalyptic has long ceased to be, as
it once was, a popular branch of literature. “c’ This is especially
troublesome for the “face value” school of interpreters.
Second, overlooking its original author and audience. In a quest
for “relevance,” commentators of the historicist and futurist schools
seem to forget that John addressed Revelation to real, historical
churches (Rev. 1:4, 11) about pressing and dire problems that he and
they faced in the first century (Rev. 1:9 and chapters 2-3). In doing
so a most fundamental rule of hermeneutics is breached. Two hermeneutics
texts may be cited to illustrate the importance of this principie.
Berkhof’s helpful study, Principles of Biblical Interpretation, teaches
that hermeneutics “is properly accomplished only by the readers’
transposing themselves into the time and spirit of the author.”c2
Mickelsen’s widely used Interpreting the Bible notes: “Simply stated,
the task of interpreters of the bible is to find out the meaning of a
statement (command, question) for the author and for the first
hearers or readers, and thereupon to transmit that meaning to modern
readers.”c3 Needless to say, removing the setting of the book
twenty or more centuries into the future is not conducive to a correct
apprehension of its interpretation.
Third, misconstrual of its original intent. Revelation has two
fundamental purposes relative to ‘its original hearers. In the first
place, it was designed to steel the first century Church against the
gathering storm of persecution, which was reaching an unnerving
crescendo of theretofore unknown proportions and intensity. A new
and major feature of that persecu~ion- was the entrance of imperial
Rome onto the scene. The first historical persecution of the Church
by imperial Rome was by Nero Caesar from A.D. 64 to A.D. 68.64
that is the New Testament book of Revelation” (Edward J. Young, The Prophq of Daniel
[Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1949], p. 22).
61. Allen, Introduztwn, p. 273.
62. Louis Berkhof, Ptinci}les of Biblical Znterpretrztian (Grand Rapids: Baker, [1950]
1974), p. 11.
63. Mickelsen, Interpreting the Bibte, p. 5.
64. See later discussion in Chapter 17.