Book Of Revelations Millennial Views and the Book of Revelation The Book of Revelations -- the final segment of the New Testament -- is a particularly contentious and divisive section of the Bible; considerable ambiguity exists surrounding whether to interpret the scripture literally or metaphorically, and the episodes described often seem especially fantastical. Moreover, the author's rhetoric leaves room for multiple interpretations, resulting in the reader drawing unverifiable interpretations. Acknowledging the caveat

The book highlights the actions of the divine, rather than the actions of man. However, if one takes the historical interpretation of the Book of Revelation, the moral content is not lessened. It then stands as an example of what happens to one if they continue to act in a certain way. It is another example of God's punishment and wrath for those that do not obey his word. In

This choice has to do with the free will God gave all humankind at the beginning, as written in Genesis 1-4: since the days of Adam and Eve. Inherently, we may wish to do good with our free will, just as Eve wished not to eat from the Tree of Life. But like Eve and Adam, we must struggle within ourselves against doing evil instead. Adam and Eve's expulsion from

Second, the historicist view sees Revelations as "a sweeping panorama of ancient history between the first and second comings of Jesus Christ" (Wilson, 357). Third, the futurist view maintains that Revelations deals with end times which in essence removes the text from the author's own time period. And fourth, the idealistic or poetical view suggests that Revelations is purely subjective in nature and encourages Christians to endure their sufferings

The Book solemnly promises that good triumphs over evil, faithfulness will be amply rewarded and justice will be meted out (BBC Team, White). Researchers have also found certain inaccuracies and points of contention. The troubling seven-headed Beast, which rises from the sea and demands to be worshipped as God, symbolizes Rome, the city of seven hills (BBC Team 2001). The number 666 of the Beast has led to speculations and

The meaning of the number seven becomes more complex: "The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches," (Revelations 1:20). Later we learn that the seven seals (Revelations 6) and the seven trumpets announcing the coming of Christ (Revelations