Why is the Book of Revelation important?
This book gives us more information on the End Times than any other book in Scripture. It has a special purpose in equipping God’s people to participate with Jesus’ end-time plan and to overcome with victory in the Great Tribulation. It is the “prayer manual” for the end-time Church. 11. How can we tell if a passage in Revelation is symbolic or if it should be taken literally? The general rule is that Revelation means what it says and says what it means (common sense reading), unless an angel explains it otherwise. We interpret a passage symbolically when it is clearly indicated by the text. For example, in Revelation 1:20, the angel tells John the seven lamp stands are symbolic of seven churches. 12. Do other commentaries refer to the parenthetical sections as interrupting the chronological story line? Yes, many throughout history have understood the structure of Revelation in this way. 13. What is the special significance of the letters to the seven churches in Revelation 2-3 for us
