The variant interpretations given to the prophecies of the book of Revelation fall into three basic patterns—the preterist, the futurist, and the historical ( see Historicism ). Seventh-day Adventists are historicists in their interpretation of Revelation.
Seventh-day Adventist Interpretation. The book of Revelation may be outlined thus: (1) an introduction, Rev. 1 ; (2) the seven churches, Rev. 2 and 3 ; (3) the seven seals, Rev. 4 to 8:1 ; (4) the seven trumpets, Rev. 8:2 to 11 ; (5) the eschatological conflict between good and evil, Rev. 12 through 20 ; (6) the new earth, Rev. 21 to 22:5 ; and (7) an epilogue, Rev. 22:6-21 . Seventh-day Adventists regard these prophecies as a “Revelation of Jesus Christ” ( Rev. 1:1 ) and interpret them historically, believing that Jesus Christ has been at work in the events of history throughout the Christian Era, with the goal of establishing His righteous reign on earth. Seventh-day Adventists apply the three lines of prophecy—the churches, the seals, and the trumpets—historically to seven periods of history, with the churches and the seals corresponding approximately to each other, and reaching from apostolic times down to the advent of Christ, and the seven trumpets comprehending a somewhat shorter period.
The prophecy of the seven churches has been recognized as applicable, in the first place, to literal Christian congregations in the ancient Roman province of Asia; beyond this, the seven churches are understood as representative of seven consecutive periods of church history: the message to the church at Ephesus is applied to the apostolic period; that addressed to the Smyrna church, to the period of Roman persecution to the time of Constantine; the Pergamos message, to the great apostasy that culminated in the papacy; the Thyatira message, to the period of papal supremacy, from the time of Justinian to the Reformation; the Sardis message, to the churches of the Reformation and after; the Philadelphia message, to the Advent movement of the nineteenth century; the Laodicean message, to the church today. Accordingly, SDA s consider the Laodicean message of Rev. 3:14–22 to be of special importance.
As for the prophecies of the seven seals and the seven trumpets, SDA s have in general accepted the interpretation of earlier expositors as the best explanation currently available. The fourth chapter is understood as providing the setting for the prophecy of the seven seals, introduced in the fifth chapter. The first seal ( Rev. 6:1 , 2 ) is applied to the apostolic age; the second ( vs. 3 , 4 ) to the period of Roman persecution; the third ( vs. 5 , 6 ) to the period of apostasy that culminated in the formation of the papacy; the fourth ( vs. 7 , 8 ) to the Middle Ages, the period of papal supremacy; the fifth ( vs. 9–11 ) to the era of the Protestant Reformation; the sixth ( vs. 12–17 ) to the modern era; and the seventh ( Rev. 8:1 ) to the Second Advent. The seventh chapter, inserted between the sixth and the seventh seals, is understood as describing the sealing of God’s remnant people to remain steadfast through the last conflict of the great controversy between good and evil.
Recent SDA scholarship tends to see special last-day significance in the prophecies of the seven churches, the seven seals, and the seven trumpets.
The first four trumpets ( Rev. 8:7–13 ) are interpreted as God’s judgments upon the Western Roman Empire, in particular, the invasion of the Visigoths, the Vandals, the Huns, and the Heruli. The fifth trumpet ( Rev. 9:1–12 ) is applied to the invasion of the Eastern Roman Empire by the Saracens, and the sixth ( vs. 13–21 ) to the invasions of the Ottoman Turks. Comparable with the insertion of Rev. 7 between the sixth and the seventh seals, the passage consisting of Rev. 10 and 11:1–14 is inserted between the sixth and the seventh trumpets. Like Rev. 7 , it is understood as applying largely to the modern era. The vision of the mighty angel with the little book ( Rev. 10 ) is applied to the unsealing of the prophecies of Daniel during the great Advent movement of the nineteenth century, and Rev. 10:11 to 11:12 to the emphasis on the heavenly sanctuary given by Seventh-day Adventists. The “two witnesses” of Rev. 11:3–12 are considered to be the Old and New Testaments, and the vicissitudes through which they pass, as representing the fate of the Scriptures at the hands of the Papacy, and later of atheism during the era of the French Revolution. Like the seventh seal, the seventh trumpet ( vs. 15–19 ) is applied to the Second Advent.
Chapters 12 through 20 are considered to be a connected prophecy depicting the course of events in the great eschatological conflict between good and evil.
Chapter 12 , understood as an introduction to this extended prophetic narrative, depicts Satan’s efforts to destroy Christ and his animosity toward the early Christian church ( vs. 1–5 ), the persecution of God’s people during the 1260 years (1260 prophetic days, or three and one half times, or 42 months, see Rev. 12:6 , 14 ; 11:2 ; 13:5 ) of papal supremacy ( vs. 6 , 12–16 ), Christ’s victory over Lucifer (the dragon) in heaven ( vs. 7–12 ), and a warning of the great eschatological conflict ( v. 17 ), which is described at length in Rev. 13 to 20 . Chapter 12 thus provides the historical setting for the last great conflict in the great controversy of the ages between Christ and Satan.
The leopardlike beast of Rev. 13:1–10 , 18 is applied to the papacy, particularly to its contemporary revival from the deadly wound it suffered about 1798; and the lamblike beast ( vs. 11–17 ) (also, the false prophet; cf. Rev. 19:20 ) to the United States, with emphasis on a yet-future apostate Protestantism symbolized by the image to the beast. The 144,000 described in Rev. 14:1–5 are identified as those who gain the victory over the beast and its image of Rev. 13 .
The three angels’ messages of Rev. 14:6–12 are understood as representing the great Advent Awakening of the nineteenth century and the message Seventh-day Adventists have been commissioned to bear to the world. Vs. 14–20 picture the coming of Christ in the clouds of heaven and the harvest of the earth.
Chapters 15 to 19 focus on events following the close of human probation and leading up to the second advent of Christ to deliver His people from foes bent on their destruction. Chapter 15 stands as an introduction to the seven last plagues, a series of divine visitations upon the obdurately impenitent, as recorded in Rev. 16 . Under the seventh plague ( vs. 17–21 ) God intervenes, shattering the threefold symbolic Babylon in vs. 13 , 14 .
Chapter 17 is seen to be a further, more detailed description of a great religiopolitical conspiracy, with the harlot Babylon standing for apostate religion, and the seven-headed and ten-horned beast on which Babylon is pictured as being seated as the political powers of the earth subservient to her design to annihilate God’s people. Joining battle with Christ, the kings of earth are overcome, and in turn they destroy Babylon ( vs. 12–17 ).
Chapter 18 is a highly figurative description of the final judgments of God upon Babylon the great; whereas vs. 1–4 constitute God’s final appeal (connected with the three messages of Rev. 14:6–11 ) to His people to separate themselves from Babylon, in order to avoid complicity in her sins and hence a share in her punishment.
Chapter 19:1–6 is a universal paean of praise to God for His victory over Babylon the great, and vs. 7–9 an invitation to the overcomers on earth to the great eschatological banquet in heaven marking the beginning of Christ’s eternal, righteous reign. In highly figurative language vs. 11–21 picture Christ’s defeat of all earthly powers at the time of His second advent.
Chapter 20 carries the sequence of events forward for a thousand years ( see Millennium ), during which the earth lies desolate and the saints are with Christ in heaven. At the close of the millennium Christ, the saints, and the New Jerusalem descend to earth, and the wicked dead (called Gog and Magog) are raised and attack the city. Finally, Christ sits in judgment over the impenitent of all ages and annihilates them ( see Death , Hell ). Chapters 21:1 to 22:5 describe the new-earth state as the eternal abode of the saints ( see Home of the Redeemed ). See also Bible, Interpretation of ; Daniel, Interpretation of ; Mark of the Beast ; Number of the Beast ; Plagues, Seven Last .