How to Read the Scary Books of the Bible - Lesson Four
Revelation, Eschatology, and How We Learn to Read Apocalyptic Scripture
If Daniel taught us how apocalyptic symbolism works, Revelation shows us what that symbolism does when it speaks to real communities under pressure.
Before we go any further, we need to clear something up.
Yes, Revelation does speak about the future.
Yes, it includes eschatological hope, final judgment, and the ultimate restoration of creation.
But Revelation is not only about the future. And much of the confusion surrounding this book comes not from what it says, but from how it’s been read.
What Eschatology Actually Is
Eschatology is simply the study of “last things.”
In Scripture, that includes God’s final judgment, the defeat of evil, resurrection, renewal, and the ultimate reign of God. Revelation absolutely participates in that conversation.
What Revelation does NOT do is remove those hopes from history altogether.
In the biblical imagination, the future is spoken about in order to shape faithfulness in the present. The prophets regularly spoke of what God would do ultimately so that people would live differently now.
Eschatology was never meant to be an escape plan. It was meant to be a source of hope, endurance, and accountability.
Revelation looks forward, but it does so while speaking directly to the realities its original audience was facing.
Revelation Was Written to Real Communities
Revelation was written to actual assemblies living under Roman rule. These communities were navigating pressure to conform, pressure to compromise, and pressure to prove allegiance to empire.
Revelation is not trying to satisfy curiosity about the end of the world. It is trying to form faithfulness in the middle of it.
That context matters deeply.
Why Revelation Uses Symbolism
Just like Daniel, Revelation avoids naming power directly.
Rome is not named as Rome. Caesar is not named as Caesar.
This is not because the author lacks courage. It is because communities under empire survive by speaking wisely.
Symbolic language allows truth to be spoken without handing it directly to the authorities. It protects the people hearing it while sharpening their ability to recognize domination, idolatry, and false allegiance.
This is survivor language.
How We Read Scripture Matters
Before we talk more about beasts, judgments, or future hope, we need to talk about how we approach Scripture itself.
Most of us were taught to open the Bible asking,
“What does this say about me?”
“How does this apply to my situation right now?”
That instinct is understandable, but it skips an essential step.
When we read Scripture faithfully, we start with exegesis, not eisegesis.
Exegesis: Letting the Text Speak First
Exegesis means drawing meaning out of the text.
It asks questions like:
Who wrote this?
Who was it written to?
What was happening in their world?
How would the original audience have understood this language?
Exegesis assumes that Scripture meant something before it ever meant something to us.
This does not make the Bible distant or impersonal. It makes our reading honest.
When we practice exegesis, we let the text teach us before we ask it to apply to us.
Eisegesis: Reading Ourselves Into the Text
Eisegesis is the opposite. It means reading meaning into the text.
Eisegesis happens when we:
Read Scripture primarily looking for ourselves
Treat every passage as if it were written directly about our personal situation
Assume the Bible exists mainly to explain our lives, emotions, or current events
This approach often sounds spiritual, but it can be misleading.
When we read the Bible only asking, “Where am I in this story?” we turn Scripture into a mirror before allowing it to be a teacher.
Why Revelation Is Especially Vulnerable to Eisegesis
Revelation suffers more from eisegesis than almost any other book.
When readers approach it looking for modern nations, current politicians, or personal timelines, the imagery quickly becomes overwhelming and frightening.
That’s not because Revelation is unclear. It’s because it’s being asked to answer questions it was never written to answer.
Revelation was written to help first-century believers see reality clearly so they could remain faithful. When we honor that, the book becomes steadier, not scarier.
How Exegesis Changes the Way We See the Future
When Revelation is read eisegetically, everything becomes future-only:
Every beast is a future ruler
Every judgment skips the original audience
Every symbol becomes a code waiting to be cracked
When Revelation is read exegetically, something healthier happens.
Some imagery speaks directly to first-century Rome.
Some imagery describes recurring patterns of evil and resistance.
Some imagery points forward to God’s final resolution of history.
All three can be true at the same time.
Apocalyptic literature is capable of near meaning, ongoing meaning, and ultimate meaning without confusion.
Revelation is not less about the future. It is MORE THAN the future.
The Son of Man in Revelation
Revelation does not abandon Daniel’s vision of the Son of Man.
In Revelation 1, Yeshua appears using imagery drawn directly from Daniel. He stands within divine authority, yet remains distinct from the Father. He is the faithful Messiah who has passed through suffering, been vindicated by God, and now exercises authority that does not mirror empire.
This is Daniel’s Son of Man revealed.
Revelation insists that true power still looks like Yeshua, not Caesar.
Revelation as Worship and Resistance
One of the most overlooked features of Revelation is how much of it is worship.
Songs are sung. Praise is offered. God’s holiness is centered again and again.
Revelation teaches its readers that worship itself is resistance. To worship the God of Israel and the Messiah Yeshua is to refuse the claims of empire.
Fear-based readings miss this entirely. Revelation is not meant to terrorize believers. It is meant to anchor them.
An Invitation to Practice
Read Revelation 1 slowly.
Notice how Yeshua is described. Pay attention to which images echo Daniel. Look for language that feels familiar rather than foreign.
Choose one image that stands out to you and check its cross references. See where else Scripture uses that language.
Ask yourself:
What kind of authority is being described here?
How would this vision challenge the original audience?
What kind of faithfulness does this call for?
Write a short reflection. Do not aim for conclusions. Aim for clarity.
Looking Ahead
In the next lesson, we’ll focus on the letters to the assemblies and how Revelation speaks to compromise, endurance, and hope in very practical ways.
For now, let this settle.
Revelation is not a book to fear. It is a book meant to steady the people of God.
And when it is read with care, context, and humility, it does exactly that.
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About the Author
Diane Ferreira is a Jewish believer in Yeshua, a published author, speaker, seminary student, wife, and proud mom. She is the author of several books, including The Proverbs 31-ish Woman, which debuted as Amazon’s #1 New Release in Religious Humor.
She is currently pursuing her graduate degree in Jewish Studies in seminary, with her favorite topics being the early church and Biblical Hebrew. Diane writes and teaches from a unique perspective, bridging her Jewish heritage with vibrant faith in the Messiah to bring clarity, depth, and devotion to everyday believers.
When she’s not writing, studying, or teaching, you’ll find her curled up with a good book, crocheting something cozy, or playing her favorite video games.
I am really enjoying this series!