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Why are people drawn to the book of Revelation and confused by it? What might be the value in studying it?
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People are drawn to Revelations because it tells of what the end of the world will be like. By reading it, we can take heed and be alert to watch out for the signs. There are also many encouragements for believers to persevere in our current trials because Satan will be defeated, God is still seated on the throne and we have Jesus Christ at the right hand of God interceding for us. We sees all creation worshipping God and the new heaven and the new earth that Jesus has gone to prepare for us.
The confusion of Revelations comes because there are many mystical symbols, numbers that we are not sure what it means and what it represent. There are many interpretations from Revelations about pre-tribulation, mid-tribulation or post-tribulation that are sometimes quite confusing too. -
People are drawn by its out-of-the-world imagery and by its subject matter on the end of the world. Yet precisely these two features also make it confusing to people. We don’t know exactly how to interpret the symbols. As for the end-time events, we don’t know what the timeline is, nor even whether all the events in Revelation are strictly chronological (or are some of them a flashback?). All these makes for the confusion.
However, as the first and last chapters say, there is value in reading and taking heed to Revelation. Even if we cannot interpret all the details nor timeline, the general idea is clear about the decline of the world, God’s judgment of sin, and the eventual defeat of Satan and his minions under God. The general warning is also clear – to steer away from sin and apostasy, to expect suffering, and to persevere to the end. The Christian hope of the new heavens and new earth, on which we can anchor, is also clear. This is the value in reading this book. -
People are drawn to the book of Revelation because of all the mystery surrounding the End Times and Heaven. We as humans are always drawn to the unknown. We want to know times, places, dates, and etc. Confusion sets in because of all the symbolism and not to mention all the different views just on the tribulation. The value of studying this book is the same as all the other books of the Bible. You study the Bible so you can grow closer to God and to have him reveal through his word what knowledge you should be obtaining.
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People are drawn to Revelation because we are fascinated by the end times. We are confused by it because it is a metaphor and the imagery can be challenging. It is important for us to read snd study it because it gives us further proof that, in the end, death and Satan are forever defeated.
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People want to know what will happen. The confusion comes in because no one knows if it’s already happened, will happen, or if it was all just symbolic.