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Preterite Reading
- The meaning of revelation is for a past age and lies in the time it was written.
- Images are to be understood historically, as things already completed.
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Futurist Reading
- -Revelation outlines all that will take place in the future; it is to be understood as a chronological narrative detailing what will take place in the future.
- - The future is always understood to be the near future of the present reader.
- - This is the interpretive paradigm of the prophecy belief movement.
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Historicist Reading
- - The events of history since the time of Revelation can be better understood through reading Revelation.
- - The work applies to the future of the time in which the book was written, but to the past from the perspective of the reader.
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Literary Reading
- - A symbolic interpretation of revelation as a narrative work that points to things in time and space.
- - Symbols are of archetypal images that touch us profoundly, whether or not we practice the christian belief. (Don't have to believe it to read it, consider it a good story)
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Theological Reading
- - Revelation is a doctrinal work that outlines the plan of salvation in Christ.
- - The work is not to be read in any historical or chronological fashion, but is understood best as a treatise that speaks of the nature of the Christian gospel and the moral response to that gospel.
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Idealist Reading
- - Also called the Liberationist Approach.
- - Revelation calls people to justice and liberation from oppression or persecution.
- - It is a document used by the poor of developing nations, by women, by minorities, as inspirational work to encourage the oppressed in their struggle for equality and hope.
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Ecclesiastical Reading
- - Might be called the "Church" Approach
- - a holistic approach to Revelation that offers hope in God to all eras and gives a challenge to respond to that hope.
- - Contains elements of all six interpretative paradigms.
- + It Recognizes historical context and sources of the text.
- + Points to a future with God not yet realized.
- + This text has had and will continue to have meaning.
- + Points to things beyond our understanding.
- + There is a personal challenge to the gospel proclaimed.
- + There is a call to a material/political change.
- + Inspiration for the worshipping community.
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