Real Bad Theology: Revelation, pt 2

Futurism

A futurist view of Revelation says that the author's visions are predictions, but predictions of a time that may be far distant. Throughout history various religious leaders have argued that their specific generation is the one depicted in Revelation, and they are therefore experiencing the fulfillment of the events from this ancient prophecy. 

Because the visions are quite fantastic, they are easy to spin as you'd like. If you believe you are faithful and living in the last generation of humanity, then the evil beast must be a powerful force opposed to you. Take the godless, communist Soviet Union opposing the God-fearing United States—a not uncommon sentiment during the Cold War. So a self-enforcing cycle emerges: Because I can see so many parallels between my world and the prophecies, such as earthquakes and famines around the world, reading current events into the text reinforces my belief that we truly are living in the last generation. 

For the past 200 years or so, the prime justification for the futuristic view has been seeing Rev 4:1 as a hinge between what was current with the author and what will happen at some point in the future. 

Revelation 4:1 uses the phrase "after this" to transition from the letters to the churches—letters which sound like sermons—to the visions John has. Everything after 4:1, so the futurist says, refers to a future time, with is actually right now. And everything before the "this"is the author's time. The futurist assumes that Revelation 4-19 is about real events happening somewhere in the original readers' future.  

This "hinge" doesn't really work, though. The phrase "after this" is simply a transition phrase between specific visions the author has (7:1, 9; 15:5; 18:1). 

And thinking that the author of Revelation was giving a prophecy of something happening 2,000 years in the future is dubious as well. This is the scenario futurists would have us believe if we convert it to our day and age: I'm writing in 2021 to comfort you by telling you about real events that will happen in the year 4000. How is that a meaningful comfort or admonition?

Sowing Divisive Seeds

This futuristic reading of Revelation fuels directly or indirectly some of the most social/political rhetoric in popular American culture. Since Evangelical Christians have so much sway in American politics, the futuristic vision explains some of the combative language used in some circles. We are engaged in not just a political or social difference of opinions, but we are engaged in the Final Battle, fighting the Beast, where the beast is whomever I happen to oppose.

All of my political views, no matter how valid or invalid, take on cosmic, spiritual significance. 

And so those who oppose me are not simply disagreeing with me about social policy, they are showing themselves to be in league with the antiChrist. Since I'm on Christ's side, and since the prophecies of Revelation show we are in the last time, then anyone opposed to me must be the antiChrist. 

The book's sharp imagery easily creates an us-and-them scenario, where whoever is doing the interpreting is always the "us." "Us" are those who are Christ's side, going to win the Battle of Armageddon and spend eternity with Christ.

"Them" are all those led by the AntiChrist in their heinous attacks on "us," losing the Battle of Armageddon, left on earth during the rapture, then sent to hell.

The us-and-them can be applied globally: the godless communists are definitely anti-Christ. It can also be applied locally: the abortionists and gays are anti-Christ for sure (gays are specifically thrown in to hell in chapter 21). And it can also be applied personally: every time someone opposes me religiously or spiritually, it can be a tribulation to prove my faithfulness to Christ. 

All a huckster has to do, is find an issue that has religious implications, then make sure to define himself as "us." 

If you think of the United States being a Christian nation, the futurist doesn't see that to mean we have a heritage based on Christian thought and practice. Rather, the futurists see the United States as a force opposing specific evils. If you have a softer interpretation, then you are in league with evil.

The standard of being a good Christian is not your Christlikness, but your loyalty to the religious and political structures that are seen as opposed to the Beasts.

Irony on Steroids

The strangest thing about the futurist interpretation of a political structure being "the good guys" from the book of Revelation is that the book of Revelation depicts the religious and political establishment as evil.

Beginning in chapter 12, the text depicts the Roman Empire and the religious establishment supporting it as the Evil opposing the people of God. The imagery depicts the Roman Emperors and the priests of goddess Roma—those with vested interest in silencing Christlike Christians.

In the text the political and religious infrastructure is evil. Those seeking to be faithful to God are good, and often victims.

Yet in current readings of the text, the United States and Evangelical Christians are the good guys. National and religious establishments are fighting the beasts.

Basically, the futurist reading inverts the oppressors and victims. The powerful establishment is seen as a force of good, unlike in Revelation, where the establishment is the beastial machine of power. 

That's why it is so important in conservative American thought to paint the establishment as a victim. You see this in statements such as "our way of life is under attack" and "the conservative voice is being silenced." Within futurist thought, these are not simple statements, they are examples proving "we" are on the side of cosmic righteousness. 

Good Reading Wins

A complex text as Revelation denies the simplistic reductionism offered by futurism. Here are some helpful axioms that may aid us in reading this ancient, symbolic text.

• Authors write to their audience. The notion that any author or prophet is describing things that will have no affect on current readers strains believability. 
• Authors don't use code. In most cases authors want their readers to understand what they say. So to imply that only a select few can understand the message of the text is pure manipulation. Note that in the code-like language of Revelation 13:18 implores the reader to find the answer.
• Symbols are slippery. By definition, symbols have nuances, multiple interpretations, and internal contradictions. And flat reading that explains everything is doomed from the start. 
• You are not always the hero. In Revelation, the establishment is evil because it opposes the people of God. If you are part of the religious or political establishment (whether conservative or liberal), both the teachings of Jesus and the Book of Revelation should invoke sobering self-reflection. (Think: Joel Olsteen embodies the establishment, not Christlikness.)
• Beware of hucksters. If you believe every reading you hear, you will believe anything the loudest voice declares. 

Resources

A good commentary with historical backgrounds: Mitchell G. Reddish, "Revelation," Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary.

An informative website from my professor in seminary.