Revelation
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Some rules to keep in mind when studying the Book of Revelation are:
1) Interpretations belong to God.
Genesis 40:8 And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you.
Since interpretations belong to God, somewhere in the Bible God gives the interpretation and explanation of any other passage of Scripture in the Bible. God explains Himself in the Bible with passages of the Bible.
2) Use your head and think but not your imagination. Use Bible to explain the Bible. Never use your imagination to interpret scripture.
Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
3) Unless obviously in figurative language, take all passages literally. An example of figurative language would be when the passage contains many times the frequent appearing of the words, "like" or "as".
Keep in mind, even when the Bible goes into figurative language, God will also give the explanation to the figurative language from within the Bible. No one is at liberty to use their imagination to interpret even figurative language.
4) John is writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and not with his own opinion of what he thinks he sees or what his imagination tells him.
2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2 Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
5) John is writing of both visible and invisible things.
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About the Book
One of the things that this author has noticed concerning other commentators on the book of Revelation is that typically many brilliant authors who normally would write wonderful information on other parts of the Bible would throw the simple guidelines on how to interpret the Bible out the window when coming to the book of Revelation. For some reason, many commentators would move the entire book of Revelation into figurative language and totally miss what God is telling us in the book of Revelation.
Please see another book by this author, How to Study the Bible for Yourself, which contains and explains the ten laws of hermeneutics. Please read this book, Revelation, very carefully and with much prayer.
About the Author
Gerald McDaniel was born on June 26, 1954 in Pavo, Georgia. He was saved September 22, 1974 and called to preach on October 19, 1975. He was married in August of 1976 to Julie Kaye Ferguson of Covington, Indiana. They have four children. Joanna, a preacher’s wife. Josiah, a preacher. Jonathan, a policeman, and Joy, a preacher’s wife. Gerald McDaniel has an Associate’s Degree in Engineering from Moultrie Technical College in Moultrie, Georgia. He also has a Bachelor’s Degree from a combination of schools. They are Hyles Anderson College and Heritage Baptist College both in Indiana and a Master’s Degree from Andersonville Baptist Seminary in Georgia. Gerald McDaniel has been a Pastor or Associate Pastor for over 40 years.