Revelation 9:17-19;
"The horses and riders in my vision looked like this: Their breastplates were fiery red, dark blue, and yellow as sulfur. The heads of the horses resembled the heads of lions, and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and sulfur. A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur that came out of their mouths. The power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails were like snakes, having heads with which they inflict injury".
Now this sounds like science fiction.
Someone with a very good imagination may be able to convince you that they know how to interpret it, but it will always be suspect.
That's why.
And I only picked three verses.
I agree. It does sound like science fiction.
Visions are funny that way. Kind of like dreams.
That is what is interesting about it.Yes,it is sometimes confusing
No one denies that Revelation contains amazing and sometimes confusing visions. No one denies that Revelation describes many things figuratively—that’s the nature of apocalyptic literature. However, to arbitrarily deny the literal nature of select portions of Revelation is to destroy the basis of interpreting
anyof the book literally. If the plagues, witnesses, beast, false prophet, millennial kingdom, etc., are all allegorical, then on what basis do we claim that the second coming of Christ and the new earth are literal? That is the failure of preterism—it leaves the interpretation of Revelation to the opinions of the interpreter.
Read more:
http://www.gotquestions.org/partial-preterism.html#ixzz3OBLbUJR9
Which definition of allegory does Revelation fit, if any?
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/allegory
1.
a. The representation of abstract ideas or principles by characters, figures, or events in narrative, dramatic, or pictorial form.
b. A story, picture, or play employing such representation. John Bunyan's
Pilgrim's Progress and Herman Melville's
Moby-Dick are allegories.
2. A symbolic representation: The blindfolded figure with scales is an allegory of justice.
1a - Nope - Definitely not abstract ideas or principles
1b - Nope - Nothing real life about the characters in Paul Bunyan
2 - Nope - I could be wrong on this one but taking the example they gave, that figure is a symbol of justice which is an idea/principle.
So to say Revelation is an allegory is just incorrect. Everything in Revelation represents something or someone that is very real, not imaginary or an idea.
Revelation to me is about literal events, people, and angels, etc.
But then I'm not full preterist so maybe some or all of them see it differently than I do.