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Early in her book, the author provides clues to unlocking the Revelation of Jesus Christ written in 90 A.D. by the Apostle John. Prince has interpreted difficult passages in Revelation by analyzing translations of Hebraic and Greek words from Old Testament prophets as well as Jesus’ prophecies of end times. The chosen translation for a word was often based on the frequency of use. For example, skirts in the Old Testament are usually associated with shame. This may negate the common interpretation of who is revealed in Isaiah 6.
Popular approaches to interpreting Revelation’s prophecies have changed over the centuries, beginning with the traditions of the apostles and elders. More recent approaches include viewing them symbolically (which has been popular since the 1800s), using technology-based applications, and personal revelation. The author has used a combination of symbolism and personal revelation for her study.
Unlike the Left Behind series, Prince’s book rejects the rapture or catching away of believers. According to Prince, God’s promise that the seed of the righteous will not be cut off means believers must remain to populate the earth after the seven-year tribulation. This illustrates how looking at something from a great distance can often result in conflicting viewpoints. With normal sight, mountains and small peaks do not appear to be separated by valleys. This also applies to prophetic sight as no end-times author can know with certainty all of the details of what lies ahead. Regardless, interest is aroused within the general public regarding the mysteries of Revelation.
Chapters 7 through 18 in this book address sequentially the better-known events of Revelation. Prince introduces the four creatures of Ezekiel’s vision and who they represent in the end times. Are the seven seals, the four trumpets, and seven vials all curses, or are some a holding back of judgment? Eventually, all nations against Israel will meet at Armageddon, in the Great Rift Valley—the earth’s lowest crust, for the outpouring of God’s wrath.
Like with other Revelation studies, the struggle lies between consistent application of interpretation and application. Interpretation is a prophetic explanation of a divine mystery, such as Jesus gave his disciples after the parable of the seed sown. Application acknowledges the original purpose of the text but applies it to another scenario. For example, the veil of the Jewish temple torn at Jesus’ death can promise new access to God for the church.
Prepare to be surprised and delighted by the insights within Prince’s book. Her explanation of the concept of a Triune God illustrated by the relationship between ice, water, and steam is insightful. Her support of Jesus’ sinless nature is based on a lesser-known fact: Since the blood of a baby doesn’t develop and flow until after fertilization, she proposes that Jesus inherited only from Eve through his mother Mary. This book is highly-researched and stretches for over 300 pages including the index. Lengthy lists of symbols with meanings in each chapter/section take up over sixty of these pages. While cross-references to a separate appendix list of symbols and meanings could improve chapter-by-chapter readability, Prince’s study is still intriguing and information-packed. It should prove useful to those who are interested in learning more about the last book of the Bible.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review