An Introduction to the Book of Revelation

others wrote essays about it and others quoted from it: Justin the
Martyr, Irenaeus, Hyppolitus 16 , Melito, Victorianus 17 , Dionysius of
Alexandria, Methodius, Basil the Great, Gregory of Nazianzus, Cyril
of Alexandria, Genadius...
St. Jerome 18 wrote to Polinius of Nola saying "The secrets
of the book of Revelation are as many as its words. Each word carries
a secret inside it and this is little compared to the high honor of
this book. Even any commendation of it is considered little, because
every word in it carries a lot of meanings. I praise what I understand
and what I don't."
Pope Dionysius of Alexandria 19 says "Although it carries
thoughts that surpass my perception I find it contains strong secret
concepts in may matters... And in spite of my inability to understand
it, I still believe that there are deep meanings behind its words. I
don't measure its sentences or judge it according to my power of
perception but I accept it with faith and simplicity. I see it as nice
and delicious to my comprehension, so I never refuse what I don't
understand but instead I stand amazed before it..."
TO WHOM IT WAS WRITTEN
The Revelation was addressed to the seven Asian churches
that were under the guidance of St. John the Evangelist. There is a
special message for each church, but the book of Revelation undoubtedly
carries a communal message concerning the life of Church
in the whole world in all ages, especially in the days of the Antichrist.
SCHOOLS OF INTERPRETATION OF REVELATION 20
There are at least four schools of interpretation of the book
of Revelation:
1. The Preterists (Preteric theory): Who believe that the
book was chiefly meant for the people of St. John's days and that it
was fulfilled during their time. Christianity suffered from the struggle
with Judaism (4-11) and with idolatry or the Roman Empire (12-19)
17