Prophetic writings are given in a certain context. That context must be recognized as a strong element influencing interpretation. It can be noted that OT prophetic books (or passages) have a contemporaneous address of problems of Israel and are initially to those people of Israel. At the same time, these prophetic books speak of the continuing problem of those people into the future. Thus, the future time informs that later people of judgments happening to them if they still don't heed the message.
Thus we have:
1. The book addressed to the people contemporaneous to the prophets
2. The book informing a future of impending judgment
3. A problem of behavior and beliefs having continuity within that people
4. The content of a writing has to have relevance to the group addressed
This fourth point has relevance also in the writings to the Christians in the first century. These letters are not designated to solve problems for future Christians but rather those who are the original audience. (some variances from that principle can be explained.) This is not to disregard that principles can be gleaned for Christians of later centuries, but these have to be assessed in light of the original usage and how a general principle might be extracted.
Revelation therefore must be considered roughly under those four points. So a critical aspect is that the writing has to have a specific audience of that era to whom the message was relevant. In a sense, the original audience would not be interested in the writing and would not see a need for themselves or a reason to preserve the writing.
I would then constrain item 2 by noting the judgment is not upon the Christians. Similarly, this is not finding a continuing fault with Christians into a distant future as if to follow the pattern of the prophets writing to the people of Israel. Upon reading Revelation in this context, general principles might be extracted for Christians of future generations.
Thus we have:
1. The book addressed to the people contemporaneous to the prophets
2. The book informing a future of impending judgment
3. A problem of behavior and beliefs having continuity within that people
4. The content of a writing has to have relevance to the group addressed
This fourth point has relevance also in the writings to the Christians in the first century. These letters are not designated to solve problems for future Christians but rather those who are the original audience. (some variances from that principle can be explained.) This is not to disregard that principles can be gleaned for Christians of later centuries, but these have to be assessed in light of the original usage and how a general principle might be extracted.
Revelation therefore must be considered roughly under those four points. So a critical aspect is that the writing has to have a specific audience of that era to whom the message was relevant. In a sense, the original audience would not be interested in the writing and would not see a need for themselves or a reason to preserve the writing.
I would then constrain item 2 by noting the judgment is not upon the Christians. Similarly, this is not finding a continuing fault with Christians into a distant future as if to follow the pattern of the prophets writing to the people of Israel. Upon reading Revelation in this context, general principles might be extracted for Christians of future generations.