These thoughts are taken from the Navarre Bible. Due to the wealth of symbolism in the book, it has been interpreted in many different ways over the centuries. The four main interpretations are as follows:
a. The book is a history of the Church, proclaiming the main events and epochs of the Church, past and future.
b. The Apocalypse has to do solely with events in St. John's own time...It sees the book as merely a symbolic description of first-century events.
c. The content of the Apocalypse is exclusively a proclamation of the last days. This interpretation is reflected in the "Left Behind" books popular among evangelical protestants today.
d. The Apocalypse is a theological vision of the entire panorama of history. This interpretation is reflected in our Catholic Scripture Study and is most favored by most Fathers of the Church.
John is describing the situation of the Church in his own time and also surveying the last times. But for John, the "last times" have already begun, they began at the Nativity - Jesus' birth to Mary in Bethlehem 2000 years ago. The book of Revelation depicts the cosmic struggle between good and evil from the beginning of time all the way through the end of time. But all the while, it takes for granted Christ's ultimate triumph.
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