Is the Book of Revelation meant to be understood?

Revelation can feel intimidating at first because of its many symbols and Old Testament references, and because chapters 5 through 7 in particular tend to confuse readers. Yet once the structure of the book is understood, Revelation becomes surprisingly simple to read. There is no need to fear studying it, because it can be understood and mastered through careful, scripture guided study rather than human imagination.

The key to understanding is the golden rule of interpretation: no prophecy of scripture is of any private interpretation, so the meaning of every symbol must be revealed by the Bible itself. When symbolism appears, the meaning is always provided, either in the immediate context or elsewhere in Scripture, and this principle proves true again and again as the book unfolds. For example, in Revelation 1:20 Jesus Himself explains that the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches and the seven candlesticks are the seven churches, showing that the vision interprets itself.

Revelation 1:3 also shows that the book carries a blessing for those who engage with it rightly: "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand." This revelation was given so that Jesus could show His servants the things which must shortly come to pass, and it was meant to both warn and comfort the body of Christ, with its events unfolding in the very order in which they are outlined.

By following the structure John was given in Revelation 1:19, the things which thou hast seen, the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter, the whole book opens up in an orderly way. This structure allows the reader to move from the vision of Christ, to the messages to the seven churches, to the unfolding of future events, without confusion, so that the entire book can be grasped as it was intended.