Reading Revelation for the First Time

Bible Prophecy Under the Microscope-Episode 46 Gary discusses how to read the book of Revelation. Christians too often fail to take the context of the first century into consideration when reading Revelation and instead interpret it based on events in their own time. But how would the original audience and readers have understood and interpreted the letter based on what they had available to them soon after Jesus' ascension in the days of the early church?