Figures of speech Quote by Mark Hitchcock
““The proper method of interpreting the symbols in Revelation involves two steps. The first is to remember that when symbols are employed, they refer to something that is literal. Symbols are not just symbols of nothing. They aren’t meaningless. They aren’t just symbols of symbols. They refer to something that is literal. Paul Benware notes, Symbols are valuable tools of communication. Symbols communicate truth concisely, and they communicate it graphically. In Revelation 11 the apostle John could have spent a great deal of time describing the spiritual and moral conditions of Jerusalem. Instead, he called the city “Sodom and Egypt.” Quickly and vividly he communicated a volume of truth that remains graphically fixed in our minds. Symbols and figures of speech, then, represent something literal. It is the task of the interpreter to investigate this figurative language to discover what literal truth is there.11””
About This Quote
Source Essay: Interpreting Revelation Symbols, 2023
Interpreting Revelation requires treating symbols as literal references, using them as concise, graphic tools to convey deeper truths.
In simple terms: Symbols in Revelation are literal, not abstract.
Key Takeaway
Seek literal meaning behind symbolic language.
Themes
theology
interpretation
symbolism
Mood
analytical
inquisitive
Type
expository
educational
When to use this quote
- Bible study
- sermon preparation
- academic research
- personal study
Key Concepts
literalism
hermeneutics
Questions to Reflect On
- What literal truth might a symbol reveal?
- When does a symbol become metaphor?
A Different Perspective
Over‑literalizing may ignore metaphorical depth.
![“people] can see only the human actors upon the stage of history. Wicked rulers, ruthless dictators, tyrants, oppressors, kings, governments, and presidents are, to them, the real and only characters in the great drama of life as it affects the political realm. They have no idea at all of the…” quote by Mark Hitchcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0ab/mark-hitchcock-14262_dictators_people-can-see-only-the-human-actors-upo_644852.jpg)
