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Study of the Book of Revelation

The class study of the Book of Revelation began on January 12, 2003. On April 3, 2003, after 3 months of study, I presented the following survey to the class. The results follow:

Revelation Survey (April 5, 2003)

N=18 (percentages rounded to nearest whole number)

Please circle the number of all that apply:

The Book of Revelation is important to study because:

1. It’s in the Bible. 61% (n=11)
2. The book is complex and needs to be understood. 44% (n=8)
3. My friends might ask about my personal beliefs. 17% (n=3)
4. I don’t know why. 11% (n=2)
5. There are prophecies that we need to understand. 67% (n=12)
6. The message is to persevere through any tribulation because the faithful will be rewarded by God. 17% (n=3)

My personal reaction to studying the book is:

1. I’m tired of this topic. 11% (n=2)
2. I like going verse by verse to study the meanings and historical background. 39% (n=7)
3. I like studying the four contrasting interpretations. 78% (n=14)
4. I don’t think this has anything to do with my life today. 0% (n=0)
5. This is important in light of the current Iraqi War. 6% (n=1)
6. This stuff is irrelevant to what the Community of Christ preaches and believes. 0% (n=0)
7. I really need an overview and not a verse by verse dissection. 39% (n=7)
8. I have no interest in studying this. 6% (n=1)

Based on study of the Book of Revelation, I believe:

1. Human Beings will never destroy the Earth. 22% (n=4)
2. The Rapture will occur and will save believers from the Tribulation. 0% (n=0)
3. I think the book was intended for 1^st Century Christians (Preterist) and all the revelations have already been fulfilled. 0% (n=0)
4. I think the book talks about the end of time…in the future (Futurist). 17% (n=3)
5. I think the book really deals with prophesies that will be fulfilled again and again throughout history and the lessons are symbolic (Spiritualist/Idealist). 72% (n=13)
6. I think the prophecies refer to events happening throughout history in the time (age) between Christ’s first appearance and his 2^nd coming and that the information refers to different ages and stages of the “church” (Historicist). 39% (n=7)
7. I believe it’s time to study something else! 17% (n=3)
8. I don’t know. 6% (n=1)