I have been reading Revelation lately, and man, it is confusing.

First of all, I thought that each confusing passage could be filtered through my knowledge of other parts of the Bible. To some extent, that is helpful, as in the four living creatures covered with eyes. They show up in Ezekiel, and also in Isaiah, playing similar roles.

But only to some extent. I don't know any passage that helps me understand John eating a scroll that tastes like honey but is bitter in his stomach.

Secondly, the sheer diversity of opinion within the church is staggering, even amongst people that agree on 100% of everything else. For example, Jonathon Edwards says that the army of locusts in Chapter 9 represents the "army of the Turks" that invaded Christiandom, taking over its historic churches (Antioch, Jerusalem, Damascus, etc.). I have not found one other person that agrees with him!

Thirdly, the level of disagreement is almost comical. For example, the first "horseman of the apocalypse" is riding a white horse, and goes forth to conquer. My commentary says that the two major interpretations of the rider of the white horse are either A) Christ, or B) the Anti-Christ.

Pause for a second.

In other words, the rider of the white horse is either the summation of all good, purity, and the glory of God; or else the sworn enemy of all righteousness who tries with all his might to destroy the church.

What situation is analogous to this? I can't even think of a good metaphor. In these camps are men who agree on everything else in life, but can't decide if the rider is their best friend or their worst enemy.

For the record, I do not think it is either. But there you are.