Characteristics Of Apocalyptic Writings
A Revelation
First we must see that like Daniel in the Old Testament, the Book of Revelation is an apocalypse (Rev 1:1). It is an unveiling or a revelation of Jesus Christ. The reason for this style of writing is usually severe persecution and the desire to deliver a message in symbolic form. Many people today do not pay close enough attention to the fact that much of the book of Revelation is figurative or symbolical (Rev 20:2). He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil or Satan. One does not use symbolic and figurative language of prophecy and poetry to interpret the historical narrative portions of Scripture. In order then to literally interpret this book, one must carefully consider its literary form and structure.

A Blessing
Despite the fact that the Revelation seems strange and foreboding, and thus is often neglected, the Revelation is the only book in the New Testament containing the promise of blessing to the one who reads, and hears the word of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it: for the time is at hand (Rev 1:3). In addition, the book closes with a serious warning to any who would add to or take away from the contents of the prophecy (Rev 22:18,19).

Methods of Interpretation
Preterist Method
This approach teaches that the events in Revelation were fulfilled in the first century. Partial Preterist believe there is still a future fulfillment to happen in Revelation 20-21 however, most of the book has already been fulfilled. The setting for the visions was the existing conflict between the first century Church and Rome in the age of the apostles. The major weakness of this method is that the majority of the book does not apply to the modern church.

Historicists Method
Giving full recognition to the relation of the drama of the book to earthly events, this approach sees the Revelation as a picture book of the conflict between the Church and the World (energized by Satan) from the time of the Apostles until the end of the age. This method presents a panorama view of Church history from John to the end of the world. The cries which have arisen in world history, the aspiring world-conquerors of past and present are portrayed here and all are doomed to failure. The major weakness of this method is the difficulty in equating events of the book with events in history.

Futurist Method
With the exception of Chapter1-3, the Revelation is viewed as wholly future, depicting the drama which awaits the end of the age, the day of God's wrath and the appearance of Christ from heaven. The major weakness of this method is that the majority of the book did not apply to the early church to whom it was written (seven churches).

Idealist Method
This method unlike the last three does not tie the book to history or literal events. It deals with spiritual, rather than historical realities emphasizing the conflict between God and Satan, good and evil, righteousness and sin. It assures the reader that victory will be won by the power of God. The major weakness of this method is that the majority of the book is not connected to historical events.

Literalism
A key element in interpreting Revelation is a proper understanding of what a literal interpretation is all about. Are all details described in the book of Revelation to be understood as fulfilled exactly as described?

There needs to be balance here because not everyone is consistently a strict literalist or a complete spiritualist at every point. The issue is not between spiritualization and literalism but between lesser and greater degrees of spiritualization. The key is identifying the symbols and the historical reality that is connected to them. Prophecies involving horses or chariots or camels are dealing with transportation. Prophecies speaking of spears and shields are referring to weapons. Prophecies about surrounding nations are about God's enemies.

That which makes the language of prophecy so vivid and yet so difficult is that it is always more or less figurative. It is poetry rather than prose. It abounds in peculiar words and expressions which are not usually to be found in narrative passages. Many of the references to historical events are obscured with pictures and figures that are hard to identify with absolute concreteness. Often the time sequence is fused together into past present and future making an identification of time very difficult. What is clear and what must not be missed, is that the Church will be completely redeemed by a victorious Savior. 

Rules of Interpretation
A Mystery
The first rule is to realize a certain amount of mystery is involved in a Prophecy. The very nature of Prophecy is that it is visionary.

It is a revelation of the future painted in word pictures. Also, in most cases we are not in a position to compare the picture the prophet has painted with the fulfillment. If we could see the fulfillment then the mystery in most cases would disappear. Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 are clearly understood to be speaking of Christ because we have seen the fulfillment in Christ. However it is still a mystery to the Jews. So the problem of understanding the mystery is due to the nature of the revelation and not the lack of intelligence of the hearer.

Identify Nouns
Determine the details of the passage by identifying the proper names, events, geography, customs, etc. Who were the Churches mentioned in the first three chapters?

Identify Symbols
A key for interpretation of apocalyptic Prophecy is to seek to understand the images or symbols. What is the candlestick, dragon, scroll in Revelation? Apocalyptic literature is characterized by a high degree of symbolic imagery that is sometimes interpreted for us and sometimes is not. Many of the symbols are identified for us in the Old Testament. Some are identified right in the book itself (Rev 1:20; 20:2). There is no secret to unlocking the mysteries and perplexities of apocalyptic imagery. Hermeneutics is an art and a science, and the specific interpretations of the interpreter reveal to what degree he is an artist and scientist.

Parallel Passages
Look up any parallel passages. The Day of the Lord, outpouring of the spirit, and the shaking of the nations are all common themes throughout Scripture which have parallel passages to compare.

Identify the time
Pay special attention to the tense and time of the fulfillment. The prophets were preachers and visionaries and not academic lecturers so their writings are not organized like lecture notes but as prophetic oracles. The prophets message may not be presented in sequence according to its fulfillment. The future may appear in the present, past or future tense. Widely separated events on the actual calendar of history may appear together in the prophetic sequence of events. Isaiah 53:1–10 records event in the past tense but they refer to event in the future. Sometimes there is a mixture of events prophesied in the same verse.

Identify Conditions
Some prophecies were conditional and some were unconditional and the Scripture may or may not state which it is. The great promises of a Savior and His salvation are certainly unconditional but there are also conditional prophecies (Jer 18:8,10; 26:12-13; Jonah 3:4; Ezek 33:13-15; 18:30-32). There are also curses and the blessings given but only one can be realized. Caution must be exercised when identifying conditions.

Determine Fulfillment
Determine whether the passage is fulfilled or unfulfilled. A prophecy that is conditional and unfulfilled is completed. No further fulfillment should be expected.

Be Careful
The overarching principle to follow is - be careful. One of the key rules of hermeneutics is to never build a cardinal doctrine on an obscure verse. Do the study necessary before making concrete and absolute blanket statements. Leave room for the possibility that one could be wrong!

Be Christocentric
Above all the centrality of Jesus Christ must be kept in mind throughout the interpretive process. The prophetic message was never given for ingenious speculation but in every case the reference to the second coming of Christ is given for the practical response of stimulating the believer to holiness and the sinner to repentance and faith (“keep watch,” Matt 24:32; 25:13; “be on guard,” Mark 13:33; Luke 12:15; 35–40). Every interpretation must be Christ centered as this is the purpose of Revelation - to declare the victory of the Lamb and the reign of the Lion.