"Operation Cease-Fire" is Oakland's answer to a soaring violent crime rate. Today's New York Times has the story about this unusual strategy. Tried in other major cities, the program brings likely offenders into court. Not to put them in jail--to talk to them. The judge warns the person that if he is arrested again, penalties will be severe. Victims plead for the crime to stop. And crime rates go down. Talking about problems helps.

So it was with the ancient book of Revelation. Its words kept an entire Christian movement going in the face of life-threatening persecution Its words are still just as motivating and compelling today. But how should we read them?

We've looked very briefly at eight different approaches to reading the Book of Revelation. My approach to Revelation borrows from some of these methods, but is really simpler than any of them. I believe this book should be read in the same way we read any other part of the Bible: by finding the intended meaning for the first readers and applying it to our situation today. As I so often said when teaching my seminary Biblical Interpretation classes, "The Bible can never mean what it never meant." Any view of Revelation which its first readers would not have held should not be held today.

And so, how will we approach this book and its letters? The first words of the Greek text gives us our answer: Apokalypsis Iasou Christou, "revelation of Jesus Christ." Apokalypsis means "unveiling," and points to the genre known as "apocalyptic" literature.

This writing style was first developed during the Jewish exile to Babylon, and was especially common from 200 B.C. to A.D. 200. Apocalyptic writers transferred the Old Testament prophets' promises of a better world from this age to the future. They foresaw the destruction of the present evil age and a glorious world of reward to come. Apocalyptic is found in Isaiah 24-27, Zechariah 1-6, Ezekiel 38-39, and Daniel 7-12.

Apocalyptic writing had several common characteristics. It grew out of difficult times, and spoke to them. The more we learn about the historical circumstances, the better we will understand the Revelation. It presented its message through visions and symbolic language. These symbols were a kind of code which was understood by the intended readers, but concealed its message from those outside the church. Numbers, objects, and nearly any other element could be used symbolically.

How does this help us with Revelation and the "end times"? We'll continue tomorrow.

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