Editing Book of Revelation (section)

==== Roman Catholic ====

According to the [[United States Conference of Catholic Bishops]] the Book of Revelation contains an account of visions in symbolic and allegorical language borrowed extensively from the Old Testament. Symbolic descriptions are not to be taken as literal descriptions, nor is the symbolism meant to be pictured realistically.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bible.usccb.org/bible/revelation/0|title=Introduction|publisher=United States Conference of Catholic Bishops|access-date=8 December 2024}}</ref>

[[Pope Benedict XVI]] taught that Revelation "should be understood against the backdrop of" the early church's persecutions and inner problems, that "the Lamb who is slain yet standing" symbolizes Jesus' [[paschal mystery]] and Jesus being the [[meaning of life]], that the vision of the woman and child symbolizes both Mary and the Church, that the New Jerusalem symbolizes the Church in its glory on [[Judgment Day]], and that the prayers in Revelation reflect 1st century Jewish-Christian liturgy and Jewish-Christian understanding of the heavenly liturgy.<ref>[https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/audiences/2006/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20060823.html Vatican.Va, Benedict XVI General Audience 23 August 2006]</ref><ref>[https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/audiences/2012/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20120905.html Vatican.Va, Benedict XVI General Audience 5 September 2012]</ref><ref>[https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/audiences/2012/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20120912.html Vatican.Va, Benedict XVI General Audience 12 September 2012]</ref><ref>[https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/audiences/2005/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20050511.html Vatican.Va, Benedict XVI General Audience 11 May 2005]</ref>

According to [[Catholic Answers]], the author of Revelation identifies the beast as the Roman Empire, the dragon as Satan, and Babylon as Rome. The meaning is that Rome "cannot win. It will be completely overthrown, and the Church is sure to triumph. This prophecy is as it were the hub of the Apocalypse. Around it John gradually unfolds the plan God has for the future of his Church."<ref>[https://www.catholic.com/magazine/print-edition/apocalypse Catholic.Com, The Book of Revelation]</ref>