“Revelation is not some encoded blueprint for the future. It describes in human language the eternal world that always has existed, always does exist, and will exist forevermore.”
Except that, it (and Matthew) are read as exactly such an encoded blueprint for events that would occur up until 70 A.D. Nero was the antichrist. The tribulation was the fall of Jerusalem and the Temple etc. But after the destruction of the Temple, the events related in Revelation have to be metaphor according to exactly the same people. I don’t see that either interpretation is so clear that one is driven to a single conclusion. Assuming that the Lord jumped from event type prophecy to pure metaphor seems a leap of convenience rather than anything compelled by scripture.
“I don’t mean to be unkind, but the whole Rapture thing is really an adolescent’s reading of inspired texts.”
I deliberately said nothing about the Rapture in my post. Paul’s language in Thessalonians is also not so clear that one is driven to a single conclusion. He could be talking about a rapture type event. He could be talking about the Resurrection before final judgment. Certainly many fine scholars from many denominations agree with you. The Lord knows the true answer. I do not. Someday, the true answer may be as obvious to me as it is to you.
But I don’t think it much matters much how either of us come out on these issues because Jesus, Son of God, Son of Man, and Messiah died for our sins and was resurrected on the third day and because I daily accept that gift of forgiveness with the help of the Holy Spirit. He will come again to judge the living and the dead and His Kingdom will have no end. Most of the rest is detail. So I’m content with however my Lord chooses to end things and begin everything anew. In fact, somedays I’m even eager to see how He works it all out.
I suspect that, in retrospect, we will all be as surprised as was Paul when he discovered the Messiah had different plans than did almost every second temple Jew for His kingdom. They were so sure scripture told them it was going to be one way. And they were wrong.
Revelation was written sometime after that. St. John (who lived until about 95 AD) is explaining the spiritual realities behind those events. He shows us using symbolic language the eternal struggle that began with Satan's rebellion and ended with the establishment of the Church.
That said, I must admit that Revelation (IMHO) rather clearly predicted the fall of the Roman Empire, so maybe it remained secularly "predictive" if you will until the death of one of the main actors in the story - the rapacious Roman Empire.
It's just a thought.
Have your read Scott Hahn's work on Revelation? I think he pretty much sums up the more traditional view.