Re: your idea that Revelation uses symbolic language... yes, of course it does. But you seem to take that as a signal that interpreting it is now a “free-for-all”, where any theological (amateur or otherwise) may inject any meaning he wishes onto it... and that simply won’t do.
We either believe that Scripture is the inerrant Word of God, or we don’t. Too many modernist theologians use the word “interpret” as a pass-key for watering down, and for picking and choosing, whatever they like. Is the idea of eternal hell unpleasant? Well, then... *presto*! It’s “interpreted” to mean the precise opposite of what it says (i.e. non-eternal, and non-hell). Don’t like the Scriptural teachings against homosexual activity? *Poof*! They’re now “interpreted” to mean anything and everything BUT a condemnation of those practices. It’s silly, at best... and dishonest and spiritually dangerous, at worst.
As a general rule: unless there’s some concrete and immovable reason (within Scripture or within Sacred Tradition—I’ll leave aside the infallible Magisterium, for the sake of trying to prevent another rabbit-trail of a topic) why a particular passage of Scripture MUST be interpreted non-literally, then we are obligated to give the literal meaning every benefit of the doubt. Otherwise, the entire Bible becomes a farce, and every last passage can be “interpreted” away (e.g. the teaching against murder was obviously symbolic and rooted in primitive OT cultural norms, etc.).
Re: your idea that Revelation uses symbolic language... yes, of course it does. But you seem to take that as a signal that interpreting it is now a “free-for-all”, where any theological (amateur or otherwise) may inject any meaning he wishes onto it... and that simply won’t do.
I have a friend who is a pre-tribulationist. He’s studied the bible far more than me and teaches large classes. He is convinced that the beginning of Revelation 4 is proof of pre-trib rapture. I, on the other hand, believe the much more literal explanation in Revelation 7 after the sealing of the 144,000 is proof of “mid-tribulation” rapture.
I think I’m right, but I understand I may be missing something and could actually be wrong. But again I fall onto my understanding of God’s personality to support my position. And the personality of God allows His people to go through no small amount of tribulation, as happens throughout the bible not to mention the fates of the apostles. But it strengthens us.
But this is why, although I value Revelation a great deal, I understand that different people come up with different interpretations of the actual meanings of the phrases and stories it contains.
But at the end of the day I think any of us that use its words to believe they solidly support a position on something like the tribulation or hell is being too smart by half.