Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 3:50 pm
If I remember correctly, all apocalyptic language is more or less figurative. We see similar language usage and patterns in Revelation as we do in some of the OT prophets. We can identify that some of the OT prophetic events occurred historically, though "stars" never literally fell from the sky, etc. I don't think I have a reason to expect that the language of Revelation is any more "literal". The bottom line I guess is that I don't doubt that Jesus will return, and that it will be obvious; I just don't necessarily think we'll see him floating down on a literal cloud like Mary Poppins. 