Literal Versus Allegorical Interpretation Chapter 7 Special Literary Forms, Virkler's Hermeneutics pg 172

• Clarifying examples:

• The Beast of Revelation
• Literal Approach: Conceives the Beast as a person (Note that even this is not totally literal as naysayers quickly point out!)
• Symbolic/Allegorical Approach: Conceives the Beast as a personification of the lust for power, … present in man throughout.
• The City of Babylon
• Literal Approach: Conceives of Babylon as the literal city as an economic world center, and differentiates Mystery Babylon as does the Bible.
• Symbolic/Allegorical Approach: Conceives of Babylon as the desire for economic gain, … present in man throughout
• The Battle of Armageddon
• Literal Approach: Conceives of Armageddon as an actual physical combat in an actual physical valley created when Christ's actual physical foot touches down on the actual physical Mount of Olives.
• Symbolic/Allegorical Approach: Conceives of Armageddon as a representation of truth overcoming evil in the end.