Catholic Church and the Book of Revelation

Catholic Church and the Book of Revelation details the Catholic Church's official teaching on, and Catholics' speculations on, the Book of Revelation.
Official teaching
The Catholic Church understands Revelation as having the characteristics of apocalyptic literature, with its symbolism borrowed from the Old Testament, especially from the apocalyptic books Ezekiel, Zechariah, and Daniel. Like these books, Revelation is "resistance literature" to meet the crisis of its times. Despite this, the church insists that Revelation remains valid and meaningful for all time.
The church interprets Revelation symbolically and allegorically, and teaches that its symbolism is not to be taken literally. Indeed, there are various literary devices meant to convey certain feelings in or messages to the reader. Overall, the church understands the message of Revelation to be an "exhortation and admonition to Christians of the first century" to be steadfast in faith, even unto death, since Jesus has already vanquished evil and inaugurated the Kingdom of God via his Paschal Mystery.
The church believes that whether Revelation contains actual visions of Jesus and Mary or simply literary conventions, and whether John of Patmos is the Apostle John or one of the apostle's disciples, is up for debate.
Vision of Jesus (chapter 1)
The "appointed time" is the Second Coming. "Asia" is the Ancient Roman province of Asia Minor. "Seven" symbolizes completeness, so the author is writing to the complete church. The description of Jesus is stock apocalyptic imagery, although it's almost identical to Gabriel's description in Daniel 10. "The Lord's day" is Sunday.
Letters to the seven churches (chapters 2-3)
The "imposters" are the Nicolaitans. "Second death" is damnation. "Satan's throne" is the paganism of ancient Rome. "Like Balaam" and "Jezebel" means the Nicolitans accommodated Christianity to paganism. "Hidden manna" is the Eucharist. "Amulet" and "new name" is Baptism. "Gold" and "fire" is divine grace. "White garments" and "ointment" means purging from sin.
Throne of God (chapters 4-5)
"Twenty-four elders" are the twelve tribe chiefs of Israel and twelve Apostles, all decked in priest-kingly garments. "Lightning and thunder" signify God. "Sea of glass-like crystal" is the color of God's throne. "Four living creatures" are the four Evangelists.
Seven Seals (chapters 6-8)
"Scroll" is God's plan of salvation, which only Jesus can carry out. "Lion of Judah" is Jesus triumphant. "Lamb slain" is Jesus during his Passion, in particular his crucifixion. "Seven eyes and seven horns" is Jesus' omniscience and omnipotence.
"White horse" is the oppression of God's people. "Black horse" is famine. "Huge sword" is war. "Pale horse" is death. "Altar" is the altar in the [{Second Temple]]. "Avenge our blood" is a literary device meant to make the reader hate apostasy. "Earthquake, solar eclipse, red moon" is complete upheaval. "Kings, nobles, officers, rich, powerful, slave and free" means the upheaval will affect everyone in the Roman Empire.
"Four corners of the earth" is the whole earth (not a geographical model). "East" is the place of Heaven, from which the Messiah would appear. "144,000" is the new Israel. "White robe" is purity from sin. "Palm branch" is the virtue of joy. "Time of great distress" is the Roman oppression of God's people. "Life-giving water" is divine grace. The saints in Heaven are portrayed encouraging God's people on Earth to be steadfast in faith.
"Silence in Heaven" means the day of the Lord is near. "Altar" here is the heavenly altar, for the heavenly temple is the blueprints for the Temple in Jerusalem. The first five woes are the plagues of Egypt, symbols of the messianic age.
Seven Trumpets (chapters 9-12)
The sixth woe is the invasion of the Parthian Empire, leading to the Roman-Parthian War of 58-63. "Four angels" mean the Parthians will cause great destruction across the Roman Empire.
"Small scroll" is sweet because of salvation and sour because of the persecution that would occur before salvation. "Temple, altar" is the new Israel. Measurement of the temple means that many of God's people will commit apostasy and only some will remain faithful. "Forty-two months" is Antiochus IV's persecution of the Jews. "Three and a half years" is Roman oppression of God's people. "Beast from the abyss" is Emperor Nero. "Great city" is Ancient Rome. "Seven thousand" means innumerable people from every social class.
"Woman adorned with the Sun" is a literary device: she is the new Israel, meant to convey hope in Divine Providence. "Huge red dragon" is the Roman oppression of God's people. "War against her offspring" means, although God will protect his people in general, individual members should expect persecution.
Seven Figures (chapters 13-15)
"Beast out of the sea" is the false messiahs. "Worshiped the beast" is paganism. "Second beast" is false prophets. "666" is Emperor Nero.
"Virgins" means they did not practice paganism. "Reaping of the harvest" is the church growing in numbers. "Treading of the grapes" is the temporary punishment of sin.
"Sea of glass mingled with fire" is God sitting on his throne. "Song of Moses" means the people of God have survived oppression. "Heavenly tent of testimony" means the heavenly temple is the blueprints for the Temple in Jerusalem.
Seven Bowls (chapters 16-18)
The first six bowls are the plagues of Egypt, symbols of the messianic age. "Armageddon" symbolizes Jesus' victory over evil via his Paschal Mystery. "Great harlot" is paganism. "Harlotry" is emperor worship. "Blasphemy" is the Roman Emperors claiming to be gods. "Drunk on blood" is the oppression of God's people. "The beast" is Nero. "Ten kings" is the Parthian satraps.
"Fall of Babylon" is Jesus' victory over evil via his Paschal Mystery. "Depart from her" is repentance from sin. "Merchants" are impenitent sinners who get rich or gain pleasure from committing sin.
Wedding Feast and Judgment Day (chapters 19-20)
"Wedding day of the Lamb" is the inauguration of the Kingdom of God. "His bride" is God's people, with whom God has made a new and everlasting covenant. "Spirit of prophecy" is evangelism. "Fiery pool" is damnation.
"Thousand-year reign" is the church's indefinite duration from the resurrection of Jesus to his Second Coming. "Gog and Magog" signify all pagan nations. "Breadth of the earth" is Palestine. "Beloved city" is Jerusalem. "Book of life" is membership in the church. "Hades" is death, the punishment (sting) of sin.
New Jerusalem (chapters 21-22)
"New heavens and new earth" is the kingdom of God. "New Jerusalem" is God's people. "He will be my son" means divine filiation. "Cowards" are apostates. "Fifteen hundred miles" and "one hundred forty-four cubits" is all of Israel, the full number of the Gentiles and Jews. "No temple" means Jesus' body is the new temple. "No lamp" means Jesus is the light of the world. "Nothing unclean" means sin and impenitence. "Life-giving water" is divine grace. "Tree of life" is the Eucharist.
Speculations
Antichrist
The beast from the sea is typically misconstrued as the Antichrist. With the Protestant Reformation, the beast and the Antichrist came to be identified as the Papacy by some Protestants and other non-Catholic Christians.
Private revelation
Some private revelations are thought to contain apocalyptic language. The secrets of Our Lady of La Salette are said to reveal the coming of the Antichrist using Revelation's imagery.

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