John Wrote in This Way to Code His Messages So That They Wouldn't Get in Trouble With the Roman Authorities

i would say the fundamental reason that john wrote this way was because that's how the prophets did it he's following in the prophetic tradition of the old testament now you can then ask well why did the old testament prophets do it this way and part of the answer is well that's what they saw in visions but also um god it's the same reason jesus taught in parables amen to that. i think a valid critique though which is hey you're calling jesus christ the lord of the universe here that itself is a seditious statement and all of these symbols about okay we got a beast with seven on seven hills and it serves the devil and it's got kings that want