Revelation: An Introduction
In my opinion, one of the most tragically-neglected books in the Bible is Revelation. I’m not sure if this neglect stems from apathy or intimidation (or both), given the book’s heavy use of symbolic language. However, when discussing various controversial topics presented within Revelation with others, one question inevitably rises: “Does it really matter?”. I’ve heard this several times. My immediate response is, the Holy Spirit through John thought it mattered – even to the point of announcing a blessing on those who read, hear, and keep the words of the book:
Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near (Revelation 1:3).
Also, who are we, as sinful humans, to suggest that something that the holy God of the entire cosmos willingly chose to reveal about Himself is superfluous?
To be fair and understanding, I truly believe that, in some cases, the person who asks the question “Does it really matter?” is someone who fears they may never be able to understand what John’s saying throughout the book, because of the amount of imagery and symbolism. If that’s you, believer, take heart, for the Holy Spirit, the same One Who inspired John to write this book, and the same One Who indwells all believers, is the same One Who indwells you right now, pronounced the blessing in Revelation 1:3, and expects you to wrestle with what’s contained within the book, as He intends to help you understand it. Why else would He pronounce a blessing on those who read, hear, and heed the words of the book?
On the other hand, if you are someone who doesn’t believe it’s important to personally read and study Revelation, I would encourage you to consider the implications of such thinking. Consider the following question, too: “What or whom is the book the revelation of?”. Revelation 1:1a answers that question, stating,
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place…
I believe this verse has a twofold answer to the posed question: The book of Revelation chronicles the message that the Father gave to Christ to reveal to His bond-servants, but, more importantly, it’s literally the revealing of Christ Himself. The latter answer is consistent with what Paul teaches in Romans 11:36 and Ephesians 1:10, namely that all things are moving to Christ and find their fulfillment in Him. Through Revelation, God graciously showed us how this marvelous reality will take place – how all things will (and do) ultimately find their fulfillment in Jesus Christ. We must not be apathetic about such glorious truth!
Continuing, the reason that we, as believers, can have confidence that all things are moving to Christ and will find their ultimate fulfillment in Him is shown through Revelation, too, through the overarching theme of the book: The Lamb Who was slain has overcome sin and death, is alive (and will live forever), reigning (and will reign forever), conquering His enemies (and will subdue them once and for all time), and has secured His Bride, who will reign with, and enjoy, Him forever.
I must include Revelation 5:1-14 here:
I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?” And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look into it. Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it; and one of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.” And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth. And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.” Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.” And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.” And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen.” And the elders fell down and worshiped.
What a gloriously beautiful picture that truly captures the theme of the entire book of Revelation!
As Hebrews 11:1-12:1-3 teaches, if we, as believers, are to endure faithfully to the end (and Revelation talks much about those who do so), we must look to the joy set before us. By God’s grace, we must always have Christ’s victory and the fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore that are to be had in His presence (c.f., Psalm 16:11) always in the forefront of our minds. On every page of Revelation, even when the wrath of the Lamb or His enemies are being discussed, you will be constantly reminded of Christ’s victory and the joy that awaits believers in His presence, even if through the discussion of the agony that is experienced, and awaits, those who reject Christ.
Because I do believe that Revelation is tragically neglected (both in personal reading and in the pulpit), by God’s grace, I want to set out to offer commentary of the book. The posts I write about this book will, by no means, be exhaustive, and I have no intention of making them overly academic. I pray that they will be beneficial to anyone who may happen upon them. This endeavor will, quite obviously, take a while, as there are 22 chapters in Revelation, and I do not want to rush through anything. Further, due to the nature of some of the chapters, many of them will have to be broken up into small sections, so the posts are more manageable.
Even if it’s just right now after you finish this sentence, please pray for me as I set out to do this. As I consider this project, admittedly, I am a bit overwhelmed and intimidated (So, I guess I need to take my own advice and rest in the reality that I, as a believer, have the Holy Spirit within me to help me.). Sincerely, I pray that this journey through Revelation will draw each of us closer to Christ and help us to enjoy Him more, as we are assured that He is victorious over sin and death, that He will reign forever and ever, and that we will enjoy Him forever and ever.
