“Revelation is the only book in the Bible which has to audacity to say, “Read Me, I’m special”. Dr. Chuck Missler
The book of Revelation (note singular, not plural) was given to and recorded by the apostle John in his elder years. It begins:
1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, 2 who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw. 3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near. Revelation 1:1-3 (NKJV)
Except for a few chapters in the gospels, the book of Revelation seems quite different from the rest of the New Testament. It is full of exotic images portraying end time events which are quite dissimilar to what most of us have encountered in our own life journey.
Yet, it is a prophecy from God, His holy word, given through Jesus Christ and an accompanying angel to the author of the Gospel of John. It has been recorded for our benefit, and promises a special blessing to those who would read, hear, and keep the words of God that are in it.
The word Revelation comes from the Greek word, apokalypsis, which means, “the unveiling”. Chuck Smith of Calvary Chapel equates it to the unveiling of an art masterpiece, whose covering is lifted to reveal the great work at a formal celebration. Revelation is the unveiling of Jesus Christ, who is both the unveiler and the subject of the unveiling. It includes a look at His divine form, which has been hidden from us since His ascension into heaven.
The use of exotic prophecy is nothing unusual for God. The gospels confirm that many, if not most, of the Old Testament prophecies point to some aspect Christ, either for the first advent, His virgin birth, or the second, His future return to earth in glory and power to reign on David’s throne.
Over 700 years before the birth of Jesus, Isaiah recorded the following prophecy, as he had presented it to Ahaz, king of Judah:
10 Moreover the Lord spoke again to Ahaz, saying, 11 “Ask a sign for yourself from the Lord your God; ask it either in the depth or in the height above.”
12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, nor will I test the Lord!”
13 Then he said, “Hear now, O house of David! Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14 (NKJV)
“Immanuel” is a Hebrew name that means “God with us”. Jesus fulfilled that prophecy in Bethlehem seven centuries later.
For the prophecies recorded in Revelation, their fulfillment has taken even longer – over 1900 years so far. But in God’s timing, they will happen, and they will happen quickly once they suddenly start to occur. We are promised a blessing from God if we will invest the time to read, hear, and keep all the prophetic words and visions in the book. Won’t you join us as we make this journey together?
Reflection
Many theologians and commentators have developed their own interpretations of this final book of the New Testament. Likely no one has captured and interpreted everything exactly the way that God intended for it to be. Yet, He has promised us a blessing anyway if we try. And He will lead and guide each of us as we seek to learn from Him through His holy word.
Lord, teach us about Jesus as we read the prophecies of Revelation, drawing us closer to Him through the power of the Holy Spirit, with ever greater assurance of His deep love for us.
Have a blessed and glorious day in the Lord today!
Times and Seasons - The Book of Revelation FOR TODAY 