In Greek, the name of this book is “The Apocalypse to John.” With a name like that, what would you expect this book to contain? What images does the word “apocalypse” conjure up for us? Most of us think of devastation, judgment, a war of such immense proportions that it is the end of all things.
Because this is what many of come to expect, this is a book which some have been fearful of. We’ve got enough things to scare us in the world today and, in many ways, it seems that the world is on the brink of catastrophe. And since people turn to the Bible to be a source of hope and encouragement, why would anyone want to read this?
The answer is right there in verse 3. What is promised to the reader? Blessings. The word blessed literally means “happy” or to be in a state of being “highly favored.” This certainly seems counter intuitive. We may reasonably wonder how descriptions of the apocalypse could possibly leave us feeling happy or feeling favored. Well, here is the thing: the way that the word “apocalypse” is used today is not the way it was used when John wrote this book. What did it mean for John? Look no further than the title of the book in your English Bible. Apocalypse meant “revelation.” That is why your Bible calls it the “Revelation to John.” Another way we might say it is to say that this book is an “unveiling which leads to blessing.” If we can keep that in mind as we work through the book, it will change the way we think of it and how we read it.
First, it is an unveiling, it is a revelation. Too many people approach Revelation as if the purpose behind the writing of it was to obscure truths. They approach it as if it was delivered to the apostle John in a way similar to what we see in the film “National Treasure” when Nicolas Cage is deciphering codes so that he can figure out where the hidden treasure is. If that was true, that wouldn’t be “revealing” would it? No, it would be the opposite. We tend to think of it in that way though, because of how different this book is from the other books of the Bible.
In some ways it is very much like the other books of the New Testament as it is a letter written to churches just as the books Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, and Philippians were. But what makes this letter different is that this was written as a kind of picture book rather than straightforward words on a page. What is written in this book is the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to “SHOW” to his servants the things that must take place. Is there an element of having to figure out what the pictures contained within this book mean? Certainly. And that makes it feel like a puzzle.
But remember that these pictures are an “unveiling” of truths. They are a revelation of truths that lead to blessing. If there are places in this book that seem otherwise to us, it is due to a few reasons which include:
1) While John was writing to all God’s servants, he was writing a letter in a particular time in a particular context in which some of the things that might have been obvious to the original recipients are no longer so obvious to us. A good example might be the frequent use of numbers in the book. When John was writing, the use of numbers to signify deeper meanings was a common practice. So, for example, the number “7” is the number of perfection or completeness. “7” is used 57 times in Revelation and the original recipients would have not seen its use as a way of hiding truth in a mysterious code, but of actually revealing something in a fairly straightforward way. So, we read that this letter was sent to the 7 churches in Asia which are represented by 7 lampstands, the original readers would have understood that, while this letter was being sent to Ephesus and Smyrna and the rest, that it is actually intended for, and has something to say, to ALL churches – that was written to the complete number of churches throughout the world, represented by the number 7- and so they…and in turn we…read of the failures and victories of these 7 churches and we can expect that we will find us in there…that their struggles and failures are those common to the whole of Christendom and the victories are what all churches should strive for. Many more examples will be seen as we work our way through the book. But the point is that things like the use of numbers in Revelation, while mysterious to us, would have been easily understood by the original hearers.
2) Revelation also seems mysterious to us because we are not as familiar with the Old Testament as the original recipients were. Revelation references the OT more than any other NT book. We will find references from the Pentateuch, Judges, 1-2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings, Psalms, Proverbs, Song of Solomon, Job, and the major and the minor prophets. Most of the references are from the Psalms, Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel. If we are not familiar with the language and imagery contained in these books, we might not realize when John is making, what would have been to the original recipients who were steeped in OT Scriptures (the OT was their Bible), an easily understood reference to and application of the OT. It might be as if we were talking to someone with no familiarity with the NT and we were to speak of being careful of the “leaven of the Pharisees.” They might think we are speaking in some mysterious code, while we would understand that as a plain reference to how the sin of legalism or pride can infect the whole body of Christ. What would sound mysterious to them, is simple and plain to us. So it is with Revelation. Remember this is an unveiling of things- not a hiding of things. The readers were expected to understand it.
3) It seems mysterious because we are not used to reading this type of writing. When we approach the Scriptures, we know that we are not going to read every book of the Bible in the same way because we know that the Bible contains different genres of literature. By genre I mean the way we categorize a book by the type of book it is. So, for example, we read, say, 1 Kings and we know that we are reading a history book. We take the details at face value as a retelling of what actually happened and while the historical events, under the guiding hand of God’s providence, may have deeper meanings that point us to Christ, we don’t doubt that what is described happened exactly as it is described. But then, we turn to the Psalms and, there, we find a collection of songs. Because that is the case, we read them knowing that we will find within them artistry which means the lines might rhyme with one another and the words paint word pictures- so when David speaks of all of creation singing out in praise- we know that trees don’t have mouths- but we never accuse David of lying to us about what actually happened. When we come to the prophetic books, we know that the prophecies contain visions and we expect them to explain things in symbolic forms. So, we turn to Ezekiel 1 and we read of four living creatures – one with a face like a lion, one with the face of an ox, one with an eagle and one with a human face. Each one with a wheel and each of their wheels had eyes all around it. We know that this is not a description of some strange alien life forms, but is vision representing something and the context shows us that it is representing the presence of the Lord and the promise that He would go with His people as they were being taken into exile into Babylon.
In like manner, when we turn to Revelation, we need to understand the type of writing that we are reading and, based on that, how to read it. Revelation shares many of the qualities of writings that fall under the category of what scholars now call “apocalyptic literature” - which was particularly popular in Jewish writings between 150 BC and 100 AD. Among the qualities that came with that type of literature was the abundant use of numbers, metaphors, and symbols. And so, with Revelation it begins with Jesus with seven stars in his right hand, standing in the midst of seven lampstands, out of his mouth a sharp two-edged sword. What do we make of that? Well, we are told, the seven stars are the seven angels (or messengers) of the seven churches, the lampstands are the seven churches, and the two-edged sword is the Word of God borrowing the imagery from Ephesians 6 or Hebrews 4:12 or it may refer to the praises to the Father from Psalm 149:6-7 which are said to execute vengeance on the nations. What we know it isn’t is it is not some circus act with Jesus holding a literal blade between his lips as He weaves between a series of candles standing in a row. We know that because that is not how you read apocalyptic, or prophetic, literature. One difference in Revelation that separates it from other apocalyptic literature, however, is that it was expected that the readers would readily understand the message.
Keeping these things in mind, we can be more discerning and recognize when proposed interpretations of Revelation are likely wrong. For example, when I was a child, everyone believed that Russia was on the verge of attacking the United States. It was during that time that was taught in Sunday School that the locusts of Revelation Chapter 9:7-9 were likely Apache Helicopters in a modern-day war. The idea was that John had a vision of what would take place nearly 2,000 years into the future. Having never seen, nor having any concept of what a helicopter might be, when he receives the vision of helicopters flying into battle, the best he can do is describe them as locusts with human faces (seeing the pilots through the windshield) and scorpion tails. That may sound like a reasonable take to the modern reader, but we have to ask ourselves- “How would that be helpful to John’s readers? Does that fit the template of what we do know the intentions of the book are over all? Are there better ways to understand that imagery that come from the OT? Does the genre of apocalyptic literature lend itself to that type of literal interpretation?,” etc. and we quickly realize that is probably not what that vision is about.
Overall, what the letter is about is a revelation of Jesus Christ concerning what must soon take place.
Philippians 2:9-11 says of Jesus:
9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
This letter tells us of the coming of that event. Ultimately this is a book that says “Jesus is King and He will rule.”
That does raise the question of how could it have been that these things would happen “soon” (vs. 1) if John wrote this nearly 2,000 years ago? The consistent message in the Scriptures is that we are now living in the “latter days” and John, himself, wrote to his church that they were living in the “last hour” (1 John 2:18). This is why Jesus taught that God would give justice to His elect “speedily” (Luke 18:8), and Paul wrote to the Romans that God would “soon” crush Satan under their feet (Rom 16:20). What is “soon” to a God for whom 1,000 years is like one day? And when we read John declare, “I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and crown was given to him and he came out conquering and to conquer” (Rev. 6:2), all God’s people say, ”Amen!” Why? Because to hear such things is a blessed thing. It is intended to make God’s people happy because we are seeing unfolded in these word pictures the truth of Matthew 16:18, “I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.”
Paul’s charge of Titus 2:11-14 describes for us our “blessed hope”:
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
When John shared these visions to the churches in Asia, the response was not fear, anxiety, but encouragement and hope. It should be for us as well. So, why might some of you be fearful of the contents of Revelation? Maybe you are a Christian but you simply have never thought about the return of the LORD and the end of all things and a sense of the unknown comes with, often times, a touch of anxiety and that has kept you from longing for the coming of the Lord. Let’s pray that this study will address that and the hope of Christ return will indeed be a blessed hope that you long for. Or maybe you are a Christian and your walk with Christ is not what it once was. And so when we read 1 Peter 4:7 “The end of all things is at hand, therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers,” you recognize that is not you…you have not been self-controlled…you are not sober-minded….and your prayer life has been affected…and, in turn, the general joy in Christ, let alone a sense of the joy of His return…especially if He were to return now with you in this state…that is more concerning than encouraging. Let’s pray that the Lord will use Revelation to quicken your spirit and renew your love for the Lord and His Word and that, more than simply learning about Jesus come in glory, you will, as John in verse 17, will fall at his feet afresh in wonder and in worship. Let’s pray to that end.
Or maybe you have never come to Christ at all. Oh, you have come to church. You may have even won the Bible Bee as a kid, sung in the choir as a teen, attended with your own family as an adult but, while you came to church, you never came to Christ. You never professed faith in Him as Lord nor trusted him as Savior and you know that when we read the crying out of Revelation 8:13 “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth at the blasts of the other trumpets that the three angels are about to blow!” that your version of Christianity is not going to save you.
I’m going to pray that you will be carried by the Spirit of God from fear to hope, from sorrow to joy, from trepidation to anticipation for the coming of our LORD. May you believe upon Jesus Christ, the one who came, lived, died, rose again, ascended and Who will return and be saved.
If you are discussing in a group, perhaps you could start with sharing your own experience with the book of Revelation. Have you read it? What do you think the main themes are in the book? What was the reason for it being given to the church? What have been some of the most outlandish interpretations of it that you have heard? Why do you think those interpretations are outlandish?
1) Christians often approach Revelation with a bit of trepidation, not expecting to be able to understand it. What do we find in these first three verses that should give us assurance that it can be understood and that it was expected to be understood?
2) What hints in these 3 verses are given to us that we should go into the book reading it differently than, say, Genesis or Exodus?
3) John tells us in verse 3 that “the time is near.” That was nearly 2,000 years ago! Was John mistaken? If not, how could he possibly say that the time is near?
4) John says that the one who reads and the one who hears what is written in Revelation will be blessed. In what ways do you think you can expect to be blessed by the reading of this book?
5) Do you live in hopeful expectation of the Lord’s return? Why do even some Christians have a hard time being excited about the idea of Jesus’ return? What challenges do you face in this regard? What are some ways that we can encourage one another to look in anticipation for the return of Christ?
