Revelation
1:1-3; 9-11
The
revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must
soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who
testifies to everything he saw - that is, the word of God and the testimony of
Jesus Christ. Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and
blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because
the time is near.
(1:9-11)
I,
John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient
endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the
word of God and the testimony of Jesus. On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit and I heard behind me aloud
voice like a trumpet, which said, “Write
on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches; to Ephesus, Smyrna,
Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.
One
of the most common misconceptions of the last book of the Bible, the book
called “Revelation,” is
that it reveals to us how the world will end.
Now,
in fairness, the book does include fantastic apocalyptic images of beasts and
dragons; wars and plagues; fire and destruction. Revelation does clearly
indicate that the world as we know it is temporary when set against the eternal
world for which we were created. But the author begins by saying quite clearly
the intent of the book:
The
revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must
soon take place.
This
opening sentence can be understood in two ways.
First,
we can read it as saying that Jesus is going to reveal to us what is going to
happen as God brings about the end of this world and the inauguration of his
eternal kingdom. And that is true, although not in the sense many assume.
The
second way to understand what John is saying is to see the whole book of
Revelation as being, first and foremost, about revealing Jesus; who he is; and
the role he will play in the drama that will be the consummation and judgment
of all things.
I
think it’s a
mistake to focus on what Revelation may say or not say about how history will
end. It’s much more
important to focus on what Revelation says about Jesus Christ.
Revelation
1:17-18
When
I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on
me and said, “Do not be afraid. I am
the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead and behold I am alive
forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”
John
is telling us Jesus Christ is the eternal One.
Revelation
4:11-12
Then
I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon
thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and
the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang:
“Worthy
is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!”
John
is affirming that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the
world.
Revelation
19:11-16
I
saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is
called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are
like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on
him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood,
and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him,
riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his
mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of
God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF
KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
Here
John sees Jesus as the conquering king of heaven who will come to judge all
things.
Years
ago I heard a speaker point out that in the ancient world a king would often
ride into a conquered city on a white horse as a symbol of his power and
strength. The Bible tells us that when Jesus entered Jerusalem before his
arrest and crucifixion he rode on a donkey, which was the symbol of humility.
The book of Revelation tells us that the next time we see Jesus he will come
not on a donkey, but a white horse; he will be coming not in humility but in
his triumphant glory.
Indeed,
the apocalyptic images of Revelation seem to point to the world falling into
terrible turmoil before the end comes. But we need not fear all of that because
the one revealed to us in Revelation the One who is the first and the last; the
One who is sovereign king of heaven and earth; the One who will judge the
living and the dead; and the One who was slain so that we can know the hope of
his salvation in the New Heaven and New Earth.
The
One revealed in the book of Revelation is Jesus Christ.
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