07.04. Introduction

Introduction The book of Revelation has frequently been avoided by us since it appears somewhat ominous. We may be missing out on a blessing by not reading and obeying.

Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy and keep the things which are written in it, for the time is near. (Rev 1:3 LSB)

“And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” (Rev 22:7 LSB) The book is an eyewitness account of a revelation from God (the father) given to Jesus who sent an angel to John. (This is John the apostle, as Irenaeus who lived in the second century attestedⁱ). John describes what was shown and told to him. Note the following:

I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, saying, “Write in a scroll what you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.” (Rev 1:10-11 LSB) I, John, am the one who was hearing and seeing these things. (Rev 22:8 LSB)

While some people work hard at trying to identify the various entities in the book, they may be missing out on the whole purpose of the book. The church will be raptured prior to the great tribulation. The latest that the rapture could take place is around the 6^th seal, though it is likely prior to that. Consequently, present day believers will not be going through the trumpet and bowl judgements or the time of the beast and the mark “666” of the beast. With the severity of the judgements, it is quite possible that the structure and identity of the kingdoms during the tribulation period will be different from what we currently have. We should focus more on the message of the book. Jesus had summed up the Scriptures in Matthew: And He said to him, “‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ (Mat 22:37 LSB) “And the second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ (Mat 22:39 LSB) When Jesus was discussing the end times and the tribulation, he said the following:

“Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. (Mat 24:9 LSB) “But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. (Mat 24:13 LSB) “Therefore stay awake, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. (Mat 24:42 LSB) “Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know the day nor the hour. (Mat 25:13 LSB)

“And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’ (Mat 25:40 LSB)

“Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ “And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Mat 25:45-46 LSB)

“And you will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved. (Mat 10:22 LSB) Enduring, persevering, and overcoming are themes throughout the book. The word “saw” is used 44 times in the book indicating what John saw. The word “looked” is used 12 times to describe what he saw. This book describes what John saw and heard, not what he came up with on his own. Most commentaries paint the picture that John was coming up with the various word pictures, imagery, and symbolisms, rather than acknowledging that John was just recording what he saw.

Paige Patterson in the New American Commentary series says: An author of a biblical text may certainly disclose truth that reaches to insights given by the Holy Spirit transcending even what the prophet himself comprehended. But to insist that the text meant something entirely different from that which the author understood is asking far too much. Further, a fair reading of these texts will reveal that the prophets anticipated literal fulfillment—an actual fulfillment that included and focused on Israel as the recipient of the promises of God to Abraham.ⁱⁱ When studying the book of Revelation, it is prudent to stay within reasonable bounds of acknowledging what is said and staying away from speculating about those things that are not clearly identified and revealed. It is also important to stick with the obvious plain reading of the text and not come up with some fanciful, allegorical interpretations. For example, the 144,000 that are sealed in chapter seven, are very clearly identified as Israelites. Any notion that these might be the church or some other group can be ruled out with definite certainty. The book is written to the seven churches in Asia. (Rev 1:4) The greeting is from God the father, the Holy Spirit and Jesus. (God the Son)