Revelation Preview
We are gearing up to read the book of Revelation! For many of us, this can be a book that is daunting and sometimes challenging to read. However, the book of Revelation is in our Bibles for a reason. It was not meant to scare us or give us things to debate, it was meant to instill hope in what the future will hold for those who are in Christ. It’s all about seeing Christ for who He has revealed Himself to be. The Apostle John experienced exile on the island of Patmos during the Roman Emperor Domitian’s reign, and during that time received a vision from the Lord through an angel in AD 94-96. The book was written to the seven churches and has been preserved for us as the living and active Word of God.
The message of Revelation is simple: victory! Jesus will reign victorious forever, and those who have trusted in Him will as well. Revelation 1:19 gives us a general outline for the book. The angel tells John, “Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.” It covers the things which have been seen in the past (chapter 1), the things which are in the present (chapters 2-3), and the things which will take place in the future (chapters 4-22). This book is considered apocalyptic literature; however, it is composed in a letter framework and is filled with prophecy. It is filled with symbolism as a means to describe divine realities that are difficult to put into words. Some of these symbols are tied to the history and geography of the original readers, and they would have understood these as symbols because they are tied to the time period.
There are various interpretations to the book of Revelation. The idealist (or allegorical) interpretation sees the book as an allegory teaching the triumph of good over evil. The preterist (or past) view believes the book deals with events that took place in early church history. The historical viewpoint sees the book as dealing with events in the entirety of church history, not just the church in John’s Day. The futurist interpretation views the book as mainly eschatological, meaning events that will happen in the future end times.
It is important to read this book in light of the Old Testament. There are over four hundred references to the Old Testament, where much of the symbolic imagery comes from. If we look back to the Old Testament and how the Israelites were waiting for the Messiah to come, Jesus literally fulfilled hundreds of prophecies in regard to His first coming (which is what we celebrate at Christmas)! Likewise, we can be confident that Jesus will literally fulfill the promises that are made in this book as He makes all things new.
This book is filled with mysteries about the things to come. There are visions of worship, three sets of seven judgements (seals, trumpets, and bowls), the final stage of the end of the world, the fall of Babylon, the marriage Supper of the Lamb, Christ’s second return, the setting up of the Millennial Kingdom, and so much more! Revelation gave the people during the time it was written incredible hope. Likewise, it gives us hope now knowing that whatever we are going through, we won’t be going through for long. We know how the story ends: Jesus will one day return and reign in glory, and that’s good news for us today!
Read Revelation 1
Prologue
1 The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angelto his servant John, 2 who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud 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.
Greetings and Doxology
4 John,
To the seven churches in the province of Asia:
Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come,and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
7 “Look, he is coming with the clouds,”
and “every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him”;
and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.”
So shall it be! Amen.
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
John’s Vision of Christ
9 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. 10 On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,11 which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphiaand Laodicea.”
12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.
17 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. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.
19 “Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. 20 The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right handand of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angelsof the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
Go Deeper
Revelation begins giving us an idea of the value of the book, and why we should read it and obey it. It says, “Blessed is the one who reads aloud 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” (v. 3). This is the first of seven blessings that John mentions in Revelation. There is blessing when we hear the words of this book and obey it.
Nancy Guthrie, an author, and Bible teacher, puts it like this: “There is no magical blessing in simply hearing what is revealed in Revelation. There’s no blessing for those who hear it but choose to ignore it, reject it, rebel against it, or simply treat it as fodder for their curiosity. The blessing is for those whose lives are impacted and shaped by what is in it. It changes their priorities. It builds up their courage. It impacts how they spend their money. It leads them to worship in spirit and in truth. It sends them to their knees in prayer. It emboldens their witness. It takes away their fear of death. It fills their imagination and fuels their anticipation of where history is headed, and it shapes their understanding of how their suffering will resolve in the new heaven and the new earth.” This book should change the way that we live today!
Revelation is all about Jesus from beginning to end. We learn more about the person of Jesus in the book of Revelation than almost any other book in the Bible. Revelation 1 gives us a beautiful picture of our Savior. Take note of some of the descriptions of Jesus in this chapter alone:
- The One who is, and who was, and who is to come (v. 4)
- The faithful witness (v. 5)
- Firstborn of the dead (v. 5)
- Ruler of kings on earth (v. 5)
- Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood and made us a kingdom of priests (v. 5-6)
- The One who is coming with the clouds (v. 7)
- Acknowledged by every tribe and tongue (v. 7)
- The Alpha and Omega (v. 8)
- The Almighty (v. 8)
- Son of Man (v. 13)
- Clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around His chest (v. 13)
- Head of white hair (v. 14)
- Eyes like a flame of fire (v. 14)
- Feet like burnished bronze and a voice like the roar of many rivers (v. 15)
- Holds seven stars in His right hand (v. 16)
- From His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword and His face was like the sun (v. 16)
- The first and the last (v. 17)
- The living One (v. 18)
- The One who died but lives forevermore, and who holds the keys of Death and Hades (v. 18)
As we journey through the book of Revelation, remember that Jesus is the main focus. Revelation gives us reason to revel in Him and see Him for who He has revealed Himself to be.
Questions
- Make a note of verse 19. How does this verse give us a general outline to the book of Revelation? (Tip: Having an outline is helpful as we study a book like Revelation.)
- What does verse 3 tell us to do when it comes to the book of Revelation? Why do you think there is blessing from listening and obeying the words of this book?
- Write down the descriptors of Jesus in this chapter. Which ones stand out to you? What is the significance of this descriptive detail?
Watch This
Check out The Bible Project’s video overview of the first half of the book of Revelation!
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6 thoughts on “Revelation Introduction + 1”
Praying that as we read the book of Revelation our minds would be renewed and our present behavior informed with the eternal hope to come. Our focus must be on the central character, Jesus, one who is filled with unimaginable love, power and justice. Let’s read, intently, listen and obey what it says.
Amen, I agree ….keep our eyes upon Jesus.
Speaking God’s Word stood out to me.
Verse 16b and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword.
God’s Word is Living and Active Hebrews 4:11-13
11Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same pattern of disobedience. 12For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
John 6:63, The words that I speak to you they are spirit and they are life;
God has made His word into a life map for us. Everything that pertains to life and godliness is in here. 2 Peter 1:3
His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue. So this is important because I do not know about you but I sure need a rule book, hand book, how it works book and what next book. This book is not one I have ever read or studied much. But I do know that God has given us tools to be able to know the answers to many questions.
God thank You for Your living active words that I can go to and find the answers to lifes questions. Thank You for enlighting my eyes of understanding in these next few weeks. Thank You that You never give up. I praise, honor and glorify You. God thank You for these minutes of this day to be Your hands and feet in Jesus name amen.
WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
17 “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.”
The repetition of the command to “fear not” throughout the Bible gives me great comfort. Fear is such a primal emotion, but we are continually reminded to “fear not” because God is present!
Revelation has always been the one book I struggled with, but it also helps us see and understand our Lord better than any other book. I pray that as we go through each chapter that eyes are opened and hearts moved towards Him.
I am on my knees in prayer. Eager to be transformed into what God desires. So shall it be! Amen!