The Book of Revelation

The Book of the Revelation is a mysterious book. Because of this, it is either avoided, or feared, or misinterpreted. Yet, if one spends the time to prayerfully read it and seek to understand its contents, one will discover that it is one of the most important and wonderful books of the Bible. The Book of the Revelation is a prophetic Book, that is, it both (a) “forth tells “ God’s Word for the present or immediate situation, and (b) foretells events which are to take place in the future. Like the Book of Daniel, which forms the background to this Book, it begins with the contemporary situation, and then goes on to the end of time. As a part of the Bible, Revelation follows on the Book of Daniel but “fills out” the Last Things in greater detail . The title of the Book is the “Revelation of John.” The title means “unveiling,” “disclosure.” The Book is an unveiling of the character and programme of God. It is felt by some that a better title would be the first verse, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ.” This means both the revelation which comes from Christ, and the revelation which is about Christ. The Book is about the Resurrected Christ, His Church and the world. More than any other prophetic Book of the Bible, the prophesies of Revelation are presented in symbolic form, that is, pictures, rather than words, are used to convey the message. This is why this Book is somewhat difficult to understand – the pictures have to be interpreted. There is no doubt that this has led to all sorts of extreme and fantastic interpretations. These amazing, symbolic pictures, like the Parables, both reveal and conceal. Thus the Book of the Revelation is not so clear that everyone can see the meaning and understand it immediately. But, as will be discovered, the pictures have an ascertainable meaning, a meaning which is based on the previous Books of the Bible. It should be mentioned at the outset that some pictures have more than one meaning, that is, they are “composite.” Where this is so, all the meanings are valid, and must be held together, though they may differ in time reference. Other pictures are subject to various interpretations. Where this is so, the various possible interpretations are given, as far as the author’s knowledge permits, with some indication as to the weight which could be attached to each interpretation. Another remarkable fact must be stated - unlike any other Book of the Bible, Revelation, in an amazing way, sums up all that has gone before, in both Old and New Testaments. In other words, it sums up all the other Books of the Bible! Thus, throughout Revelation, there are many references to other Books. Revelation is, in truth, the final Book of the Bible, and so every thread which runs through the Scriptures is not only picked up, but tied into a final knot in this amazing Book. It has fittingly been said, “Just as Genesis is the Book of beginnings, Revelation is the Book of endings or consummation.” To give an example – throughout the Scriptures, various names are given to the Evil One. In Genesis he is called the “serpent”, in the Psalms he is called the “dragon,” in Job he is called “Satan,” while in Matthew he is called the “devil.” Turn to Revelation 12:9, and there all these names of the Evil One are combined in one verse! “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the devil and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world.” The Book of the Revelation centres on the Church. So it opens with the Risen Christ speaking, through letters, to seven Churches. These Churches are named in geographical places, but they also seem to be types of many Churches, for example, Churches which have “left their first love,” or Churches which are neither hot nor cold, but “lukewarm.” But Revelation links the Church of the New Testament with the Church of the Old Testament. So in Revelation 5 it is not 12 elders who are seated around the throne, but 24. – the 12 Patriarchs of the Old Israel are linked with the 12 Apostles of the New Israel. But Revelation goes further and distinguishes the Church of the very End Times which is Jewish, from the Church of the New Testament, which is primarily Gentile. So in Rev.7, a much misunderstood and misused section of Scripture, the 144,000 who are “sealed” are representatives of the “tribes of the children of Israel.” – Jews. Hence the symbolic number of 12,000 for each of the twelve tribes. This group is clearly distinguished from “the multitude which no man could number of all nations,” (verse 9). In fact, Revelation seems to portray the fulfillment of the prophecies of Zechariah 12:10 and 13:1, as well as of St. Paul in Romans 11:26, that in the end, “all Israel shall be saved.” Revelation even seems to suggest that the Church which will be present when Anti-Christ appears, will be the Church of the converted Jews because the “ fullness of the Gentiles” will have come in, Romans 11:25. This explains why the “abomination of desolation” takes place in the temple at Jerusalem, and the final battle between God and Satan (Armageddon) takes place in Palestine. It is however significant that the song which is sung in heaven is the song of Moses and of the Lamb, Rev. 15:3. There, both “Churches” are united. It is of greatest significance nevertheless, that Moses and the Lamb are not of equal status. The only One who could open the book and unveil all the events which will take place culminating in the new heaven and new earth, is not Moses, but the Lamb. The Book of the Revelation presents supreme conflicts between good and evil, God and Satan, but the result is never in doubt. Victory is with the Lamb. It is He who guarantees to the whole Church, His Presence, protection and provision until ( as the picture on the cover of this book symbolizes), “the morning breaks and the shadows flee away.”