The Book of Revelation is the last book in our Bibles, and it is the last of the 5 documents written by the Apostle John which are: The Gospel of John; his three letters to the churches, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John; and finally, the Book of Revelation. The Book derives its name from the Greek word apokalypsis, from which we get the words “apocalypse,” “unveiling,” “disclosure,” or as the title of the book says, “revelation.” It refers to something hidden, that which is real, but not yet evident. Interestingly, at the beginning of the letter, John states that it is, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ,” suggesting that it is a revelation that came from Jesus, and/or, a revelation about Jesus. Both are appropriate, as the book came from Jesus and it’s all about Him.
Let’s look at the circumstances under which John was told to write the Book of Revelation,
“I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus” (Rev. 1:9).
Notice that John identifies himself as a “brother” and a “fellow partaker” of the tribulation they were all experiencing because of their faith in Jesus. Because of John’s testimony, he was exiled on the Island of Patmos where the Romans banished criminals and political prisoners (just off the coast of Turkey, near Ephesus). His exile, and the persecution of the churches, was not an extension of Jewish persecution that had been going on for over 35 years since the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus, but persecution from Rome itself.
There is much debate as to whether this was the persecution under Emperor Nero (AD 64-66) or the less intense persecution under Emperor Domitian (AD 90-95). Regarding John’s age at the time of his writing, if he was exiled during the Neronic persecution, John would have been in his 60’s, and if the later, he would have been in his 90’s. The dating of the Book has yielded volumes of controversy over the years, but for me, and many other New Testament scholars, there is much more evidence, both within the book and in the historical events of the time, that John was exiled during the Neronic persecution in about AD 65. But the dating of Revelation is the subject for another time, and for your own study, if you are so inclined.
John continued to write,
“I was in the spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet, saying, ‘Write in a book 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. 1:9-11).
It was a Sunday when the vision came to John, and he was told to write down the things that he would soon see as the vision unfolded. When finished, he was to send it to the seven churches in Turkey, each of them along a major trade route in the region. I jumped ahead a bit in the first chapter of the book so that we could see the historical setting, but now let’s go back to the beginning of the book where John provides more details regarding the Person who is central to the book,
“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His bond-servants the things that must shortly take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John…” (Rev. 1:1).
Let’s look at the source of the revelation John received. First, the revelation came from God (the Father) and it was given to His Son, Jesus Christ. Then, Jesus gave it to an angel, who then communicated it to John in the form of a vision. Finally, the vision was to be sent to the churches, to show them the things that “must shortly take place.” Things that would “shortly take place?” What was that? But there is more,
“Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it, for the time is near” (Rev. 1:3).
The “time is near!” Once again, a time indicator! The Greek words “shortly” (tachos) and “near” (engys) mean exactly what they say. Both words indicate that the time for the vision to be fulfilled is soon. But do these words suggest that all of the visons in the book will be fulfilled shortly, or just the first part of the book? Later in the first chapter, John received these words,
“Write therefore the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall take place after these things” (Rev. 1:19).
In other words, John is informed to things which currently “are,” and things that will take place later, “after these things.” As you might have guessed, there are many ways to interpret the Book of Revelation. In fact, most study Bibles will mention at least four. The first is the idealist view which suggests that the book is not about predictive prophecy, but about the ongoing cosmic conflict between good and evil. The second is the historicist view which maintains that the book is an “allegorical panorama” of the history of the church, from the first century to the second coming of Christ. The third is the futurist view which acknowledges the influence of Roman persecution on the church, but sees the bulk of the book pointing to a future time just prior to Christ’s return. And the fourth is the preterist view, which maintains that the majority, if not all, of the events of the book are in our past, not our future.
Regarding the futurist view noted above, most see Jesus’ exhortations to the seven churches found in chapters 2 and 3 to be directed at first century churches in Asia Minor, but then, the rest of the visions found in chapters 4-22 are still to take place in the future, and today, it would have been in John’s “distant future.” Regarding the preterist view, when John heard “shortly” and “near,” it means that the bulk, if not all, of the visons recorded in the book would be fulfilled soon. For preterists, the Book describes, in metaphorical language, the events of Roman persecution culminating with the Roman conquest of Judea, the fall of Jerusalem, and the church’s entrance into the New Covenant once the structures of the Old Covenant were destroyed. But we will leave this debate here, as well as the various visions in the book, for your further study if you so desire.
The Book of Revelation is all about Jesus, and throughout the Book, we find various names, or titles, given to Jesus Christ. He is called, “the faithful witness, the first-born from the dead, the ruler of the kings of the earth” (1:5); “the first and the last” (1:17); “the living One” (1:18); “the Son of God” (2:18); “holy and true” (3:7); “The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the beginning of the Creation of God” (3:14); “the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the root of David” (5:5); “a Lamb” (5:6); “Faithful and True” (19:11); “the Word of God” (19:13); “the King of kings and Lord of lords” (19:16); “the Alpha and the Omega” (22:13); “the bright morning star” (22:16); and “the Lord Jesus” (22:21).
As we wrap up this quick overview of the Book, I’d like us to focus on just two verses found toward the beginning of the Book, and the focus is upon our Lord, Jesus Christ. The four living creatures around the throne of God said,
“Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD God, the Almighty, who was, and who is, and who is to come…Worthy art Thou, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for Thou didst create all things, and because of Thy will they existed, and were created” (Rev. 4:8, 11).
These verses sum up the entire theme of the Book, and should captivate our hearts and minds as well. Our Lord, who is God, is worthy to receive all of our honor and praise because He is the Creator of all things. And then, as we come to the last few verses of the last chapter, we find these words for us,
“And the Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes to take the water of life without cost” (Rev. 22:17).
Yes, Jesus is the One who calls each of us to come and drink of the water of Life, which flows from His very being. There is no cost, as He calls us to simply “come!” Come to Him and lay your sin and burdens at His feet. Come to Him and ask for the water of Life, and He will fill you to overflowing.
Peggy and I pray for God’s blessings on each one of you!
