Revelation: Intro

Introduction

Why is it that we tend to shy away from this last book of the Bible? Have you read it? If not, why not? It's only 22 quick chapters, and yet, I had only read it for the very first time yesterday. Why is that?

I've certainly never heard anyone preach on the subject (though we should, Rev 1:3), but I have heard a variety of "end times" musings—though I can't seem to find or justify many of them in the Bible. Example: Jesus comes down, we all go up, 7 years of trial and tribulation, the war is over, Christ reigns forever, Amen. That doesn't seem to be exactly what the text says at all. Granted, the text can be a bit confusing and one has to wonder how much is given to us in allegory or metaphor, simply so that we can take it all in (b/c the full truth would be too much for our little brains, of which we use maybe 5%). But Deuteronomy 29:29 says, "The Lord our God has secrets known to no one. We are not accountable for them, but we and our children are accountable forever for all that He has revealed to us, so that we may obey all the terms of these instructions"—so we're only accountable for the Word and our obedience in following it. Let's see what we can glean from a quick survey of the Word in Revelations, shall we?

It’s difficult for me to begin this way especially if you have not yet read it and I have not yet provided any evidence for this claim.

However, it seems to me that this is the easiest time in the history of all things to believe in and trust in God—to fully accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savoir. I say this because, having read what is to come (and how long it all will take to unfold) and the chaos the future events bring—later will be a much harder time to discern right from wrong, good from evil, God from Anti-Christ, and life from death. There will be so many illusions and fakes, counterfeit imitations of truth and false idols performing false miracles, that right now is the time we seem to have the best chance at grasping the straight-forwardness of the Gospel and the truths of the Bible. It must be heartbreaking for God to look down, in such times as these, with the difference between good and evil so glaringly obvious, and watch us choose wrongly over and over again. Father, forgive us, for we know not what we do. Deliver us from ourselves. It should be so easy to realize that there is simply no comparison and the choice should be thoughtlessly right each and every time.

But please, don’t take my word for it. Read it for yourselves and see what the Holy Spirit reveals to you—whatever the case, I just want you to read it: bury yourself in God’s Word. It is such a treasure and no time spent there is ever wasted.

Some of the following will be simple recap and some will actually be my commentary on what I believe to be true of the Scriptures—so some skimming the surface, and some deep.