 |
|
 |
Revelation 1:1
“The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to shew unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent an signified it by His angel unto His servant John:” Revelation 1:1
Apokalupsis; the Greek word can mean any of the following: unveiling, revelation, appearing. It is truly the revelation of Jesus Christ. There is no more comprehensive book in the Bible than that of the Revelation. It is prophetic as Jesus outlines the future of His church, the light He is to give to it, and the warnings as to what lies in store for humankind in the only battle that God is concerned with: the battle over our souls. It is instructive in its explanation of the central role Jesus executes in our behalf as priest and king. It is comprehensive in defining God's plan of salvation, the eradication of sin, and the restoration of one kingdom under God in a new earth. Its symbolism is confusing at times, but the astute student realizes quickly that images are drawn from Biblical models that can readily interpret the messages. This requires a bit of study; but it is not burdensome to God’s children.
People have tried to apply specific historical events throughout the book, trying to understand what Jesus has said. However, it is important to appreciate that the focus of God is not on world history so much as spiritual events that history reflects. God is more concerned with His truth than a litany of rulers. Also remember that Jesus is speaking to John, probably the only apostle alive at the time of the writing. Historically, John was an old man condemned to solitude, as he states, on the Isle of Patmos. Traditional commentary places the letter around the close of the 1st Century.
“To show unto His servants things that must shortly come to pass.” No doubt, Jesus wanted John, and His church through the ages, to be prepared; not to be caught unaware. This is both as a safety factor and as a warning about spiritual problems that will come into the church. Before Jesus returns, He knew many issues would arise that would bring confusion into His church. Our Lord wants to assure us of the comfort of His presence despite the struggles. Like a father who was going to be away for awhile, He wants to make sure we have something tangible to hold on to that has His own instructions in it, though we be removed two thousand years or one decade. This is the love of our Savior.
In this book we will come to understand the false prophets that have crept into the church, the true ministry of Jesus, the issues of judgment and salvation, how to live our daily lives, what spiritual battles we will have to fight, and who is ultimately in charge. The book answers the age-old questions of “Who am I?” and “What is the purpose of life?” Home | About Us | Bible Study | Billerica Blog | Bible Commentary | Devotional | Online Giving | Ministries | Prayer | Media | Bookstore | News | Calendar | Contact Us | Sermons
|
 |
