The Revelation of Jesus Christ

 

Revelation 1:1-3

01/23/2022

Revelation 1:1 says:

Revelation 1:1 (NKJV) The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants--things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified [it] by His angel to His servant John,

The book of Revelation gets its name from its first words; “The Revelation.” The Greek word for Revelation is Ἀποκάλυψις, from which we get our word apocalypse.

Our use of the word “Apocalypse” in English is associated with Revelation, i.e. the four horsemen, the seven bowls and seven trumpets, and the beast. However, we must put aside this idea if we are going to understand the purpose and meaning of the book of Revelation. 

While our English word “apocalypse” means “the complete final destruction of the world, as described in the biblical book of Revelation,” the Bible term means “reveal” or “uncover.” 

Have you ever seen the dedication of a statue, where the statue is covered with a giant tarp or cloth? At just the right moment, the cloth is removed and the statue is “revealed” having been “uncovered.” This “uncovering” is the meaning of the Greek word “Ἀποκάλυψις.”

The frightful image of the complete final destruction of the world keeps us from understanding what the book of Revelation communicates. First, and foremost, Revelation reveals Jesus Christ; the book is about Him! While the entire world and all mankind is involved, the Revelation is about Jesus Christ. 

The Revelation reveals Jesus Christ, and it is from Jesus Christ. Jesus tells us about things which must “soon” take place. In the events uncovered by Revelation, Jesus is the central character.

In chapter one, He is revealed as “… the Alpha and the Omega, [the] Beginning and [the] End, … “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8 NKJV) He is also pictured in His glory.

Revelation 1:14-15 (NKJV) ¹⁴His head and hair [were] white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; ¹⁵His feet [were] like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters…

John was Jesus’ closest companion during Jesus’ earthly ministry, but when He saw Jesus “revealed,” he fell at His feet as though dead. Jesus’ glory is greater than we can comprehend. Revelation presents Jesus as “the Lamb” and the One worthy to open the title deed to the earth. He is a glorious victor and conqueror.

Revelation 1:1 says that God gave the Revelation to Jesus to show to His servants. In the Gospel of John, the revelation of things from God the Father to Jesus the Son is a common theme. (John 3:34–35; 5:20–24; 7:16; 8:28; 12:49; 14:10, 24; 16:15; 17). Let’s look at John 12:49 as one example.

John 12:49 (NKJV) “For I have not spoken on My own [authority;] but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.

God gave the Revelation to Jesus specifically to show to His servants, and so He expects that we will be able to understand it. While there is symbolism in the book, we need to interpret it like we do any other Scripture. We need to take the words in their normal sense. Many of the symbols are used in the Old Testament prophets so we must know those as well.

Interpretations of Revelation abound. However, these interpretations can be divided into four main camps.

First, there is the “allegorical” approach. This point of view regards Revelation as one great allegory going far beyond the natural symbolism that is found in the book. This book is interpreted in a nonliteral sense.

Second, there is the “preterist” approach. This approach takes the view that Revelation is a record of the conflicts with Judaism and paganism of the early church. A “preterist” teaches that the events of Revelation 4–20 are primarily a description of the Jewish war that ended in the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, coupled with the persecution of the early church.

Third, there is the “historical” approach. This theory considers Revelation a symbolic presentation of the entire history of the church, which will end with Jesus coming again.

The fourth view is the understanding of the “futuristic” approach. This way of looking at the Revelation considers that beginning with chapter 4, the events described are yet to take place in the future. This way of interpreting Revelation is held by conservative believers who are often premillennial.

The futuristic view allows for a literal understanding of the text and fits together with the prophecies of the Old Testament, especially Daniel, which could be seen as Revelation’s Old Testament counterpart. We cannot understand one without the other. 

One assumption of those who reject the thinking of the futurist is that John created the Revelation in his own head and the people of his generation could understand it.

This reveals a common problem with Biblical prophecy. Some people refuse to recognize the Divine nature of the Scriptures and assume that all predictions of the future were written after the events prophesied. This same approach assumes that Moses could not have written the Pentateuch and Daniel was written long after Daniel actually lived. Many interpreters think in terms of the Bible being a book created by men. However, this is not true; the Bible is the word of God.

I am a futurist. Verse three of Revelation one says “…the words of this prophecy.” So, from the start, the book claims to be from God about Jesus Christ and what will happen in the future.

Showing that the events are yet future, verse one says, “… things which must shortly take place.”

The interpretation or translation of the Greek word “shortly” can be misleading. When we see the term “shortly,” we assume that it will happen soon. However, the term means “quickly.” In other words, once the events of Revelation start, they will happen at a breakneck speed. Most of the events will happen in seven years, which given the length of history is an incredibly short time.

The book claims to be written by John and no one seriously questioned this until 250 A.D. So, most conservative scholars reject the thought of other authors. Covering the historical evidence for John’s authorship is beyond our scope, but it is worth noting that the book claims it was written by John.

This is the only New Testament book that was revealed by an angel, which is significant because Daniel also received much of His prophecy through the work of angels.

So, the question I want to ask is, “So, what?”

Since most of the book is yet future, what does it mean to us?

First, look at verse three.

Revelation 1:3 (NKJV) Blessed [is] he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time [is] near.

Revelation promises a blessing for those who read this book. Reading the Bible always blesses the reader, but Revelation particularly so. 

Near is a relative term. Although two thousand years is a long time to us, it is short to God. Also, for 2000 years, history has been on the edge of the last days; our movement is parallel to the edge, rather than moving towards an edge off in the distance.

The Lord Jesus taught that the kingdom of God is near.

Luke 17:20-21 (NKJV) ²⁰Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; ²¹“nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”

Jesus is not teaching there will be no earthly kingdom. In this instance, He is trying to explain to the Pharisees that they were focusing on the wrong thing. Perhaps we need to remind ourselves of what Peter says.

2 Peter 3:14 (NKJV) Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

We need to be aware of how near the coming of the Lord is and His kingdom, but this is not our focus. It is a motivator for us to be doing what Jesus commanded us to do. First, Jesus gave us a command on how we are to be, and then He told us what we are to be doing. These commands are our focus.

First, He told us:

Matthew 22:37-39 (NKJV) ³⁷Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ³⁸“This is [the] first and great commandment. ³⁹“And [the] second [is] like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

This is the great commandment and tells us how we should be. Romans 13 tells us that we are to owe no man anything but to love your neighbor as yourself. This is not a statement on debt; it is speaking to the attitude of our hearts. If we are part of God’s kingdom, then we need to keep His laws, and these are His two laws.

Second, Jesus gave us a job to do until He comes. He said:

Matthew 28:18-20 (NKJV) ¹⁸And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. ¹⁹“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰“teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, [even] to the end of the age.” Amen.

Revelation reminds us that the time of Jesus’ return is near. This reminder severs as a motivation to be doing what He commanded us. These verses from Matthew define what we are to be doing. While we wait for the events of Revelation to unfold, we are to be making disciples.

In addition to motivating us to be and do what Jesus has commanded us, Revelation is the only book in the Bible that promises a blessing for reading it. 

For those who are left behind and must go through the tribulation, Revelation will be a roadmap, but for us, it reveals our Lord Jesus. It contributes to our understanding of who He is.

In the gospels, we see Jesus as the suffering Savior, but in Revelation, we see Him as the conquering King. God reveals mysteries hidden for ages that will soon come to pass, and He reveals them to us, His servants.