The Book of Revelation – A Message Of Hope
“Look!
HE IS COMING!” “The HOPE of
Eternity!”
“But now Christ is risen from the dead, and
has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by
man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead.”
1 Cor
15:20-21 (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, who bore
witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things
that he saw. 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.” Rev 1:1-3 (NKJV)
But the
battle between the Church and the devil is not determined here on earth. It has already been settled in Heaven. The Ascension of Christ meant the downfall of
Satan. Every act of Christian sacrifice
confirms this. The devil is the enemy of
all who seek to do God’s Will. He uses
every weapon he can find to defeat the Purpose of the Creator.
It is 96
A.D., the church is in what seems to be a “death-struggle” with the forces of
evil, and the Christians seem to be losing! But things are not always
what they seem to be outwardly. “Write, then, the things you see, both the
things that are now, and the things that will happen afterward” (Rev. 1:19).
To understand
this book, we must first begin at the fact that it was intended for the
believers in John’s day and age (Rev.
2:1-3). It is God‘s
answer to the prayers and tears of severely persecuted Christians who were
scattered through the cities of Asia Minor. It must be studied in the light of
the conditions that existed in the last ten years of the First Century A.D. It
shows Jesus as the expediter (one who puts into effect an order or
decree in the shortest possible time) of God’s Plan (Rev. 5). The Trumpets of chapter 9 answer the question: “How can a loving God allow pain and
suffering?” To the Christian who suffers pain, this is a Seal (compare Rev. 7:2-3 note); but to the
unbeliever, this pain and suffering is a Trumpet of warning! The theme of this
book is stated very well in the words of Rev.
17:14. “They will fight against the Lamb: but the Lamb, and his called,
chosen, and faithful followers with him, will defeat them, for he is Lord of
Lords and King of Kings. ”
The LORD
shall reign forever.
“Then the seventh angel sounded: And there
were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have
become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign
forever and ever!" And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on
their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying: "We
give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to
come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned. The nations
were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should
be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the
saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those
who destroy the earth." Then the temple of God
Then the
seventh angel blew his trumpet. This introduces the End of the World and
the Final Judgment, but does not describe it.
The loud
voices in heaven announce: “The power to rule over the world belongs now to
our Lord and his Messiah, and he will rule forever and ever.” Compare I Cor.
15:24-28. It may seem as if Satan is the supreme ruler, and that all the power
is on the side of the forces of evil. Revelation shows us that God is in
control NOW! Judgment will reveal God’s mighty Power as it actually is.
Then the
twenty-four elders. Symbolic of the Redeemed. They respond to what the loud
voices announced by falling down and worshiping [see note on Rev. 5:14].
And have
begun to rule! God has been ruling all along, but not in ways clearly seen.
As Judgment begins, all opposition is crushed forever.
Because it
is the time. It has not been the right time, up till now.
To reward
your servants. God keeps his promises. Compare Rev. 22:12.
It is the
time to destroy those who destroy the earth! Sin pays its wage. The wicked
earn the punishment they will receive. Compare Rev. 18:6.
God’s
temple in heaven was opened. This symbolic picture shows the beauty of
God’s love to his children. The temple is wide open so all can see the ark
holding the covenant. That ark symbolizes the real and perfect union
[fellowship of 1 John 1:7 given real meaning] of God and his people.
Flashes of
lightning. The same ark holding the covenant is symbolic of God’s wrath to
those who have rejected him. The lightning, sounds, thunder, earthquake, and
hail symbolize God’s mighty power brought in wrath against the ungodly (compare
Jude 1:15).
“Now Enoch,
the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, "Behold,
the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on
all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which
they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which
ungodly sinners have spoken against Him." Jude 1:14-15
The
Mystery of Faith Revealed.
“Now to Him who is able to keep you from
stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory
with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and
majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.” Jude 1:24-25; compare Romans 16:25-27
“Now
to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of
Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the
world began but now has been made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures has
been made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting
God, for obedience to the faith-- to God, alone wise, be glory
through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.” Romans 16:25-27
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