I once again find myself returning to a personal study of the Book of Revelation. But this time, it is with renewed focus on why the Apostle John wrote it, and its directive to us in these significant days. For so long, I have regarded Revelation from the standpoint of the events that accompany Jesus's Second Coming; His return to defeat Satan and Evil from the earth once and for all time, and our being reconciled to our Heavenly Father and receiving His promise of Eternal Life.
Each time I've read the Book it has been opened up a little more to me. This time, though, I am seeing more of Jesus and understanding why this Book is placed at the end -- so that I am prepared for what is coming, why I am here, and how much more I know Him. And from the very first verse of Chapter One, Jesus revealed that He is not simply a character from history; He is more than a myth who lived over 2000 years ago. He is still living and this Book is how He is revealing Himself to us, here in the Last Days. This Book is not just about John seeing in the Spirit and all the bad things that are going to happen on the earth. Jesus is truly "revealing" Himself in all His ways.
From the first words ... The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all he saw. John is on the prison island of Patmos, the last of the Apostles who "bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ". First of all, JESUS IS THE WORD. John is affirming that he knows who Jesus is and he has first hand knowledge [and can give an accurate testimony) of the man, Jesus Christ. John is a reliable witness! And John declares that what he is about to write will bless those that read it aloud and they will keep what is written in their hearts, "because the time is near". These are the things that he says "must soon take place".
I know that many in the Church have commented on the fact that it is a popular opinion that the followers of Jesus interpreted the time being "near" and that Jesus said these things must "soon" take place, as understanding that those of that generation who walked with Jesus expected Him to return quickly and oust the Romans and take His place as the King of Israel. And therefore, those figures of speech about the time of Jesus's return are now understood as having been incorrectly interpreted by Jesus's followers. But I don't think that's the case. I don't think that is what the Bible is trying to tell us. Can you consider that the unfolding of the events of the Last Days are on God's timetable, and that He sees time differently than we humans? I think it is fair to consider that Jesus wasn't saying WHEN these things would happen ... only that the time being "soon" or "near" indicates how rapidly the events will be executed when they begin. It's the idea that the events Jesus tells John to write about will happen suddenly -- not where on the timeline of man in which they will occur.
And one of my favorite passages in the Book of Revelation is Jesus's greeting to the Seven Churches. I do not think these seven churches are chosen because they are the most beloved or well-known to Jesus. I think He chose to mention them because they are representative of the characteristics across the spectrum of churches throughout the ages. But just read how He describes Himself: the One who is and who was and who is to come; the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead; and the ruler of kings on earth. Let's take them one by one:
• The One who is and who was and who is to come ... This describes the eternal nature of God, who is a timeless Being, and this description connects to the Old Testament idea, or concept, of YHWH. He's the same throughout the Old Testament as He is in the New Testament.
• The Faithful Witness ... this shows the utter reliability and faithfulness that Jesus has towards His Father and His people. Interestingly, in Greek, the word for witness is the same word for martyr.
• The firstborn of the dead ... Remember that prior to the Death and Resurrection of Jesus, no one had been raised from the dead with the promise of eternal life with our Heavenly Father. People went to "the grave" or what was called "the realm of the dead". It was a place of conscious existence and was divided into two realms: one was a place of comfort [where Lazarus was; also known as "paradise"]. The other realm was a place of torment where the rich man of Luke 23:43 was ("hell"). Between Paradise and Hell was a great chasm (Luke 16:26) and no one could cross the chasm from hell to paradise, indicating that, after death, one's fate was sealed. You either were in Paradise or Hell. Jesus was the firstborn of the dead; the first to be resurrected from his dead body to spend eternity in Heaven with God. All those who believe in Him have their own resurrection to look forward to.
• The Ruler of Kings on Earth ... Not that Jesus was King of the Jews while on earth, but that He will be the ruler over all earthly kings. He, in fact, does rule a Kingdom now, but the Kingdom is not yet fully established in this world. That is part of our purpose -- to help establish His kingdom, "on earth as it is in Heaven". So, in that sense, we are already citizens of His Kingdom on earth, working as His servants to advance and increase His authority and power on the earth.
• The Alpha and the Omega ... This title is indicative of the first and last letters of the Greek Alphabet. Jesus is saying He is the beginning and the end of all things, and everything in between. He can be found in the first Book of the Bible (Genesis) and the last Book (of Revelation). And He is on every page in between. Furthermore, in this title, we see His eternal nature and His divine authority; everything in this world is under His jurisdiction, from the creation to the final judgment.
But I think the one thing I have loved the most about re-studying this Book of the Bible is the recognition of how John must have perceived it. John is often thought of as a favorite of Jesus; "the one whom Jesus loved: (John 13:23). So John's memories of Jesus are tied to His earthly ministry, and the three years John walked the dusty roads of Galilee with Him, talking, laughing, sleeping under the stars. He knew Jesus, the man, personally and instinctively knew He was divine, but didn't understand the fullness of Jesus, as the Son of Man or the Son of God. Here, in the first chapter of the Book of Revelation, Jesus appears to Him in all His supernatural Glory -- his hair white as snow; eyes like a flame of fire (signifying judgment); feet like burnished bronze (from walking through the refiner's fire); and His voice like the roar of many waters (perhaps like standing in the midst of a powerful waterfall). This was not the Lamb of God who taught 12 average men a new way to live, but the King of the Universe! This was Jesus as He truly was, and John became so overwhelmed with this newfound recognition of His Supernatural Glory, that he "fell at His feet as though dead".
So, as approach our Christian celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus, let us contemplate John's experience... the blessedness of knowing the man Jesus and then seeing and recognizing Him in His Divine Glory. As the days of this world grow darker, it would be easy to become apprehensive, scared, and disquieted. But just as Jesus spoke to John, He speaks to us today ....
Revelation 1:17 But He laid His right hand on me, saying, "Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the Living One. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.
