Unpacking The Book Of Revelation

The Book of Revelation. Just the name conjures images of apocalyptic beasts, cataclysmic events, and cryptic prophecies. It’s a part of the Bible that often inspires both fascination and confusion. It leads many to either shy away from it entirely or, as G.K. Chesterton famously quipped, become “wilder than one of its own commentators.” Martin Luther, too, observed that “some have brewed it into many stupid things out of their own heads.” But unpacking the book of revelation can strengthen our faith and elevate our understanding of God’s redemptive plane for creation.

So, how do we make sense of this intensely symbolic and often bewildering book? We hope to demystify Revelation. Not as a timetable for the end of the world. But as a profound message of hope and resilience for believers in all ages. Our goal is to gain an overview of what Revelation is truly about. To learn to identify the insidious nature of empire and idols, understand the crucial importance of true worship and personal devotion to God. Ultimately, to grasp the ultimate victory in Christ that every believer can stand on, no matter what challenges they face.

Many approach Revelation as a secret code to unlock future events, a sort of divine calendar for the apocalypse. However, as Michael J. Gorman notes in “Reading Revelation Responsibly,” its true intention “is to give hope to people in trying and or tempting times so that they will remain faithful to their covenant commitment in God.” It’s not a date predictor for the end of the world, nor is it a manifesto for a government or a political policy. “Left Behind” narratives or the idea that “America is the New Jerusalem” miss the mark entirely.

Instead, Revelation is an uncovering, an apocalypse, a revelation of the final judgments of the Lord and the glorious beginnings of the New Heaven and New Earth. John Drane, in “Introducing the New Testament,” explains that “Revelation…assures its readers that this world belongs to God and not to the forces of evil. Through the use of vivid and powerful imagery it emphasizes that God will act to put things right, no matter how long such action may seem to be delayed. People…will have a part in the new world, where sin, misery, and evil have no further place.”

David Campbell, in “Eschatology,” highlights the singular and visible return of Christ, emphasizing that “Revelation portrays the church on a journey out of Egypt and proceeding through the wilderness under God’s spiritual protection, although subject to earthly attack and harm. It culminates in the church’s entry into the promised land of the new Jerusalem.”

The overarching message? God wins. This is undeniably great news for those who follow Him, because it means they win too. But it’s crucial to understand that this victory isn’t promised without struggle; the journey often isn’t easy.

To truly grasp Revelation, we must understand its original context. It’s one of the few biblical books where the author, John, is named and the date of writing is recorded. It was penned for the early church, a small and beleaguered community facing intense persecution across what is now modern-day Turkey.

These early Christians were not only battling external pressures but also contending with a host of incorrect ideas and heresies that began to infiltrate and influence their beliefs and behaviors. My college lecturer at St. Mellitus wisely put it: “Stay out of the Badlands by knowing what Christians believe (The Creeds).”

From the earliest days, Christians developed concise summaries of their faith, known as creeds (from the Latin credo, meaning ‘I believe and trust’). The Apostles’ Creed, in particular, became a foundational statement, summarizing the essential teachings of Jesus’ earliest followers. It served as a safeguard, a bulwark against doctrinal drift.

It’s vital to distinguish between a simple error and a heresy. An error might be a misunderstanding or a mistake, but a heresy is a truth pushed too far in one direction, a deliberate choice to abandon widely accepted teaching on an essential doctrine and embrace a personal, divergent view.

Many of these ancient heresies still echo today, often in subtle forms:

The application here is critical: if we worship a God of our own imagination, fashioned from incomplete or distorted ideas, then we are not worshipping the TRUE GOD. We worship a God who has revealed Himself, who has told us who He is and how He wants to relate to us. When we align our worship with His revelation, we engage in TRUE Worship. Revelation, at its core, is a clarion call to resist idols, empires, and false worship.

The early churches to whom John wrote were small, vulnerable, and often compromised. They battled bad teaching, questionable dealings, turning a blind eye to sin, and even collaboration with evil. Hovering over them, an omnipresent threat, was the Roman Empire – often interpreted as one of the “Beasts” in Revelation. This empire was an absolute monster, at times tolerating Christians, but often actively persecuting them.

John himself, the visionary behind Revelation, was exiled to the island of Patmos by Emperor Domitian for his faith. History is replete with accounts of Roman cruelty. Tacitus, a first-century Roman Senator, chillingly describes Emperor Nero’s sadistic punishments for Christians: “Covered with the skins of beasts, they were torn by dogs and perished, or were nailed to crosses, or were doomed to the flames and burnt, to serve as a nightly illumination, when daylight had expired.”

This historical backdrop underscores the immense pressure faced by those early believers. It calls us to give thanks for their unwavering faithfulness and to pray for those Christians today who endure similar persecution.

Revelation 3, or “Apocalypse Tres,” contains letters of encouragement and strong correction to seven churches in what is now Turkey. Strikingly, six of these churches faced significant challenges and needed to “clean up their act.” But one church, Philadelphia, received no correction—only praise from Jesus. What can we learn from them?

This small, seemingly “weak” church, possibly in conflict with the local synagogue and under the threat of Roman persecution, stood firm. Their example offers profound lessons for us today.

Jesus commended the Philadelphian church because “you have obeyed my word.” This is profound. If we struggle with what the Bible teaches or its meaning, we must engage with it wholeheartedly. Jesus is revealed in Scripture; God’s plan for human flourishing is found there. Scripture and sound Christian belief help us see who Jesus really is. We need each other’s help to obey God’s Word, to wrestle with it, and to resist heresies that distort the truth.

We will inevitably face intimidation to compromise. Opportunities to “sell out,” to lie for easy money, or to present a false version of ourselves to gain acceptance will arise. But God doesn’t need us to compromise. He doesn’t want us to rely on worldly power or wealth. He desires our full trust, for that is how He designed us to live—in unbroken relationship with Him. Empires, in all their forms (be they political, economic, or cultural systems that demand ultimate allegiance), make false claims to be God. They are powerful and insidious, always seeking to enslave and dominate. We see this in the world right now.

But as believers, we are people of the Kingdom of Heaven, which is greater than any earthly empire. Empires throughout history have risen and fallen; the Kingdom of Heaven continues to advance, helping, healing, growing, and flourishing even under persecution. We expose the deeds of darkness by living in the light of God’s love. Idols are anything that takes God’s rightful place in our lives. They can be good things that have been elevated to supreme importance. Secrets we fear to reveal, resistance to God’s leading, things we struggle to let go of. The Philadelphian church teaches us not to strive for worldly power, but simply to be faithful. To trust Jesus and His word.

If you’ve compromised, ask Jesus for forgiveness. 1 John 1:9 says : “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness”). If you find yourself consistently compromising, reach out for help. Don’t go it alone. Remember 1 John 2:16-17: “For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” Avoid “the gold, the glory, and the guys/girls” that seek to distract you.

Our confidence, our hope, and ultimately our salvation rest solely in Jesus Christ. He is faithful even when we are not, and He will strengthen us to persevere in tough times. When He “prods and corrects and guides,” it is because He loves us (Revelation 3:19). Jesus stands at the door and knocks, inviting us into intimate communion: “If you hear me call and open the door, I’ll come right in and sit down to supper with you. Conquerors will sit alongside me at the head table, just as I, having conquered, took the place of honor at the side of my Father. That’s my gift to the conquerors!” (Revelation 3:20-21).

In Church, you have a community of people on this same journey. We’re in this together. No one is throwing stones. In fact, we’re here to help each other. We must “listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches” (Revelation 3:22).

Let’s pray for help to be faithful and to persevere this week, trusting in His unwavering love and victory.