The Book of the Revelation - Introduction

The Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ

What is the Book of Revelation really about?  Many suggest it is a book of end time events that we are now living in, with impending catastrophes coming upon the earth.  Many who approach this book do so with that mind set already established.  So, they are looking in these scriptures for the impending doom that we must surely face.  The question, I want the Lord Jesus to answer is that the truth of the Book? 

 

Notice where, I want us to go for the answer, to the truth Himself!  “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of faith.”  I am afraid if we look anywhere else for understanding in the scripture we will be void.  He alone is understanding and the voice of reasoning.  Everything that I look at must be embodied in Him. 

 

The first verse of Revelation should kind of gives it away. “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show unto his servants, even the things which must shortly come to pass: and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John;”  It is the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ.  Now if we start from this understanding that the Book is Revealing Him, Jesus Christ, and the things that were to shortly come to pass in John’s day we can began to see what is at hand.

 

The Apostle Paul declared in Galatians 1 that he was separated from his mother’s womb and called by God’s grace to reveal Jesus Christ in him.  Within Paul’s writing he is declaring the mystery that was hid, but now made manifest to the saints, Christ in you the hope of glory.  He was declaring that the Jews and Gentiles were to be of one body, and to have access unto God through one Spirit.  This was through the Revelation of Jesus Christ in Paul.  Through Paul seeing Jesus Christ, and the work He had completed at Calvary this declaration was being made. 

 

The Apostle John turned to see the VOICE that spoke with Him and saw seven golden candlesticks.  In the midst of the candlesticks was one like the Son of Man with seven stars in His hand.  Here in Revelation 1 imagery and symbolism take off.  The candlesticks are seven churches, the stars are seven angels to the churches.  Jesus is in the midst of the church and the stars are in His hand.  The stars or ministers are declaring out of Jesus’ power.  There is an impending crisis at hand.

 

The crisis was both external and internal.  The crisis that had come was Jesus.  He had fulfilled the law of Moses and had set forth the New Covenant in the earth.  All the Old Covenant types, and shadows were coming to their end, and the reality of truth or the substance they had declared were at hand.  Jesus was anointed as Isiah said to declare the favor of God and to declare God’s vengeance. 

Isaiah 61:1  “The Spirit of the Lord Jehovah is upon me; because Jehovah hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2 to proclaim the year of Jehovah's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;” 

 

This book of Revelation is just that.  Revelations 1:3 “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things that are written therein: for the time is at hand.”  God’s favor is at hand to those who read and understand.  Christ in you is at hand.  The Kingdom of God has come.  But also at hand is a day of clouds and gloom.   God’s vengeance as declared by Isaiah is coming upon the land, the land of Israel.  The Old Covenant that had been fulfilled in Christ and done away was going to be taken off the land.  As Jesus declared, not one stone was going to be left on that Old Temple.  The new had come through Jesus Christ. 

 

When we encounter Jesus in the way of Revelation a crisis is at hand to us today.  It is both internal and external. It will affect the entire man.  Our old things will be taken away, and the new life of Him set forth.  He brings a shaking with Him, shaking away understanding, and bringing about truth and reality.  He is the crisis we all need to face.  Let us turn and see Him, Jesus the Christ in the midst of the church, and let us live out of an encounter with the Lord of Lords!  Glory to God!