Reading: Revelation 1:1-8

When you open your bible to the book of Revelation, the first thing you should notice is that there’s not an “s” at the end of the title. It’s not the book of Revelations. It’s one revelation as recorded by the man who received it (The Apostle John). So. This might be the most important thing I teach you: we don’t go to Chipol-te, we go to Chipot-le. Hello! Don’t even get me started on Worcestershire.

But. Secondly. If you’re reading Revelation with fear and trepidation, you are reading it wrong. For 2,000 years this book was meant to inject courage. That’s how you can be “blessed when you keep it” (verse 3)

So. Revelation was never intended to be read with a globe in one hand and a newspaper in the other. Ok? It is not some secret code book to unlock a mystery. No. It’s a revealing of Christ and instructions from Him to His Church.

That said. A couple key points moving forward. You’ll notice this letter was written to 7 actual churches (verse 4). Therefore: It cannot mean to us what it did not mean for them, since it was written to them.

Also, one of the things that people get hung up on is verse 1: that word, “soon” and verse 3: that sentence, “the time is near”. Now. Those are both relative terms. Right? Like. When you’re on a trip and your kids are fighting, and complaining, and talking about, “When are we going to get there?” If you’re like me you say, “Soon.” Because soon is not absolute. So. What I would do when my kids were young, they’d be like, “I’m bored. How much longer?” I’d say, “10 minutes.” (knowing full well it was at least another hour) 30 minutes would go by. They’d say, “Has it been 10 minutes yet?” I’d say, “No. It’s only been 2 minutes.” (they couldn’t read a clock). I’d say, “You see how slow time moves when you’re complaining?” Some of you are wondering, “Isn’t that lying?” No. That’s parenting. It’s different. But. The clarifying point comes in verse 8. God defines time by saying He’s the first and the last—in other words, it’s relative to eternity. So don’t get caught up in “when”.

Next—don’t misunderstand that word in verse 3, “prophecy”. This is a book of prophecy, but that’s because prophecy is a declaration, not a prediction. Here’s what I mean: God doesn’t predict anything. He proclaims—He declares—what’s going to happen. Thus sayest the Lord. So God intends for you to read and understand the rest of the book.

Lastly—what’s at stake for you? Verse 5—this whole book is about your freedom, through Jesus’ blood. It’s a free gift for all who believe. If you’d like to talk further about that, please reach out to someone on our ministry team at info@newanthemchurch.com

With Gratitude,

pLJ