Today, we move into the book of Revelation. Some describe this book of the Bible as the strangest, hardest to understand book of them all. But everything that is written here, we’ve seen before. The book of Revelation is a wonderful collection of poetry like the Psalms, prophesy like Isaiah or Malachi, letters like so many that Paul, Peter, and John wrote, and descriptive stories like Genesis or the Gospels. It’s all here.

The book of Revelation is truly a letter written to several churches undergoing persecution meant to encourage them and point them to a day when Jesus would finally and completely reign over heaven and earth. Some have hypothesized that the book was written the way it was so that the censors of the day would let the letter be delivered – that those who would read it who wanted to hurt the church would simply dismiss the writings as the work of a crazy old man. But that those who were Christian would, by the power of the Holy Spirit, understand the instruction and encouragement John wrote.

Regardless, what’s important about the book of Revelation is who the book is revealing. The writing here is a revelation – a revealing – a showing – of the one who is

“…worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased men for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation.
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth” (5:9-10).

Because of who is revealed in this book, we can celebrate the events described – because we know that we are those who were purchased for God and that we are the ones who, when Jesus returns, will reign on the earth – with God – forever.

What Biblical truths does God show me in these verses?
That it is Jesus who is revealed in the book of Revelation – and we can read with joy and confidence, knowing that because of His death and resurrection, we will be given a new life in heaven with God forever.

Since God tells in the book of James to be doers of the Word and not merely hearers, how can I apply these Biblical truths to my life?
I will ask for the Holy Spirit’s wisdom and guidance as I read Revelation – knowing that I can learn much about God’s amazing love from this sometimes confusing book of the Bible.

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