So what do we know about the book of Revelation? As we begin our journey in looking at this vision given to John, I think it would be crucial to look at some background. The author of “The Revelation of Jesus Christ is John the Apostle (Revelation 1:1) (1:9) (21:2) (22:8). The title describes the content and purpose of John’s writing which is to “take the cover off,” taken from the greek word “Apokalupsis.” In this case it is the uncovering or unveiling of the glory of Jesus Christ and future events (2 Thessalonians 1:3-10).
The book of Revelation was addressed to the churches of Asia Minor (1:4), which are specifically named in chapters two and three. It was a time in church history when Christians were undergoing severe persecution and difficulty under the reigns of Nero (A.D. 37-68) and Domitian (A.D. 81-96). During the reign of Nero Christians were made the subjects of sport and cruelty. Some were covered with animal hides and then fed to hungry dogs. Others were nailed to crosses for crucifixion, set on fire, dressed in clothes dipped in wax and set on fire for garden lighting. It was under this emperor that both Peter and Paul were martyred for their faith. Domitian was an emperor who was naturally inclined to cruelty, who first killed his brother, and then raised the second wave of persecution against the Christians. He demanded that all the lineage of David be put to death, and it was under his reign that John the Apostle was boiled in oil and banished to Patmos. It was his custom to fabricate tales (lies) of Christians in order to justify their injury or death. It was under his reign that Timothy was put to death by being beat to death with clubs for standing against idolatry.
There are four views on the interpretation of “The Revelation of Jesus Christ. They are the…….
- The Preterist View: This view believes that the events and visions recorded in the text belong to the past, particularly the Roman Empire of first century A.D.. These explain the book of John’s endeavor to hide the true meaning of the book by making it symbolic.
- The Future Historical View: This view maintains that Revelation is only a panoramic view of first century A.D. to the second coming of Jesus Christ.
- The Symbolic (Allegorical) View: This view contends that the book of Revelation portrays the continuing conflict between the forces of good and evil throughout the span of human history. According to this view the book was written to give encouragement because good will triumph’s in the end.
- The Futuristic View: This view maintains that from chapter four to the end of the book Revelation is dealing with end times events. According to this view Revelation is not concerned with the events of John’s own day as much as later historical events, particularly those things that will take place in connection with the second coming of Christ. The proponents of this view would outline Revelation as follows…..chapter one deals with the past, chapters two and three discuss things that are present, and chapters four through twenty-two speak of things that are yet to come.
Now I don’t know where you line up on these four views, but for me, I would have to say that I would line up with the fourth view. But even so, I want you to realize in this devotion that the time when this was written, there was much suffering and persecution for following Jesus Christ.
And yet Paul told the brethren at Rome that we are “more than conquerors” (Romans 8:37), and that we will always be “led in triumph” in the Lord (2 Corinthians 2:14). For the Christian, this means that although we have to go through the troubles and trials of this life, all of these fade as we think of what awaits us.
(Colossians 3:3-4)…..For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”
As followers of Jesus Christ, we must be willing to live for Jesus through times of tribulation as well as times of loneliness (Acts 14:22) (John 16:32). And let us rejoice in the fact that glorious victory is a certainty to faithful followers of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (John 16:33) (Romans 8:28-39) (1 Corinthians 15:55-57) (1 John 4:4) (1 John 5:4).