Revelations – An Invitation to Read
I recently finished reading the book of Revelations in the Bible. It was the third time reading this awesome book. It to me is a book of clarity, insight, love and hope. But it is also a book of warning written for the last-day people. What I found the most interesting about this book was the personal nature of the appeal that is obvious from the first chapter to the last.
Although the whole Bible is really the story of God, through Jesus. We understand that Jesus was the creator with God, (John 1:1-14), “and that All things were made by Him and without Him was not anything made that was made.” And we learn the story of Jesus through the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, and the first chapter of Acts. But Revelation is Jesus speaking through John to those that will come after John and down to the end of the world.
So I am surprised how few people read the book of Revelation. In fact recently, I met with two Christian friends and was speaking about some interesting things in Revelation 1, and they both indicated that they have never read it. Never! And this is not the only time I have heard this from church folk.
It surprises me because as Christians, we all love Jesus and speak about our love for Jesus and the love of Jesus toward us. Yet the book that starts with “The Revelation of Jesus Christ…” is the very book that few Christians read?
Revelation 1:1-3, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.”
Most importantly, the Book of Revelations gives us history of the conflict between God and Satan and gives a warning to all mankind about the climax of the conflict. It is a warning that is to be preached to the whole world. This is a loving God that gives an outline of things to come so that those who love Him and read His word are not caught unawares. It is no surprise then that Satan wants to have God’s people not read this book.
For this reason I am encouraging everyone to read the book of Revelation. Understand that Revelation has several verses that are found elsewhere in the Bible. Consider the beast on Revelation 13 and look at Daniel 7 and see the beast explained. Over the next month, I will attempt to research and present the Book of Revelation, chapter by chapter. However, I urge readers to study the book prayerfully for yourselves also.
