The Book of Revelation – A Surprisingly Practical Book
The Book of Revelation is the last book in the Bible and completes the New Testament canon. This easily overlooked fact directs us to view the Book of Revelation as one of the most practical and important of all the New Testament epistles. John’s apocalyptic vision is Jesus Christ’s final word to his church until he returns.
Likely written near the end of the first century, Revelation comes in the form of a circular letter addressed to seven churches in Asia Minor (chapter 2-3). The order of Jesus’s prophetic word of encouragement and rebuke to each of these seven churches mentioned follows the postal route from Ephesus to Laodicea reminding us of both the letter’s purpose and its original audience.
The Christians in these churches lived in an empire that was openly hostile to all who proclaimed that Jesus is Lord, not Caesar. This guaranteed a wary eye from Roman officials who often, but mistakenly, saw Christians as insurrectionists. These Christians lived in the midst of a pagan culture which worshiped and served the creation rather than the Creator. It was an age of bizarre rituals, magic, and sacrifices. Christians also faced the ire of those Jews living in the area who saw Christians as a threat because so many of their fellow Jews had become followers of Jesus. This book is written to them, surely, but also to the people of God across the ages. There is no book quite like it in all the Bible.
Yet, Revelation is much more than a mere letter of comfort to persecuted Christians, although it is certainly that. This book is prophetic in content (describing the course of human history in highly symbolic terms) and apocalyptic in style. Typical of apocalyptic literature, Revelation is filled with images of mysterious creatures, dramatic symbols, and uses numbers to make important theological points. On one level the book deals with the persecution these Christians faced, while on another, the images in Revelation describe the conflict between the people of God and Satan, their arch-enemy, playing out across the centuries before the Lord’s return at the end of the age.
Because the Book of Revelation is symbolic in nature and contains apocalyptic themes and images, many have been tempted to use this remarkable book as a springboard for all kinds of fanciful interpretations. A book of comfort has become an odd and esoteric bok requiring prophetic sages to interpret it for God’s people. Although John cautions his readers that he is writing to the seven churches mentioned in the opening verses of the first chapter to reveal to them that which God “gave [to John] to show to his servants the things that must soon take place” (Revelation 1:1) and then immediately states that the “time is near” (Revelation 1:3), sadly, Christians often overlook this vital context.
Throughout the history of the church it has been common for Christians to assume that John wrote this letter to reveal the hidden meaning of those wars and tragedies which, in the providence of God, occur throughout the course of history (cf. Jesus’ warning in Matthew 24:3-14). This sincere, but misguided approach to reading this book, has led many to approach the Book of Revelation through the lens of current events and geo-political upheaval, rather than seeing the Book as a divinely given commentary on those themes left open-ended in the Old Testament, and as interpreted by Jesus and the Apostles.
Revelation is not a handy guide to explain the events which fill the daily news cycle. Rather, it is a divinely given commentary on the Old Testament in light of the person and work of Jesus Christ, Revelation’s central figure. We know this to be true because symbols and numbers used throughout are taken from the Old Testament and set out by John against the backdrop of first century circumstances then facing the seven churches. My guess is that those first hearing this letter read aloud in the seven churches to which it is addressed, would have the immediate realization that, “oh, that image is drawn from the Old Testament.” As far removed from that world as we are, we often do not see the connection.
Because many of our own contemporaries believe that Revelation primarily speaks to those living at the time of the end, they understand the book as essentially prophetic. Revelation supposedly predicts the rise of modern military technologies of which first century people could not possibly conceive (i.e., the locusts mentioned in Revelation 9 are prophetic images of helicopters). Many believe that John describes a revival of the Roman empire (i.e., Nicolea Carpathia of the Left Behind novels). It is believed John predicts specific earthquakes, plagues, famines, and the rise of various dictators and empires. This is why the Book of Revelation has acquired a reputation for being spooky and difficult to interpret and understand. Only those skilled in tying the apocalyptic images found throughout the book to current events, are thought to properly understand it.
But John himself tells us this is not the case. Context is everything. As mentioned, this remarkable vision is given at some point before the end of the first century to the seven churches of Asia Minor which are identified by name. At times, the members of these churches faced horrible persecution and even death from Roman authorities because Christians honored Jesus as Lord and refused to ascribe the same title to the Caesars. Christians worshiped the true and living God who revealed himself in Jesus Christ, not the false gods worshiped in the temples throughout virtually every city in the first-century Mediterranean world. This book was written to give hope and comfort to a suffering and persecuted people.
Yet, like Paul’s letters to the first century churches in Rome or Corinthians, the Book of Revelation also speaks to God’s people throughout the entire period of time between Christ’s first advent and his second coming. The issues facing the seven churches of Asia Minor are issues which God’s people must face until Jesus Christ comes again. While the book has prophetic elements and uses apocalyptic imagery, it is not a book which predicts the future with the kind of specificity which we seek in times of uncertainty. Revelation tells us that God’s people will face the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet–a mock trinity composed of the satanically powered state and its self-deified leader. Yet despite all the hardship this unholy trinity inflicts upon the people of God across time, Jesus Christ will deliver his people in the end.
Although Revelation is not often thought of as a “practical” book, surely it is one of the most practical books in all the New Testament. Because it is the last book of the canon, Revelation serves as the capstone of all previous biblical revelation. Those who knew the Old Testament knew where to find the explanation of its images and symbols. This book is God’s final word to his people and it serves to tie-up all the loose ends in redemptive history. In fact, a great blessing is promised to those “who keep the words of the prophecy of this book” (Revelation 22:7), while those who add to or take away from it are threatened with covenant curses (Revelation 22:18-19).
When understood in this light, Revelation is very practical–not because the vision given to John by the angel maps out the course of human history in great detail, but because the Book of Revelation makes it abundantly clear to God’s people that despite the ebb and flow of human history, Jesus Christ and his church triumph in the end. Jesus Christ will destroy Satan and all his minions. Jesus will establish a new heaven and earth, and the Lamb and his people will reign for ever and ever. Knowing the final outcome of redemptive history is intended to give God’s people great comfort in times of trial, as well as motivate us to take the gospel of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth. But we will only secure these blessings if we read this book in the right way and for the right reasons. We must keep Jesus Christ–not speculation about current events–as its central theme.
Revelation is a very practical book, intended to remind us that Jesus wins in the end.