The book of Revelation begins with a blessing, a greeting, and a vision in the first chapter. Do not be fooled by the ways some have presented this book. Revelation is meant to encourage you, not scare you. The purpose of Revelation is to answer a critical question. How is God going to make everything right? On Sunday, we begin our long journey through Revelation. Over the next several months, we will go verse-by-verse through this famous letter that ends the Bible.
The book is not a riddle to be solved. It’s an unveiling of God’s work. Revelation is just as much masterpiece as it is mystery. Perhaps you know the famous statement from Winston Churchill.
“… a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.”
Churchill made this statement in 1939 about the Soviet Union. Why would the Soviets sign a “no military action” pact for ten years with Germany? They were bitter enemies!
What was the motive for the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact? The Germans wanted to invade Poland unopposed. The Soviets wanted to build their military without threat. The Nazis, however, did not live up to any of their agreements. Hitler invaded the Soviet Union two years later.
Churchill would become Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in 1940 as the world descended further into war. Churchill’s statement could easily be made about the book of Revelation.
What’s the connection between World War 2 and Revelation? The study of the end times would become increasingly popular following the war and through the 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s. Revelation would become a “key” to understanding how the world would end.
At the turn of the Millennium, however, the study of Revelation would fall out of favor. There were events like 9/11 that kept people on edge, but we don’t study this book like we once did. We will cut against these trends and take a deep dive into the book. Why? One verse, in particular, stands out.
Then he instructed me, “Do not seal up the prophetic words in this book, for the time is near.” Revelation 22:10 (NLT)
We are commanded by God to explore this book, to attempt to understand the meaning of these texts, and to teach the content of this last book of the Bible. Do not seal it up! We are going to open it up. Get pumped. Revelation is all about God revealing something previously hidden.
Perhaps you will discover something incredible as we journey through the book.
Onward!