How should we read the book of Revelation?
The message in the book of Revelation is clear. The entire book presents Jesus as the key figure. The book of Revelation aims not to present an influential individual, not the Antichrist, the Satan. The only hero in the Book of Revelation is Jesus Christ. It is the message from Jesus about himself sent to all believers. However, a sincere reader of Revelation must avoid the temptation to concentrate on the nature and possible meaning of the symbols and images. The book of Revelation presents Jesus relative to the conflict between good and evil. Accordingly, symbols and imagery used, with associated metaphors, contrast what God is doing for humankind and what Satan is doing to disrupt God’s plans for the helpless and sinful humanity. The book of Revelation’s metaphor contrasts good and evil in a more vivid, stunning, and noticeable way. Therefore, concentration on the various symbols and images to decipher their meaning distracts the reader from the main subject, Jesus Christ.
Understanding who Jesus is and why he is Christ was becoming lost in the first century of the Christian era. Therefore, Jesus reinstates the picture of him throughout the conflict between good and evil. Thus, the readers of the book of Revelation should consider: One, John did not write the book in historical chronological order. Two, he did not write it in the sequence in which the vision appeared. The Revelation from Jesus about himself appeared to John in a single day and as a mural-like picture. John concentrated on what attracted his attention the most. He wanted to know where Jesus was and what he was doing. Accordingly, he concentrated on the parts of the vision that presented Jesus in the center.
John received the entire Revelation on the day he was in the spirit but wrote it down sometimes after he observed it. He may have written it after his release from the Patmos. The key focus of the vision is to present Jesus and Satan as the only participants engaged in the conflict. In support, the book depicts human agencies that have and are assisting Satan in his effort to frustrate God’s plan for humankind. To this end, the book of Revelation shows clearly, in a comprehensive presentation, the true nature of the Messiah and why he had to come.
Letters to the churches; read the next blog.
