Revelation Revealed: A Study on the Book of Revelation


Revelation Revealed: A Study on the Book of Revelation


I have penned down a short summary of the book of Revelation based on my study of the book. Since many people have difficulty understanding the book of Revelation because of the several visions, which may be difficult to understand, I thought this would be an appropriate post for those who are try8ing to understand the book. 

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1. INTRODUCTION:

As we read the book of revelation, we should understand that John is writing these visions that he saw as a symbolic representation of many things:
  1. The things that had already happened.
  2. The things that were happening at the time he wrote the letter.
  3. The things that are happening at present in our time
  4. The things that will continue to happen until Christ returns
  5. The things that are yet to happen.
More importantly, the book is not to be taken as a sequential order of events based on the chapter order. The order of chapters is not meant to say that things will happen in that order. Additionally, some of the vision has nothing to do with the sequence of events at all, rather they depict the overall truth about God, salvation plan through the sacrificial lamb, God's judgment, and God's sovereignty now and in the future.

2. REVELATION OF TRUTHS (THE SEVEN SEALS):

For example, the seven seals do not represent the sequence of events that will happen in that order.
  1. Frist Seal - Reveals the truth about the many battles of the world due to greed.
  2. Second Seal - Reveals the truth about the inability of world-peace through human efforts
  3. Third Seal - Reveals the truth about the unstable and unfair economy of the world.
  4. Fourth Seal - Reveals the truth about famines and plagues and deceases of this fallen world.
  5. Fifth Seal - Reveals the truth about the people who will die for Christ as martyrs.
  6. Sixth Seal - Reveals the truth about the destruction of the people who are not sealed by The Holy Spirit and the eternal protection of those who are sealed by The Holy Spirit.
  7. Seventh Seal - Reveals the truth about the final events of destruction and judgment of God that are yet to happen. These final events are revealed through the seven Trumpets blown by the seven angels.  

3. OVERVIEW OF CHAPTERS 1-7 (GENERAL REVELATION):

If we can understand the truths of the seven seals, we will be able to understand the first 11 chapters of the book of Revelation.
I) Chapter 1 - Greetings & purpose of the letter.
II) Chapter 2 &3 - Exhortation to the then seven churches John was writing the letter to.
III) Chapter 4 & 5 - Glory of God the Father, God the Son (the Lamb) & God the Holy Spirit and the glory of Heaven revealed.
IV) Chapter 6 & 7 - General revelation of the truth about the world, God's plan of salvation, and God's judgment through the seven seals.


4. OVERVIEW OF CHAPTERS 8-11 (GLORIOUS PROPHESY):

I) Chapter 8, 9, 10, & 11 - The final sequence of events that will happen before the return of Christ (which are yet to happen) according to God's mysterious plan as revealed through the seven Trumpets. These are the terrors and tribulations that are yet to happen right at the climax of the end of the age. However, there is hope for the elect just as Jesus said, “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened." (Mat 24:22). The first six trumpets are signs for us to know that Jesus is at the door. “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door." (Mat 24: 32) "When the seventh angel blows his trumpet, God’s mysterious plan will be fulfilled. It will happen just as he announced it to his servants the prophets." (Rev 10:7) God announced to Zacharias, Jeremiah, Daniel, Joel of the second coming of Christ, and then the establishment of His kingdom.


5. OVERVIEW OF CHAPTERS 12 & 13 (GRAND RECALL):

I) Chapters 12 & 13 - Now in Chapters 12 and 13, God reveals to John the rebellion of Satan from the beginning till Christ's return in a glance. It is a quick recap of God's plan of choosing Israel as a nation to give salvation to the world through Christ and how Satan, the dragon has been against that since the beginning of time until the return of Christ the King at the sound of the last trumpet. The woman is the people of Israel and The child born is Jesus Christ. Satan tried his best to prevent God's plan of salvation even to the extent of trying to kill Jesus at birth and the cross, but he was defeated just like how God promised to Eve, "And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.” (Genesis 3:15). The defeated-Satan joins forces with the powers of the world (the beast from the sea and the beast from the land) by standing as a mediator at the shores and persecuting Church and the followers of Christ. The recipients of John's letter would have easily recognized that the number 666 represents the worldly power that persecuted the church in those days, namely the Roman emperor Nero and any similar empires that arise in the future to persecute and rebel against the Church.

This is God's reminder to John and us that from the beginning it is Satan (The Dragon) that is in rebellion against God and His salvation plan. So chapters 12 and 13 do not talk about things that are yet to happen, but they are a recap of all the past events that led to this final moment, the end, the last trumpet event, the return of the King, the gathering of the Saints on earth, and the final wrath of God poured on earth through the seven bowls. This is final wrath is the final harvest of God.


6. OVERVIEW OF CHAPTERS 14 -18 (GLORIOUS PROPHESY CONTD..):

I) Chapter 14 - Now from Chapter 14, it is the continuation of the sequence of events that follows after the seventh trumpet. Christ has returned and saints have been gathered with Him. The count of 1,44,000 represents the completion of the gathering of God's saints. The number is not literal but in Hebrew text, these numbers represent a multitude that marks the completion of the count of God's people.

II) Chapter 14, 15, 16, 17, & 18 - These chapters are the events that will follow right after the return of Christ and these are God's judgment on Babylon, which represents the rebellious unrepentant world. And it finally ends with the destruction of the people of the world. This is predestinated to happen before Christ establishes His kingdom on this earth. This event was revealed to Daniel through King Nebuchadnezzar's dream, in which a Rock hits to destroy the statue at the feet and then fill the earth.


7. OVERVIEW OF CHAPTERS 19-21 (GRANDEUR OF GOD's KINGDOM):

I) Chapter 19 - Victory of Christ is declared and celebrated.
II) Chapter 20 - The thousand-year rule begins on earth under Christ The King. This is a perfect rule in a perfect world by the Perfect King. We will experience the fullness of happiness, joy, and peace on earth with Christ and enjoy His kingship. We will now know what it is to live on earth without sin and be fulfilled. Finally, the judgment day comes and we who are living on earth under Christ's kingdom will Judge the sinners who rejected Christ and Satan to hell.
III) Chapter 21 - The old earth is removed. A New Heaven and New Earth arrive in which we will be with Christ for eternity.


8. CONCLUSION:

We can understand the book of revelation if we understand what the author intended to convey to his audience at a crucial time in church history when Christians were persecuted by the worldly powers. If we read the book through the eyes of the audience at that time, we will find it easy to comprehend the revelation revealed. I already can't wait to see the return of the King and experience all of these. We will be there with our King for eternity. Looking forward to taking the task our King appoints under His decree in the new kingdom. Oh! what a pleasure and privilege it will be!

Amen! Hallelujah!!

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With love and prayers
Bro. Anand

🙏🙏🙏
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