Expository - The Revelation

The Revelation - an Introduction

The Author

The book is "The Revelation of Jesus Christ"; that is the true title, which is clearly set out in the very first verse. The human author is, I believe, John the apostle. Scholars might want to challenge that because they have analysed the style of the Greek and, having compared it with John's Gospel, have found it to be significantly different. However, that makes no difference. My style of writing now is not the same as it was thirty years ago. Further, I believe that the Holy Spirit, who has fully inspired this Scripture, has a purpose in this different style, even in what are taken to be serious grammatical errors. It might be the only way to express what might seem to be inexpressible Divine truth. This is the Revelation, which God gave to Jesus Christ, which He sent by His angel to John.

According to tradition, John was in exile on the Greek island of Patmos during the reign of the Roman Emperor Domitian at some time during the 90s AD. Domitian had claimed for himself such honour as the 'Divine' emperor, assuming the title of 'Dominus et Deus' (Lord and God), that life for Christians had become very dangerous. If they refused to offer him worship, then they faced hard, slave labour or even death. John was on the isle of Patmos for the Word of God and for the testimony of Jesus. Because he refused to compromise, it is very likely that he was there, engaged upon hard labour.

It might seem difficult to understand why God should allow such a faithful brother to remain in such circumstances, but we have to grasp the truth of scripture that God has a purpose in all these things. The tremendous encouragement for us is that if John, in such adverse circumstances, could be in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, receive such mighty revelation and be so wonderfully blessed, we too can prosper and flourish no matter what situation we find ourselves in.

The Revelation focuses on the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. That fits in well with what Jesus said about John. There was an occasion, after the death and resurrection of Jesus when Peter was curious about John's future ministry. "What shall this man do?" he asked Jesus.The Lord's reply was significant. He said, "If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?" (John 21 v 22). Then the Gospel observes that because of this a rumour spread that John would not die. However, it is quick to point out that Jesus did not say that John would not die, only that he would remain until Jesus comes. John's tarrying till He comes is a reference not to the actual event of His coming, but to the experience of the revelation of His coming. This is definite confirmation that John the apostle was the human author of the book of Revelation. That revelation was then passed on to the church whose longing and eager expectation is the speedy return of Jesus, and whose cry is "Even so, Lord Jesus, come quickly!" We have, then, three apostles: Peter whose work was to be foundational in proclaiming the gospel at the beginning, from the Day of Pentecost onwards; Paul, whose mission, as apostle to the Gentiles, was to put the Gospel message on the global stage - 'into all the world'; and John who, as a type of the Church, is there, right at the end, to experience the Second Coming of the Lord and the judgment that follows.

The Structure of the Book

A key to understanding the structure of the book is found in v19 of chapter 1:

"Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter..."

1. In chapter 1 ¹¹ John is instructed to write what he has seen in a book. What he has seen is a vision of the Lord Jesus Christ, walking among the seven golden lampstands; it is the Lord, dwelling and walking in His church at that time when the witness of those churches was still strong.
2. Then in chapters 2 and 3 letters from the Lord, but written by John, are sent to the seven churches. The situations and prophecies relate not only to the churches in those seven places at that time, but, in a figure span the whole church age right up to the coming of the Lord. These are the things which are. They have, at any period in the church's life, current application.
3. Finally, there are the things which shall be hereafter - or, as it says in the Greek, meta tauta (after these things). The beginning of chapter 4 clarifies when this will be. Verse 1 declares, "After this..." but in Greek it is meta tauta (after these things). In other words, after the church age has reached its completion and conclusion (7 being the number of completion or perfection), the events portrayed in chapter 4 and onwards will take place. John saw a door opened in heaven and heard the invitation, "Come up hither and I will show you things which must be hereafter (after these things)." This seems to demonstrate in John what has happened to the church. Before the outpouring of judgment and that terrible time of tribulation, the church will be taken from the earth to meet her Lord in the air. It has been called the rapture or the 'snatching-away'. I Thessalonians 4 vv 13ff depicts quite clearly what will happen and John seems to be taken to view the rest of the Revelation from the place where the Church will be.

Why Read the Book?

It is important to realise that the book is called The Revelation, NOT Revelations. It is ONE unified revelation about ONE supreme Person.

1. It is The Revelation of Jesus Christ. He revealed it and it reveals Him. That is one reason above all others why every Christian should be hungry to feed on this part of Scripture. With Paul we cry out "...that I may know Him..." Philippians 3 v 10; here is His revelation!
2. Further, it is a revelation. The Greek word is "apocalupsis", which means 'an uncovering.' Through this book, God is revealing and explaining to us things we need to know. Yet people will insist on maintaining that it is confusing; that it is a mysterious book. Read it in faith, believing that God is going to speak to you.
3. Yes, God gave this revelation to Jesus to show to His bond slaves (servants) things which must shortly come to pass. If you are a true servant of the Lord, bound in service to Him, you will want to know. If you are, however, bound to worldly things, you will probably be indifferent.
4. Then, the message is certain. It is about things which MUST shortly come to pass. With that knowledge, we can watch and be prepared.
5. Finally, there is a promised blessing to those that read AND hear this prophecy. Remember that it is a principle in the Word of God that we must not be just hearers of the word; we must be doers also. The blessing is guaranteed for those who read and hear the words of this prophecy and keep what is written in it.