“The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place.”
Revelation 1:1
What is the book of Revelation for?
“The purpose of apocalyptic literature is to give us a heavenly perspective on our earthly circumstances so that every generation of God’s people can be challenged, comforted and given hope for the future.” The Bible Project
Apocalypse (the Greek word for “revelation”) does not mean “the end of the world.” Rather, it means unveiling or uncovering.
“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation [APOCALYPSE] in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.”
Ephesians 1:17-18
The book of Revelation is the unveiling of the full glory of Jesus and of God’s plan for the world and for history. Michael Gorman wrote a helpful book called Reading Revelation Responsibly that includes this insightful grid.
This episode of the Bible Project Podcast discusses Gorman’s framework. You can see there are three basic approaches to Revelation: a focus on the future, the past or the present. Most of us are familiar with the futurist approach. Some are aware of the preterist (past) interpretation that the judgments and conflict and even the “thousand year reign of Christ” are symbolic of the first century, Rome and the early church. Mackie and Collins of the Bible Project argue for the PRESENT view, that Revelation (like the whole Bible) is for every generation to face our current reality with faith, hope and love.
A key distinction is whether you view Revelation as a CODE through which to interpret current or future events as opposed to a LENS through which to understand God, ourselves and the world. For example, are we looking for a direct correspondence between something like the seven horns of the dragon in Revelation 12? Should we be watching for seven kings or nations the devil will use in some great global alliance? Or the trumpet judgments: should we be waiting for specific natural disasters as judgments from God on the water and the land?
The alternative to this “direct correspondence” approach is to recognize what the symbols and visions are doing. First, and most obviously for those who know their Bibles, a symbol like the dragon is pointing back to snakes and dragons in Scripture to find meaning there. Second, as we understand the chaos monster theme in Scripture we begin to see his ugly head in the people and authority systems around us and in ourselves. Just as we can become agents of Bablyon, the city of man, so we can become unwitting servants of the chaos dragon.
So as we turn the page from the seven letters into the rest of the book, let’s use this book of REVELATION to ask God to give us “the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.” Rather than trying to “crack the code” and nail down “signs of the times,” let’s put on the glasses God has provided for us so we can more clearly see JESUS in all of His glory and the world in all of its evil and ourselves as so often torn between the two.
The next two Sundays (March 16 and 23, 2025) the heavens themselves are opened and we are able to see the worship taking place there, inviting us to join in the song.
“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”
Revelation 4:11
Notice how the song of praise expands from the four creatures by the throne to 24 elders, to angels and saints and ultimately to all of creation! Also notice how the worship given to God on His throne in chapter four is then directed equally to the Lamb in chapter five.
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”
Revelation 5:12
Now, for the real prize. To better understand Revelation 4, the hyperlink is to Ezekiel 1. Read that chapter for the ancient prophet’s vision of God on His mobile chariot throne in the skies. Then turn the page to Ezekiel 2.
And he said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak with you.” And as he spoke to me, the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. And he said to me, “Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day.
Ezekiel 2:1-3
In the same way that Isaiah’s throne room vision (Isaiah 6) becomes a commissioning, so Ezekiel’s vision turns into him being sent on a mission.
What do you think that means for us as we are invited into God’s throne room for a revelation of His glory? Are we to keep this vision to ourselves? Or is God calling us closer to Himself in order to send us out with some new glasses for the people around us?