Rev_1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
The book of Revelation begins with a promise – if you read this book, you will be blessed. Some shy away from the book of Revelation, because it can be difficult to understand, but it’s worth the effort. I want to encourage you to pick up your Bible and read the book of Revelation. When you think of Revelation, you may think of only Satan, plagues, the Antichrist and other such scary images. Really, this book is about Jesus. It is, after all, the Revelation of Jesus Christ. The word translated Revelation comes from a Greek word apokalupsis, where we get the word “apocalypse”. It mostly now associated with disaster and chaos, but the word simply means to lay bear, or to disclose a truth of something before unknown. This book is revealing something that was once hidden. Jesus Christ is telling us things that only God can know – things about the future. But this book does much more than tell us about future things. There is instruction for churches, warnings to sinners, and promises for God’s people. When the world is dark and bleak, when we find ourselves in the middle of trials and heartaches, it is good to go and remind ourselves of the inheritance we have waiting for us. To read of the beautiful New Jerusalem, where no evil doer will ever step foot, or to read of the pure river, clear as crystal, that flows from the throne of God. When so much heartache fills our minds and hearts, let us go and refresh ourselves by thinking of that blessed tree of life, that is for the healing of the nations and glory in the thought of the Earth, with “no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him” (Rev 22:3).
You should read the book because it is about Jesus Christ. In this book alone, Christ is revealed to be the redeemer, a righteous judge and the royal Bridegroom. He is shown to be the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords. Christ is described as the Lamb of God, the Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Warrior on His white horse. Jesus is proclaimed to be the Truth, the Amen of God, the head of the Church, and the worthy One. He is worshiped by angels, adored by saints, and feared by His enemies. He is the glorious King of the millennial kingdom, the Alpha and Omega, and the bright and morning star. Though Revelation does disclose to us much about judgment, Satan, and evil, it does so to show how God brings judgment to sin and will ultimately set all things right and restore what sin has destroyed. Even so, come Lord Jesus.
