Scripture Reading: Revelation 1:1-8
This marvelous book, with which the New Testament (and the Bible) ends, is what its name implies. It is the revealing, uncovering, displaying of the person of Jesus Christ, in all His glory. Though some of the details in Revelation, presented in the form of symbolism, are not always well-defined, the overall message of the book is clear. This book is the prophecy of the end of human history. The end of the age culminates with the second coming of Christ, the final judgment of all things, and the eternal state of all creation.
John wrote this book "to the seven churches that are in Asia" (1:4). The number 'seven', occurring over 50 times in Revelation, seems to represent fullness or completeness, and so these seven churches are representative of the universal church of Christ in all ages.
The first chapter of Revelation contains an extended, glorious description of Christ. It is so rich and comprehensive, John Walvoord wrote, "If no more had been written than that contained in this introductory portion of chapter 1, it would have constituted a tremendous restatement of the person and work of Christ such as found in no comparable section of Scripture" (Walvoord, The Revelation of Jesus Christ, 40).
The book displays the ultimate and final victory of God over Satan … and righteousness over evil … and heaven over hell. To know that human history is moving according to an inexorable divine plan keeps us from deadening pessimism and works in our souls a calm and hope in the face of every earthly turmoil and heartache.
