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This morning,
my daily, chronological reading finished the book of Revelation once again.
After reading through this book dozens of times, I am still struck by two main
thoughts that stand out even when the reading is completed. The first thought
will not lend itself to much space on the page, but the second thought could
have volumes devoted to it, from which we will attempt to pen a few lines this
morning. The first standout thought that I again have reading this book is that
I understand very little about it. While we many times glean things from
repeated reading of the Bible, I still find my knowledge base of this book very
lacking. The second standout thought while traversing this book again is that it
proudly, boldly, and unequivocally gives the overall sense, "HE WON!" No
sane-thinking individual could read the book of Revelation and come to any other
conclusion, as each of the pages show vividly that Christ Jesus triumphed with a
victory so great and matchless that endless ages of eternity will roll to that
one unabated praise and glory.
When talking with people in the community, at work, and in other secular venues,
it is becoming increasingly troubling to see the utter lack of Biblical
knowledge that people possess. As we have mentioned many times, I can recall as
a young boy witnessing good, in-depth Biblical conversations by men in the
community from all different walks of life who were members of various
denominational bodies. Even though my theology differed with a good many of
them, they were well-versed in what the Bible said, even if I disagreed with
them about what it meant. Sadly, today we are seeing a rash of people that do
not even know what it says, but unfortunately, seem to think they have a good
handle on what it means. One of my recent conversations with a man at work
yielded this observation from his mouth. He freely confessed having never read
the book(s): I or II Corinthians, Ephesians, Colossians, or many other of the
Pauline epistles. He also freely admitted little to no knowledge or reading
experience in the Old Testament. What he did admit to having read were the four
gospel accounts, Romans, and Revelation.
After making all of these admissions, he announced proudly that Revelation was
his favorite book of all. My simple and understated reply was, "Why is it your
favorite, considering you have admitted no reading of many of the other books?"
His response was rather enlightening about a mindset that many today espouse,
"Well, it is my favorite as it is one of the really relevant books for today. It
tells us what to look for and how to get ready for the end." A little more
gentle prodding showed him to believe in all of the rapture, tribulation,
literal 1,000 year reign on the earth, and other pegs in the pre-millennial
board. Rather than trying to show him the error of this way of thinking, I
rather encouraged him to read all the portions of Scripture that he had not yet
perused and see what the Lord might show him through the other epistles that I
assured him were very relevant today.
Having said all of that, that story serves one purpose in this writing. That
story shows that some will read this book and see the vivid imagery, awful
creatures, and detailed stories and reach a conclusion that something is not
won. However, let us briefly peruse the pages of Revelation and see what can be
found on this subject. Starting in chapter one, we find who this book is about:
Jesus Christ. (Revelation 1:1) For the remainder of the first chapter, we see an
overview of this Great One who washed us from our sins in His own blood, is one
day coming with clouds and great glory, all of His enemies will wail on account
of Him, He was dead, now is alive, and that forevermore. Surely, this sounds
like a victorious One that is being revealed in these pages as the Captain of
Salvation for His people.
The second and third chapters give His words to the seven churches of Asia.
These are not words from One that is looking to get the job done, but the words
command authority from One that did get the job done. The fourth chapter opens
with John getting a glimpse into the heavenly portal that shows great and
marvelous things. However, this vision of beasts, elders, and other beings does
not prepare John for what he sees later. As the fifth chapter opens, John is
still looking at this heavenly portal, but he sees a book bound with seven seals
that he says no man in heaven, earth, or under the earth can open. As a result
of this, John weeps at the sight. Consider seeing into the realms of heavenly
beauty and then having cause to weep! This should be a striking contrast, for
what John - on the earth - fails to see is One that prevailed in a place that he
had not considered. John considered three places: heaven, earth, under the
earth. Yet, the angel tells him not to weep as the Lion of the tribe of Judah
has prevailed to open the book and loose the seals thereof.
This Lion that the angel describes will later be sung to in a new song as a Lamb
that was slain to redeem us unto God. This Lion/Lamb that prevailed was in a
place distinctly different from where John looked. While John looked in heaven,
earth, and under the earth, this Lion/Lamb was suspended between heaven and
earth to prevail to do this mighty deed. Notice the language. He has prevailed,
He has triumphed, He has redeemed us unto God, and so on. This is not something
that is waiting yet in the future for some epic battle for Him to settle the
account ledger. No dear friends, this is past tense and completed. Again, He
won, He won, He won! The end result of this great work and effort is that
countless thousands that John could not number sing unto Him alone as worthy of
praise for this wonderful work of grace.
Moving through the sixth to the eighteenth chapters, we see almost a revolving
door of images, scenes, and events. While not claiming to have a handle on what
all of this is talking about, a simple observation is that some of the events
are heinous and wicked while others are majestic in showing the glory of God. As
He unleashes vials of wrath while trumpets are blowing, we see things happening
to His enemies that brings about their eventual destruction. While they do all
that they can to overturn His purposes and pleasure - with the devil himself
trying to accuse the brethren in chapter 12 - all of their attempts are defeated
and thrown down by the King. Chapter 19 shows in beautiful, albeit figurative
language the glory of the King that has triumphed in battle. His majesty and
aura are on full display as there are things that only He knows (such as the
name written), while other things are revealed to us by Him (such as Him being
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS).
Chapter 20 shows His power and authority to command people to an eternal and
miserable end in the lake of fire and second death. Regardless of what one may
surmise about the opening of Revelation 20, the end is pretty plain in that all
the wicked dead (small and great) will stand before Him to be judged out of the
books according to their works. Those written in the Lamb's book of life will
not have to face this awesome and fearful sight, for our works have been blotted
out by His blood as the book of Revelation so wonderfully opens. So, if His
authority and power extend into the ultimate destruction of His enemies, what
reason is there to live in morbid dread of all that occurs before this time? If
we are secure in His hand as He has so beautifully described in chapter 5, what
reason do we have to walk on eggshells about "end time events?"
Chapters 21-22 give a beautiful description of the place of righteousness.
Brethren, to be quite honest, this language is often debated as either the
church or heaven. What language that some attribute to heaven in the account
seems very much like heaven (no crying, no tears, no death, drinking of the
river of life freely, etc.), while the language that some attribute in the
account to the church seems very much like the church (city having twelve
foundations which are the apostles of the Lamb - compare with Ephesians 2:20).
An expression for these two chapters that I have become comfortable with is that
it is an overall description of the place where righteousness dwells.
Righteousness dwells in the church as the Lord comes down and visits with us
here. As a bride adorned for her husband, we come together with the express
purpose of worshipping Him and adoring Him in our efforts. Righteousness
certainly dwells in heaven where all is peace and love with the expression of
joy and satisfaction redounding world without end in the glorious presence of
our Captain and Redeemer.
Therefore, however one may view the verbiage in the latter chapters or even in
the middle chapters, the message of this book is unequivocally clear. Dear
friends, He won, He won, and He won alone! Knowing this, what have we to fear?
Should I contemplate notions that this book spoke of things like a secret
rapture, seven year tribulation, or whatever, that would only serve to blind me
and impede the glorious thought that we are His, He rules and reigns, and one
day we shall end up in that glorious place where He is. Knowing such to be the
case, our course should be inescapably clear. Praise Him, praise Him, praise Him
alone! The King is coming! He is coming not to finish but to manifest
completion. He has finished, He has completed, He has redeemed, and He is
coming. Our fervent desire should be not to get bogged down in the daily ditches
of life. Neither should we wonder with anxiousness about what is coming (whether
we draw our conclusions from the book of Revelation or any other book). Rather,
we should look at this book like the rest as a stamp of victory marked all
across its pages by the Victor Himself! Therefore, couple that fervent desire
with the earnest prayer, "Even so come, Lord Jesus!"
In Hope,
Bro Philip
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