January 22, 2021 (Saturday)
The Apostle John was exiled to the island of Patmos. Toward the close of the first century, he had an astounding vision. John was, of course, a praying man and he describes himself as being “in the Spirit” when the vision came. I take that to mean that he was experiencing the presence of the Lord, which always happens when we pray. So I believe that, whatever else happened, the experience included prayer.
The vision turned out to be the Book of Revelation that became the final book of our Bible. The Book of Revelation begins with this statement: “The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.”
The book is a type of literature known as Apocalyptic, which has a definite message, but it is cloaked in symbols of many kinds, as well as some symbolic numbers. One should read it through from beginning to end to begin understanding the message. You might say that it is a description of a pageant that depicts events about to happen.
It was the Lord’s Day, and John was feeling very close to God when he heard a voice like none he had ever heard, and turned to see Jesus, but He did not look like the Jesus who had shared meals with him; he looked more like the Jesus that he, Peter and James saw on the mount of transfiguration, when Jesus became so bright in appearance that they could not look upon Him.
The first part of the vision was a message to each of seven churches in Asia Minor. For the most part those messages are not difficult to understand. Jesus speaks plainly to them as representative of all churches, past, present and future.
Then the pageant begins, and John watches intently as it plays out before him, as if he were sitting on the front row of a huge theater. He was to see portrayals of events that were unlike anything he had ever seen before. I studied the book of Revelation in college and I took a course in the seminary on the book of Revelation. I recall drawing crude images of the scenes on notebook paper which I tacked to the walls of my room. At the end I was surrounded by pictures of the scenes in the vision. Even then, I did not completely understand what God was telling us in the vision.
People do not agree on what the Book of Revelation means. They are divided into camps of interpretation and most people are sure their view is the correct one.
Some people think it is all about the future, portraying events that have not happened yet, even in 2021. Others see it as something about to happen in the Middle Ages when the church spreads out across the known world and church and state are one. Others see lessons taught that have more to do with John’s immediate future than with ours. Many believe the events have already happened while others are sure they are things yet to be. I believe most people understood the meaning of John’s vision when it was first made known to the churches, but in the 2000 years since, we humans have muddied the water with our many theories about it until today we have the separate groups with their own interpretations.
I do not expect those in the separate camps of interpretation to agree with each other. In the meantime there are lessons we can learn from Revelation that stir us to action and other lessons that bring great comfort to our hearts.
Toward the end of book Jesus speaks plainly to John: “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.”
There is such divergence of opinions on what the book really means that I have chosen to emphasize in my sermons that Jesus ascended to Heaven where He intercedes for His own children, and is coming again at a time that no one knows, not even Jesus. Only the Father knows when the end will come. Jesus taught plainly that He will return, the dead shall be raised and judgment will take place, and everyone will spend eternity in Heaven or Hell. That’s what I preached for all my ministry. Some day it will all be plain to us, but I seriously doubt that anyone will be anxious to know more, as history will play out the way God has planned and we will see it for ourselves.
John called himself “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” Jesus loved him and gave him this vision. John was the kind of man Jesus confided in and trusted. John prayed.