“And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”Revelation 22:7

Revelation 1:1–8 and 22:6–21 – The Book of Revelation: Worship. Obey. Endure.
Third Sunday of Easter  – May 1, 2022 (am)

What comes to mind when you think of Rev.? Some might say, more generally: I think of future events leading to the end of the world and the return of Christ. Others might say, quite specifically: I think of symbolic references to things we’re already seeing happen, so we know the end is near! Still others might say: I have no idea! When I think of Rev., my mind is blank! If you’re in this latter group, I hope you’re blessed by the thought that this morning we’re going to begin trying to put some content into our minds with regard to this final and easily most challenging book of the Bible. And, believe it or not, the book itself does a pretty good job of telling its readers how best to understand its message!

We’re doing an overview of the book today, but we’ll be giving our primary attention to the opening and closing passages, the first eight and the final sixteen verses. You may want to put a finger in both places to look back and forth. But mostly we’re just going to be picking up the hints, noticing the clues that help us know how to read it. Let’s point out seven such hints in the text.

Hint #1 The opening words give us the biggest help.

1 The revelation of Jesus Christ…. This word revelation is the Greek word apocalypse (ἀποκάλυψις). But where we think of the word apocalypse as referring to something chaotically and cosmically catastrophic, the word actually means to reveal—that’s where we get Revelation. It means to uncover, to take out of hiding (Louw & Nida). But apocalyptic is also a literary genre. It employs symbolism—vivid images, grotesque beasts, mysterious numbers—often in kaleidoscopic combination. It’s often melodramatic, black and white contrasts. Some say it gave opportunity for politically oriented statements to be made without risking charges of treason (Clements). We’ll talk more about this as we progress through the book.

Hint #2 The opening sentence tells us why it’s hard to understand.

1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. The things John received from Jesus were still future for him, so we don’t have other Scripture that helps us know for sure just what he means, what he’s pointing to, like we do with many of the OT writings that were also looking to the future.

Hint #3 The opening paragraph explains more of the complexity.

1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. So, this isn’t your typical process of inspiration where the Spirit of God works directly on the heart and mind of the author as he’s writing (cf. 2Pe.1:21). God gave this revelation to Jesus to show to his servants—so, He’s not enabling writing so much as He’s showing visual images which we’ll hear John struggling at times to express in words, even with the Spirit’s help. But even more, Jesus isn’t just showing these images directly to his servants, or even directly to his chosen writer! There’s yet another step in the process! He made it known to his servant John by sending an angel who bore witness to the word of God and [this] testimony of Jesus Christ (1). And then John bore witness to all he saw (2), once mistaking the angel for God! (22:8-9)

Apart from knowing that the Spirit of God is superintending this process, we’d receive the messages of this book with all the confidence we’d have in the outcome of a game of Tele-phone! But it isn’t good even to joke about that here because this is the Word of God, and this is how He purposed to show to his servants the things that must soon take place (1). And He did want his servant to know these things! In fact, he wanted them to be blessed by these things, not confused by them!

This brings us to the threshold of the next and most helpful window into this unique book that we’ll encounter today, the clear evidence that it intends for those who hear it to be blessed.

Hint #4 There are seven blessings in Revelation that begin here.

And this first one is a two-way-blessing! 1:3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. The idea seems to be that blessing comes both in reading this prophecy so that it can be heard, and then when it’s [obeyed] by those who hear it. And they’re blessed because the time is near! The things described herein will be happening soon!

This blessing is matched at the opening of the Conclusion. Jesus says: 22:7 … behold, I am coming soon, again the mention of nearness, then a promise of reward for [obedience]. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.

A few verses later, this general blessing gets more specific. 22:14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, a reference to enduring through trial (Beale & Campbell 518); their righteousness is proven by their cross-enabled [obedience] (cf. 7:14; 19:7-8), so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates—they receive an eternal reward, life in the city.

Between these brackets of repeated blessing at the opening and close of Rev., we hear four more. After telling us what happens if anyone worships the beast and its image (14:9-11), John reports what’s awaiting those who don’t. 14:13 … I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!” Rest!

Then John records the words of Jesus in 16:15 Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed! We don’t know when Jesus will return, so there’s promised blessing for those who are ready when He does, live ready!

Then there’s the familiar promise in 19:9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” This, again, is for those clothed in righteousness (19:7-8).

Finally, there is 20:6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years. The seven-fold blessing of Rev. accelerates as we move toward its ending. This is surely a central theme for the believer, and also for the book as a whole.

Hint #5 Revelation is prophecy, it’s not just apocalyptic.

1:3 Blessed is the one who reads… the words of this prophecy… (cf. 22:7). Prophecy and apocalyptic often go together, but not always. Some prophecy in Scripture is set in an apocalyptic style, especially prophecy about end-times judgment and blessing. We see it in Ezekiel, Daniel, Joel, and Zechariah, for instance, not just in Revelation. Jesus Himself used apocalyptic imagery in His teaching on the end times (Mat.24; Mar.13).

But prophecy doesn’t have to be apocalyptic. And not all of it is even here in Revelation. Cc.2-5, for instance, employ it very little. We read Jesus’ assessment of each of the seven churches (cc.2-3) and see prophetic promises regarding the outcomes of their sin or suffering or repentance entirely free of apocalyptic imagery. And the throne room of God in heaven (cc.4-5) is filled with glistening images that are both reflective and symbolic of glory and great power, but they’re not all apocalyptic in nature. In fact, John saw much the same things as Ezekiel (cc.1-3) and Isaiah (c.6) saw when each of them was granted a glimpse into the presence of God.

Prophecy reveals God’s purpose and plan in judgment and blessing. It’s a word from God that’s intended to comfort His people and strike fear in the hearts of His enemies, urging them toward repentance and faith. And clearly that’s the intent here, for the listeners to hear and [obey] (keep) (3; cf. 22:7, 9, 14, 17).

Hint #6 Revelation is a letter to seven first-century churches.

4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia…. This was meant for them! And it would’ve made sense to them (Ladd 24), in its entirety, all the way back in the first century! So, this isn’t just a book about the last seven years of world history, written to everyone in general but no one in particular! It’s a letter, a NT epistle, not at all unlike those from Paul and Peter and James. We cannot forget this point!

Hint #7 The Giver of this revelation is able to make it all happen.

We see here a portrait of our great and glorious God that’s intended to undergird the confidence of the seven churches, and indeed of all who hear the words of this prophecy, enabling us to believe that this God is able to accomplish all that we’ll read in the coming pages. And that is just what it does! 4 … Grace to you and peace, that’s what we hearers should receive from this book, from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, likely referring to a high order of angels, as we’ll see later, 5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, this word is martyr, and this is what it meant in the first century, witness (Carson 1995); even so, for Jesus His witness surely involved His death, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. He has done the impossible! 7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, a theme that is repeated and repeated again in the closing paragraph (22:7, 12, 20), and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him; no part of His return will be hidden. Even so. Amen. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, again, repeated in the Conclusion (22:6, 13), “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

This God can do whatever He pleases, whatever He plans! And He will! We can trust Him! And He is worthy of our worship, just as John was commanded to do by the angel! (22:9)

Conclusion

If He’s trustworthy and able to bring about His good purpose and plan on a universal scale, from the beginning of history to the end, surely He is also trustworthy in our lives! We’ll see that again and again in this study. And there will be sizeable challenges mounted against Him! But in the end, those who wash their robes, that image of cleansing through the blood of [Jesus] (7:14), so that they might have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates, they will be blessed (22:14), and everyone who loves and practices falsehood will find themselves outside this city, isolated from the tree of life (22:15). This book, this apocalyptic prophecy, this letter to the church of the Lord Jesus Christ, calls us incessantly to endure in the worship and [obedience] due Him. Are you hearing and responding to that call? There couldn’t be more at stake!

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Resources

Beale, G. K., and D. A. Carson, eds. 2007. Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament. Revelation, by G. K. Beale and Sean M. McDonough, 1081-1161. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic.

Beale, G. K., with David H. Campbell. 2015. Revelation: A Shorter Commentary. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.

Black, Matthew, NT ed. 1974. The New Century Bible Commentary. Revelation, by G. R. Beasley-Murray. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.

Bruce, F. F., ed. 1977. The New International Commentary on the New Testament. The book of Revelation, by Robert H. Mounce. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.

Carson, D. A. 1995. Personal Notes from 20-Part Lecture Series on Revelation. Waukesha, WI: Elmbrook Church.

         , R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, and G. J. Wenham, eds. 1994. New Bible Commentary 21st Century Edition. Revelation, by George R. Beasley-Murray, 1421-1455. Leicester, Eng.: InterVarsity.

Clements, Roy. 1981. Personal Notes from Introductory Sermon in a Series on Revelation. Cambridge: Eden Baptist Church.

Dockery, David S, ed. 2012. New American Commentary. Vol. 39, Revelation, by Paige Patterson. Nashville: Broadman & Holman.

Grudem, Wayne, ed. 2008. ESV Study Bible. Study notes on Revelation, 2463-2497, by Dennis E. Johnson. Wheaton: Crossway.

Ladd, George Eldon. 1972. A Commentary on the Revelation of John. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.

Longman III, Tremper, and David E. Garland, eds. 1981. Expositor’s Bible Commentary, vol. 13, Hebrews-Revelation. Revelation, by Alan F. Johnson, 571-789. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene A. Nida. 1989. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament Based on Semantic Domains, Second Edition. New York: United Bible Societies.

MacArthur, John. 1999. The MacArthur New Testament Commentary. Revelation, 2 vols. Chicago: Moody.

Marshall, I. Howard, and Donald A. Hagner, eds. 1999. The New International Greek Testament Commentary. The Book of Revelation, by G. K. Beale. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.

Morris, Leon, ed. 1987. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries. Vol. 20, Revelation, by Leon Morris. Downers Grove: InterVarsity.

Walvoord, John F. 1966. The Revelation of Jesus Christ. Chicago: Moody.

         , and Roy B. Zuck, eds. 1983. The Bible Knowledge Commentary. Revelation, by John F. Walvoord, 925-991. Wheaton: Victor.

NEXT WEEK: The Revelation of Jesus Christ, Revelation 1:1–20