We’re doing a verse by verse of Revelations in our Sunday School classes at church. All the children are also studying this in their classes (except the youth for some reason, I think I’ll have to find out why not because I would love for them to be on the same page as the rest of us but they are talking the Sermon on the Mount so that’s good too). We’re in the sweeping overview stage right now, and so we’re not in real depth yet.
Despite the depth, it’s not your usual yada yada yada study of Revelations. Typically, in my past, we would study this in small groups or have a quick sermon or set of sermons for a few weeks. There was always a timeline, there was always discussion about the future. There were even scary movies at camp. Anyone out there subjected to those B (or C or even F) movies about the end of the world where they were cutting off people’s heads? I recall a guy with dark hair and eyes was the main character, and as a little kid this whole thing scared me. Kids were talking about end times and saying there were micro chips in Proctor and Gamble products.
With my experiences with Revelations in the past, I have avoided the book. I did read it several times on my own as a teen/young adult, but then rarely go back to it anymore. I thought it best for me to focus on things I could grasp better. I heard Hank Henergraff’s more recent comments on the book, and am not sure I agree with the bits I’ve heard from him. Is it that he believes it has ALL happened already? Not sure, but I know he’s marketed a fictional book about it.
Our assistant pastor was different in his initial presentation of Revelation. Nothing was sensationalized, there’s not an ad outside the front of the church for the series. There was really not much announcement the study was coming. It’s just a study like any other study, and it’s being treated as such. We’re in the first part of the book, so I am not sure but do doubt the charts will be coming.
The best thing I’ve heard the pastor say, and he says he’s going to remind us over and over again, is the answer to the question, “what is being revealed in Revelations?” Hmmmm. How to answer this one? He made it very clear that to find that answer you have to READ it. Open your bible, read the first words. You’ll find, as I did, the book’s main purpose not the future revealed, not the scary judgement revealed, and not the end times revealed. It is the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Yet again, Christians (or so called Christians) and especially the secular world misses the point. The point is to reveal the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. It shows His magesty, His dominion, His sacrifice, His love, His judgement, His glory. He is worthy. He alone is worthy. It’s not an oracle for us to see the future, it reveals His plans as the ruler of the universe, but it’s not about the plans. It’s about HIM. The pastor did such a good job explaining this, it’s shocking to me how I’ve missed the obvious all along. How many people have died early deaths because they read too much into that book? So many cults twist it to place their leaders into it. So many people search the newspapers for proof they are living in some special time and that the anti-Christ is coming. Books are sold, and men propped up. Who is the book supposed to glorify and prop? The Lamb that was slain, that’s who!
I am looking forward to getting into this book and not missing the obvious any more.
I am a C...I am a CH...I am a CHRISTIAN 
Revelation Chapter 1
1The revelation of 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, 2 who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
You might want to re-read the introduction to Revelation before you conclude that it is not meant to reveal the future. It was written to show His servants what must soon take place. Also that we might take to heart what is written. Hmmm, I think that means that if Christ is coming soon that we should be reading this book in Faith believing that Revelation has important words for us if we are that generation. I don’t claim to understand Revelation, but I know when the time is right, God will open the minds of those who are diligently reading His Word and grant them understanding.
Also notice that it was a revelation from the Father to Jesus Christ to show His bondservants. Not the revealing of who Christ is, though this will happen when every knee will bow before the Name of Jesus Christ.
The revelation OF JESUS CHRIST says it all really. I’m not saying the future of the church is not in this book, but the main purpose is for the glory of Christ.
It’s the plans of God for what He already owns…the world. But this is all to give God the glory, to reveal the Son.
Now, again, remember I said, “main purpose.” I believe people get so focused on the prophesy (or truth telling) and they don’t think about the glory of Christ which is the point.
If a person has not recognized the glory of God that has been revealed in the person and work of Christ, then he does not even belong to Christ. This book is written for those who believe, the bondservants, not for those who do not believe. So yes everything that was, is and will be is for the glory of God, but this book is written for our instruction, those who would live in a very unique time in the history of the world.