REVELATION 1:1-3. Introduction


Many current events are making many believe that we are living in the end times. We hear of wars, rumors of wars, earthquakes, famish, economic crisis, violence, cold hearts, and persecution of believers. These are the signs that Jesus said to watch before His coming (Matthew 24). As never before, everything is aligning to Biblical prophecy.

In the Bible, there are more than a hundred chapters that make a reference to the end times. Out of all the books in the Bible, Revelation is the one that provides the most information about what will come to pass during these times. That is why it is important to study this book now.

This book is a prophetic revelation of the end of the era—not the “end of the world”, for the Earth will continue to exist, however, it will be restored. The Lord will come to reign for one thousand years, and then all will be restored.

Many avoid studying Revelation because it may seem scary, but the purpose of this book is the complete opposite. The main objective is to inform us of what will happen so that we may have hope and be prepared. The idea is to help God’s people understand what will come to pass so we can come out of it victorious (Rom. 8:18-25).

The book of Revelation is not the “story of the antichrist and the beast”, it is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, and the hope we have in Him. This is how this book begins:
(Rev. 1:1a) The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place.

The word “revelation” is translated from the Greek “apokalupsis”, which means: an unveiling, uncovering, revealing. Just like the first verse states, the purpose of this book is to reveal to the servants of God the things that must soon take place.

The word “soon” in Greek is “Takos”, which means: in a short period of time, quickly. When the things that are written here begin to occur, they will take place in a quick way.

At the end of Revelation, it says again:
(Rev. 22:6) And he said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place”.

It seems we are on the eleventh hour, therefore, we need to be prepared and ready because everything will happen fast. And when these things start happening, there will be no time to get ready.


THE AUTHOR
The first verse also tells us who the author of this book was: the apostle John. He was commissioned to write the revelation of the end times as a testimony and for the benefit of all believers.
(Rev. 1:1b-2) He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.

Historically, we know that John was in exile in the island of Patmos when he received this vision and wrote it down.
(Rev. 1:9) I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

John understood what would come to pass in the end times because he lived similar things during his time…tribulation, persecution, but also the perseverance and the glory that comes from living out the Kingdom of God here on Earth. The word “perseverance” (in Greek: Hupomone) means: steadfastness, constancy, endurance. It is the kind of patience that turns tribulation into victory.

THE BLESSING OF REVELATION
Far from scaring us, the next verse encourages us to read and hear the words of this book:
(Rev. 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.

There is a blessing for those who “read, hear and keep” the words of this prophecy. The word “reads” is translated from the Greek: Anaginosko, which also means: to acknowledge or to know again. The word “hear” comes from the Greek: Akouo, which also means: to attend to or to understand. It is not just about having intellectual understanding of the prophecy, but it also is about responding and doing what it teaches us to do. The word “keep” is translated from the Greek: “Tereo” (literally means “a watch”). It also means: to keep an eye upon, to attend carefully, take care of or to guard. Figuratively speaking, it is to keep a commandment.

At the end of the book of Revelation, this blessing is confirmed, placing an emphasis on the word “keep”:
(Rev.22:7) And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.

We should not be satisfied with “understanding” the book of Revelation but also respond and act upon what it teaches us. Whoever “keeps” the words of this prophecy will come out victorious from all the trials that will come over the world.

WARNING
There is a blessing for those who read Revelation, but there is also a warning for those who dare change the words that are written in this book, whether it be adding or taking away from it:
(Rev. 22:18-19) I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

This is a similar warning as the one written at the end of the Torah (i.e. Pentateuch), in Deuteronomy:
(Deut. 4:2) You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you.
(Deut. 12:32) Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. You shall not add to it or take from it.

As the Bible says, the choice is up to us. Each of us will choose if we want the blessing or the curse. And the Bible advises: Choose the blessing!!!; that is, read, hear and keep the words that are written in the prophecy, so that it may go well with you in the end times.


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