THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST:
An Exegesis of Revelation 1:1-3
By: Daniel McMillin
THE GREAT NEGLECT: WHY DO WE AVOID READING THE BOOK OF REVELATION?
Possibly the most requested book to be preached behind the pulpit is the book of Revelation. Sadly, the least preached book is the book of Revelation. There is an obvious interest in the book of Revelation because it is a deeply theological and practical book filled with so many colorful pictures of judgment, heaven, and our Lord. Yet, it is the most neglected book in our Bibles. Why? It is sort of like the old abandoned house or asylum that everyone tells scary stories about to frighten everyone from entering. I think we make the Book of Revelation a lot scarier than it needs to be, and we may be afraid of the letter for a wide array of reasons:
• We are told it is hard, and so we do not attempt to read it and figure it out. Advice: read the book on your own (1-1/2 hours cover-to-cover; read 10 minutes a day for a week)• We realize it is hard because we do not take the time to read the Old Testament and trace the various symbols and allusions. Advice: take notes, read the Old Testament passages (500+ allusions), read commentaries (to aid your study)• We are afraid of what it says and means. The language and symbols create much confusion, and it is difficult to decipher the code (so why bother?). Further, we do not like thinking about the end-times where there is judgment. Advice: take the time to think about how you want to approach the book and what you believe about the second coming of Christ• We feel like we are not ready to read the book because we do not know enough. Advice: grow in your spiritual maturity and knowledge of the word, and do not make an excuse that will enable you to fail (we will certainly know nothing if we never grow or read)Why investigate the Book of Revelation? I want you to have confidence that the Lamb who was slaughtered lives! I want you to read the Book of Revelation with confidence, and I will offer some tips on how to do that successfully.
THE PRACTICAL USE OF THE APOCALYPSE: WHAT VALUE DOES THE BOOK OF REVELATION HAVE IN THE LIVES OF THE CHURCH?
The book of Revelation is possibly one of the most practical books in the New Testament. G.K. Beale once said, “The message of Revelation, as it unfolds, is not designed to provide fodder for intellectual speculation about the end times but is rather a series of commands addressed to the present-day lives.”[23] If we want to know how to live in a post-resurrection, post-Pentecost, and post-apostolic world, then we look to a book of apocalypse where we can participate in the visions and declarations of Jesus to His servants. If you want to hear God’s final word, then look no further than the book of Revelation. This book was written for us as New Testament Christians who live in these last days. It is a shame if we do not read it. We do ourselves a great disservice not to study and wrestle with the book of Revelation.
THE PURPOSE FOR THE APOCALYPSE: WHAT IS THE POINT IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION?
In a word, the Book of Revelation is a book of HOPE. Once we understand the purpose of the Book of Revelation, this will help us see it as something more accessible and practical rather than terrifyingly abstract and inconsequential. In other words, the Book can be understood and is useful for my Christian faith. Now, I may not be able to comprehend everything in the Book fully, and I need to come to terms with the fact that not every detail is certain to me. But I can follow along with the big picture and the main ideas that God reveals through this long chain of messengers.
WARNING WHILE READING THE APOCALYPSE: WHAT DO I NEED TO BE CAUTIOUS OF WHEN READING THE BOOK OF REVELATION?
There are a few warnings that I want to offer while reading the Book of Revelation that I hope may be helpful. (1) Do not cast everything aside because there is figurative language; just because something is figurative does not mean that it does not mean something. (2) Do not go to the extremes of saying “everything is literal” or “everything is figurative.” Instead, maintain a balanced and contextual interpretation of the text. (3) Do not apply things that do not apply. That is, do not misapply the prophecies meant for the 1st century to the 21st century. This may be shocking to hear, but Jesus does not want John to know stuff about the 2024 election in America, and his readers do not care about our politics when they are being persecuted by the Roman government. In the 2024 Freed-Hardeman University Lectureship Triumph of the Lamb: The Battle with Evil in Revelation, the editor, Doug Burleson, helpfully noted that “in its apocalyptic context, readers of Revelation must strive to balance the first-century context with future, prophetic expectations while also being aware of Old Testament allusions and frequent symbolism.”[1]
“THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST”
Here, revelation is the “subject and nature of the book.”[2] The book of Revelation is an apocalyptic book and should be read like other apocalyptic books like Ezekiel or Daniel.
There are three options that are often offered concerning the meaning of “the revelation of Jesus Christ” in verse 1:
Source: The revelation was made by Jesus Christ
Content: The revelation was made about Jesus Christ
Possession: The revelation belongs to Jesus Christ
It is possible that it is all three. If So, John is saying that “not only is Jesus the object of this momentous revelation; he is also its subject, the one who himself is the messenger of that revelation.”[3] Here, “The revelation is by Jesus Christ, about Jesus Christ, and belongs to Jesus Christ.”[4]
The book of Revelation is a revelation. That is, it is a mystery that is unveiled. There is knowledge that is hidden until it is uncovered. In Deuteronomy 29:29, we read that “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” God possesses special knowledge, where He keeps the secret things the secret things, and He reveals things to us so we may know Him and His will. Revelation is God’s words give to us. J.I. Packer rightly noted that “inspired Scripture is written revelation.”[5] The book of Revelation fits within that category because it is: (1) a God-breathed document, it originates from God, and (2) it is a written document from God. To further demonstrate the revelatory nature of this book, in Revelation 22:18-19 John ends his prophecy with a pronouncement of judgment for those who would attempt to add to or take away from the revelation, similar to Moses’ warnings in Deuteronomy 4:2 and 12:32, since it is the “word of God.” The revelation/apocalypse of Jesus is the inspired word of God that has been given to us.
THE GENRE OF REVELATION: APOCALYPSE-PROPHECY-LETTER
What kind of book is Revelation?
• Apocalypse: “The revelation of Jesus Christ” (1:1)
• Prophecy: “The words of this prophecy” (1:3)
• Letter: “John to the seven churches that are in Asia” (1:4)
“As apocalyptic literature, the book depicts the return of Christ in a series of striking images. As a letter, the book is addressed to real churches in a specific location (Asia Minor, modern-day Turkey) at a particular time in history (ca. AD 95) with a message that must have been intelligible to its original audience. As a type of prophetic literature, the book sustains a strong connection with the OT prophets.”[6] Normally, we are meant to read a book literally unless we are pressured to read the book figurately. But if we read the opening statements literally and understand what John is communicating concerning the nature of this book, that it is apocalyptic, then we are meant to read the book symbolically unless we are forced to read the book literally.[7]
“Apocalypse” (apokalupsis) is a gigantic “?” [*question mark] because it is about a mystery that is then meant to be revealed. It is a prophetic book filled with signs, symbols, and numbers. It is a code book. Bruce Metzger titles his commentary on Revelation “Breaking the Code” because the book is filled with language that is written as a code book that was easily understood by those who were the intended audience and have all the information on the meaning of these codes. Why do we need a code book? There is Roman persecution; they cannot crack the codes because they do not know the Old Testament and the symbols of the early Church. But these symbols create an image that God intends all generations to visualize and enjoy. “John’s book is a prophetic work which concerns the imminent and inaugurated fulfillment of OT prophecies about the kingdom in Jesus Christ.”[8] In essence, the book of Revelation is a book of victory where all of the things of the Old Testament and the New come together in Christ and provide a fitting closure to the story of redemption. This is ultimately seen through the kingly Lion and the Lamb.[9]
THE CHAIN OF REVELATION: God-Son-Angel-John-Church
Here, we see “the chain of communication.”[10] The reason that John’s apocalypse begins this way is “to establish at the outset the divine authority behind the work.”[11] God gives to the Son what He wills to reveal. Thus, God the Father is the source of revelation, and the Father gives the Son the revelation, and it is through the Son that the revelation is given. The revelation is through the Son, and then it is revealed through the angel. God, through the Son by the angel, reveals these things to the apostle-slave John on the island of Patmos. Then, the apostle John relays what he saw to the church, records the revelation, and circulates the book for generations so we may read these words today. “The message would be shared from God through Jesus through John to local congregations where the word would be read and heard.”[12] This chain of revelation authenticates John’s book being from God since he traces the origin of his visions to God. That is, “John is clearly communicating that this is not merely his set of visions, but the visions come directly from God and Christ, meditated by angels.”[13] It is for that reason that the “witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ” is sure. The contents of the revelation are trustworthy because the source is reliable. John’s words are sound because “Jesus’ witness is added to John’s in validating the divine origin of the visions written down in this book.”[14]
THE AUDIENCE OF THE APOCALYPSE: WHO WERE JOHN’S READERS?
THE RECIPIENTS OF REVELATION: SEVEN CHURCHES
The apostle John wrote from the island of Patmos (1:9) to the “seven churches” of Asia—Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea (1:4, 11) in the 90s AD. The book acts as a warning to straighten up these seven congregations but it is also a letter that encourages Christians who are experiencing tribulation to keep the faith. If we were to ask, “What got the early Church through the trials of Roman persecution?” I believe the answer would be the portrait of Jesus in the book of Revelation. This may appear a bit shocking since He is not seen as the humble carpenter’s son, the wise rabbi, or the loving neighbor. Instead, He is envisioned as a bloody lamb, a ferocious lion, an enthroned king, and a righteous judge. This is not how we normally think of Jesus, but it is surely an image of great comfort once we understand who Christ is in the book.
THE RECIPIENTS OF REVELATION: “SERVANTS”
The book was written by a servant of the Lord for the servants of the Lord, which is a term of honor. “It is a divine revelation given to Christ as the recipient of the message, which He in turn gives to His servants; it is a revelation which Jesus makes. The book is also a revelation of Jesus Christ in His present glory, rule and executor of judgment. It unveils the struggles through which the church is destined to pass and its ultimate triumph and victory under Christ.”[15] In essence, the book was written for the readers. “The revelation was committed to them for safekeeping and for their comfort and encouragement.”[16] Furthermore, we see the reason why God reveals “in the crisis being faced by the churches in Asia Minor, God does not remain silent but assures his people that he is still in control.”[17] In sum, God reveals because He cares.
THE IMMANENCE OF REVELATION: “THE THINGS THAT MUST SOON TAKE PLACE”
The book of Revelation points toward the fulfillment of future events that are not so far off: “things which must soon take place” (1:1; 22:6); “the time is near” (1:3, 22:10). This phraseology is an allusion to Daniel 2:28-30, 45-47. “What Daniel expected to occur in the last days, John is announcing as imminent, or beginning to occur now.”[18] In the book of Revelation, “the prophecies of Daniel are seen throughout the book as coming to final fulfillment. It is obviously one of the critical framing ideas in the book, demonstrating the centrality of the perspective regarding the divine control of imminent future events.”[19] The fact that the Revelation announces “the time is near” encourages obedience for the reader. When we realize that the end is near and the Lord’s return is imminent, we understand that we must be prepared. We recognize a need to hear the revelation and heed the words therein. We have been living in the end-times for quite a while now, we are meant to wait for the second coming of Christ and be prepared for His arrival. As one author said, “the language of imminence intends to draw the reader into a sense of expectation and responsibility, a sense meant to characterize every age of the church.”[20] Essentially, the idea is “the sure fulfillment of the purpose of God.”[21]
THE PURPOSE OF REVELATION IS TO READ
Those who read the Revelation are “blessed” by God (1:3). God intends that the apocalypse of Jesus be read aloud, heard by those who are present, and applied by those who hear. “The material in the book of Revelation is so important a blessing is promised to the one who reads it aloud, and to those who hear and who keep what is written in the prophecy (1:3).”[22] But it will only bless us if we actually read it and recognize its value in our lives today. This book is meant to be read and studied by those who possess it, whether it is the 1st or 21st century Church. “The book was designed to be understood.”[24] God does not give without a reason. God does not reveal to create confusion but to unveil mysteries that were not clear before. The very nature of revelation is to divulge or disclose. God does this through various symbols that may appear difficult to cipher, but the overall message that Jesus is Lord and offers us victory is abundantly clear. Once we read and grasp the overall message, then we may adequately apply the revelation to our lives and find great comfort in our Lord’s Lordship and second coming. [25]
Why read the revelation out loud? “In New Testament times, reading was usually a group activity, with one person reading to others. Not all people, of course, could read; furthermore, manuscripts of books were expensive, and few Christians could afford them. In the absence of printed books, great emphasis was laid in the early church on the public reading of handwritten copies of communications to congregations (Col. 4:16; 1 Thess. 5:27; cf. 1 Tim. 4:13). John calls his book prophecy; it has the right of the words of the prophets of the Old Testament…a blessing can be pronounced on those who read and who heard the book.”[26] These words were meant to be circulated by the early Church and preserved for future generations. They were intended to be read in the public service of the Church, not hidden away. We are blessed to have personal copies of the New Testament. In an era of information where we have access to so much knowledge at the palms of our hands, we may waste our time on the senseless and sadly waste our time on our phones. We need to take advantage of the opportunities we have laid before us where we can read and study to learn and obey. It is sad that we have the book of Revelation available; we are able to read it, and yet we neglect to open its pages. What we find here is that the revelation is well received when it is read and applied as it was designed; only then will we be blessed. May God bless us through the reading of his revelation.
WORKS CITED
[1] Burleson, “He Is Risen,” 1.
[2] Beale, Revelation, 35.
[3] Köstenberger, Handbook on Hebrews through Revelation, 221-222.
[4] Burleson, Triumph of the Lamb, 2.
[5] Packer, Knowing God, 31.
[6] Köstenberger, Handbook on Hebrews through Revelation, 222.
[7] Beale’s advice for interpreting the Book of Revelation.
[8] Beale, Revelation, 37.
[9] The second coming of Jesus will not be like His first. “Unlike his first coming, which was lowly and seemingly inconspicuous, culminating in his ignominious and apparently shameful death on a cross, Jesus’s return will be triumphant and highly visible, representing his public vindication and the vindication of his followers.” (Köstenberger, Handbook on Hebrews through Revelation, 221)
[10] Beale, Revelation, 36.
[11] Osborne, Revelation, 51.
[12] Burleson, “He Is Risen,” 3.
[13] Osborne, Revelation, 51.
[14] Osborne, Revelation, 57.
[15] Hailey, The Book of Revelation, 95.
[16] Hailey, The Book of Revelation, 96.
[17] Osborne, Revelation, 51.
[18] Beale, Revelation, 36.
[19] Osborne, Revelation, 54.
[20] Osborne, Revelation, 55.
[21] Metzger, Breaking the Code, 21.
[22] Metzger, Breaking the Code, 22.
[23] Beale, Revelation, 37.
[24] Jackson, Revelation, 27.
[25] Osborne suggests that “Revelation must be characterized not as apocalyptic but as prophetic-apocalypse. Its purpose is not merely to outline the future intervention of God or to portray the people of God symbolically in light of the divine reality but to call the saints to accountability on that basis. This is prophetic book of warning as well as comfort to the church.” (Revelation, 58-59)
[26] Metzger, Breaking the Code, 22.
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