A Very Special Book (Chap. 1)
Some of the Protestant Reformers viz, Luther, Calvin and Zwingli rejected the inclusion of the book of Revelation in the Cannon of the Bible. So this downgrading has influenced many denominations which sprang from the Reformation. Some scholars are very positive in their assessment. It is quite difficult to imagine what it would be like to have a Bible without the Book of Revelation. From one point of view, The Bible is a story of romance, a heavenly Father is seeking an earthly bride for His Son. Like every good romance, they get married and live happily ever after.
But this climax is only reached in the Book of Revelation without which we would never know whether the engagement (betrothal 2 Cor. 11:2) ever came to anything or was broken off! This is a simple book written for common people to understand, but the theologians made it difficult and complex. That’s why the book of Revelation has not become popular in most of the churches. That’s why the World Bible Publisher 1991 gave this statement: We boldly affirm that the study of this book would present absolutely no possibility of error if the inconceivable, often ridiculous, prejudice of theologians in all ages had not so trammelled it and made it bristle with difficulties, that most readers shrink from it in alarm. Apart from these preconceptions, the Revelation would be the most simple, most transparent book that prophet ever penned (Reuss, in 1884 quoted in The Prophecy Handbook, World Bible Publishers, 1991)
But this is the only Book starts with blessings (1:3) endswith curse for those who tamper with its text (22:7). Such blessing and curse tell us how seriously God regards the facts and truths revealed here. The Bible starts earlier before there were any observers to record events and finishes later by predicting events that cannot yet be observed and recorded. This cannot be a human imagination by Divine inspiration. The answer depends on faith. It is a simple choice to believe God and on His Word.
The book divides people into 2-categories: those who can’t get into it and those who can’t get out of it. The Revelation provides the completeness for human life i.e. what is the end of this world and for all human beings and even for Satan.
Surprisingly this is the only begins and ends with promises of blessing to those who read and obey it. There are 7-beatitudes of Revelation.
Ex: A group of theological students in a seminary were studying the book of Revelation, but were finding it difficult to understand it. In the evening they decided to play a basket ball game for a refreshment. After finishing the game they found the janitor or the caretaker who was waiting to lock up the gates of court was reading the Bible. They came to him and said: “good to see you reading the Bible”, he said: “Oh I love my Bible, what part of the Bible you are reading.” He said Revelation. “You don’t understand it do you?” He said “I understand” Tell us the summary they asked. He said: “simple Jesus wins.”The book of Revelation gives more than that. It’s true that this is the final summary or one word summary of the book of Revelation.
- Blessed us he who reads and those who hear the words of prophecy and heed the things which are written in it (1:3a).
- Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on! “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest from their labours, for their deeds follow with them.”(14:13)
- Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so that he will not walk about naked and men will not see his shame. (16:15)
- Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.(19:9)
- Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection. (20:6).
- Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book. (22:7)
- Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city. (22:14)
Despite the scepticism of the scoffers, who demand, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation”(2 Pet.3:4). The Lord Jesus Christ will return and His return is very near.
The Trinitarian Benediction: (1:4-6):
The phrase “Him who is and who was and who is to come” identifies “God the Father” the first person of the Trinity. “The Seven Spirits before His Throne” refers to the Holy Spirit, the number seven depicts Him in His fullness (5:6; Zech.4:1-10; Isa.11:2). Grace and peace also flow from “Jesus Christ”. It is only fitting that John mentions Christ last and gives a fuller description of Him, since He is the theme of Revelation. Further Jesus is labelled as “faithful witness” “the first born of the dead,” and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
“To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever Amen.”(1:5b-6)
The work of Christ has caused John to burst into inspired praise to Him. The greatest expression of that love came when He released us from our sins by His blood. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever, Amen. This is to be the response of all who read Revelation with this future glory in mind.