A Contextual Reading of Revelation is Crucial
The New Testament scholar, Ben Witherington has said that a "text without a context is nothing but a pre-text to make something mean whatever we want it to mean." One of the reasons that Revelation has been so misunderstood through the centuries is that it has so often been read with little or no understanding of its historical, social, cultural, Biblical, and theological context. This book was not written to modern 21st century people, but to mixed congregations of Jews and Gentiles living in the late 1st century in what is today modern Turkey under the reign of an increasingly hostile government intent on promoting unhindered devotion to the Roman Empire and its emperor. The prophet John was not concerned that people living thousands of years later might de-code the future based on his literary work, but rather that the 7 churches of Asia Minor might maintain their loyalty to King Jesus despite persecution and the lure of pagan practices. Through God's providence and the Holy Spirit, we can very much benefit from this work of art as well, but we must seek to understand what this writing meant to its first readers before we can apply it to our much later contexts. That brings us to our next point.
Revelation is an Unveiling of God's Reality
When we scroll through social media feeds or watch the nightly news, we are confronted with a barrage of information that seems to indicate that the world is spinning out of control with no hope for the future. Those who rule the kingdoms of our world often do so for their own benefit and so many times they make decisions that destroy the lives of ordinary people. The 7 churches of Asia also lived in such a world, but the message of John's Apocalypse was that God's reality far exceeds that which we see around us in everyday life. It may seem that Caesar, or whomever rules supreme, but the message of Revelation is that God is still seated on the throne, Jesus reigns at his right hand, and the Spirit is still active in our world and in our lives, despite the chaos that surrounds us.
Revelation Challenges Us to Remain Faithful to Jesus
But though Christ is seated on the throne, that doesn't mean his followers are immune to the seductions of this age. John's audience was at risk of embracing the idolatry of emperor worship and the immorality of their local pagan culture. We too can be tempted by the same kinds of things. Nationalism and unreflective patriotism are real threats to the purity of the Christian faith, while immorality is always available to us around the next bend. Revelation proclaims that Christ is indeed King, but we must remain diligent to keep him firmly seated on the thrones of our hearts.
The Apocalypse Reveals God's Ultimate Plan for Creation
And more than anything else, Revelation is a book of hope. Not only does God continue to reign, but he will also someday bring that reign to earth where his will for the universe will finally be realized. God will not give up on his creatures nor on his creation but will fully redeem them through the resurrection and transformation of human bodies and through the rejuvenation of the world. Our future isn't disembodied bliss in an ethereal heaven, but a fully physical and robust life in the (re)new(ed) heavens and earth. Revelation tells us that we will not only live in God's unmediated presence, but we will also reign with him over the world. Though John's writing doesn't tell us when this will happen, it reaffirms that it will in fact happen.
If you are a follower of Jesus, then this is your future! If you have not yet given your allegiance to Christ the King, Revelation invites you to do so. "The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come.' And let everyone who hears say, 'Come.' And let everyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift...Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!" - Shay
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