The Book of Revelation: Apocalyptic Prophecy or Blessing?

The Bible is a difficult book to understand, no doubt about that. There have been and will continue to be discussions about it. Your interpretation for each of the books may differ from everyone else’s, and it can take a lifetime to understand it, especially when we get to the last book, the book of Revelation. 

When we think about the book of Revelation, it may seem simple enough, a “revelation” or “prophecy” that comes as a letter written by John to the seven churches. But then, wars and earthquakes, angels and beasts, and a whole lot more that some of us don’t know what to make of it. Is it announcing the coming of Christ, or is it announcing life events in history or future events? Perhaps it is just showing us the ultimate triumph of God over evil and, by doing so, providing encouragement to those going through difficult times.

We have found that people interpret this book in different ways. Revelation is one of the most unique and intriguing books in the Bible. It is very commonly misunderstood; however, one thing is true, this book is holy scripture; it is the words of the Lord that were written for us to be involved in God’s plans. 

The book of Revelation is very similar to other apocalyptic literature. These include end of the world warnings and symbols that are revealed in the form of visions. There have been many speculations revolving around this topic that some people even come up with fixed dates of events that may be characterized as foolish. All these symbols and mysterious visions can make the book hard to understand, but if we focus more on the main message and less on the details and signs, we are more likely to see the bigger picture. 

It’s evident that Revelation is the most controversial book in the Bible, and at times it can be overwhelming and troubling, but it’s also the book that promises a blessing to those who listen to it. It was not written to frighten us but to help us understand God’s plans. We cannot neglect it because we will be blessed if we study it and understand its more profound message. It is not all about death and destruction but about God’s holiness. It serves as redemption for those straying from His will and comfort for those who trust Him. God loves us, and he is faithful; we will be blessed.

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. - Revelation 21:4