Revelation – The Purpose of the Book
In this study from the book of Revelation, I am not going to take the normal approach of looking at the prophetic predictions of this book. Instead, I am going to look at the deep spiritual applications that fill this book. Because most people look only at the prediction of future events, the greater benefits are overlooked. Prophecy in the Bible does not always mean predictions. Prophecy means to proclaim the purposes of God through divine inspiration. Sometimes the purposes of God are veiled in mystery and predictions, other times, God’s purposes are proclaimed clearly for everyone to understand. Prophecy was never intended to be a tool for predicting God. When God foretells future events, it is usually impossible to predict how these events will be fulfilled with any real certainty. When people try to predict God, they are almost always wrong. Prophecy (or the proclaimed truth) for individuals is clearly revealed in the word of God. The purpose of truth as it applies to individuals was intended to be precise and understood so that we can live our lives in fellowship with God as He intended. Lifestyle prophecy is not shrouded in mystery but can be understood by anyone who is in Christ because the Holy Spirit teaches us what the world can’t understand (1 Corinthians 2:14).
The prophecy of God’s plan for the world is shrouded in mystery and can’t be accurately unfolded beforehand. Those who try to predict God fall into error for several reasons. First and foremost, God never intended to be predicted. The main reason for the prediction of future events is to give us hope and reveal to us that when these things happen, we can draw confidence knowing God is in control. Without this foreknowledge, the trying times of prophesied would dishearten believes because on the surface would appear that God is not on the scene if He hadn’t foretold the things that will happen. Another error of predicting God is that it draws attention away from what is truly important – the message of the gospel. The gospel is not only salvation in Christ, but also a lifestyle in Christ. It is easy to get sidetracked by future events and lose sight of our calling to know God, glorify Him and fulfill the great commission to preach the gospel and make disciples of all nations. That calling will not end until He returns. Another error is that when predictors of God are wrong, the world gets deceived into believing the prophecies are wrong and have no credibility. Finally, those who have God mapped out completely miss what God is actually doing. Prophecy is foretold in such a way that it is impossible to self-fulfill. One of the reasons the spiritual leaders of Jesus’ day missed Him is because they had the coming Messiah figured out and boxed into a neat package. When Jesus did not fit into the box, they didn’t recognize and rejected Him.
The scholars and the people of Jesus’ day were looking for a world conqueror that would lead Israel out of Roman bondage and restore them to their promised glory when the Messiah sets up His kingdom. What they failed to see was that the plan revealed in prophecy would be fulfilled first by His sacrifice for sins and in God’s time the kingdom would come. The Old Testament foretold this but it wasn’t made clear until Jesus was revealed. The 330 fulfilled prophecies of Jesus’ first coming was not the same event as the Second Coming and the earthly kingdom to be established. Jesus made this clear when He began His 3-½ year ministry. Look at Luke 4:
17 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:
18 "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD."
20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him.
21 And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."
The passage Jesus read from is found in Isaiah 61. Jesus read only verse 1 and part of verse 2. Jesus stopped after reading the prediction of proclaiming the acceptance of God. His first coming built the bridge that gives us acceptance with God through faith in Christ. The vengeance of the Lord has not been fulfilled, nor has the promise of comfort and restoration to glory. So much of this prophecy was to be fulfilled after the cross. Salvation to the gentiles, the judgment of God, etc. They missed this because they had it figured out.
What is critical to understand is that God reveals only what instructs us, encourages us and builds our faith. God does not reveal what will sidetrack us from His plan. I believe there are three types of revelations of prophecy. There are clearly foretold event prophecies, clouded event prophecies and personal application prophecies that instruct the hearer. Let’s take a deeper look at these there areas of prophecy.
Clear events
A good example of a clear event can be found in Isaiah 45. This is a very lengthy passage so I will paraphrase. God had just pronounced judgement on Israel and they were going to be conquered by Babylon and taken captive to be slaves in the Babylonian Empire. It would be impossible to cling to the hope of God’s promises when their nation was taken away and the nation seemed as though it would cease to exist. Babylon was the first world empire and their strength appeared impenetrable. To give Israel hope and to prepare the way for their freedom, God foretold with exact detail how they would return from captivity by the hand of Cyrus. 140 years before Cyrus was born, God called him by name in this prophecy. God foretold the name of Cyrus, what nation he would come from, how he would enter the city and how that God would prepare the way to give him easy access into the undefeatable city. God followed this with a command directly to Cyrus telling him to let the captives of Israel go free without a price or reward. This command went directly against the culture of that time. When a nation conquered another nation, as a ransom for their lives, the victor would enslave the defeated nation and any slaves they held captive became the slaves of the victor as well.
Many details of this story was held as skeptic for many centuries because it seemed so far fetched. However, in 1879 archeologists discovered a historical document written into a stone cylinder from the Archaemenian Dynasty. This cylinder became known as the Cyrus stone. This historical document told how Cyrus united the Medes and the Persians into one dynasty. The door to that dynasty was through the defeat of the ruling kingdom, Babylon. It explained that Babylon was a great city with walls estimated to be over 200 feet high and almost 90 feet thick. It was surrounded by a moat equaling the cubit feet of the wall. Gates of solid brass protected the city. The Euphrates river filled the moats and ran under the wall and through the city. To protect against siege, the Babylonians had 20 years worth of provisions stored and internal gardens. The city could be completely self-sufficient. Where the river ran through the city, there were huge walls built and covered by huge brass gates. This well fortified city was completely impenetrable.
To gain access, Cyrus diverted the river into the flood plain that Babylon built to protect the city during the raining season. When the water drained away, Cyrus marched under the wall not knowing that gates blocked the entrance from the river. In the haste to celebrate the pagan festival, the guards neglected to close and lock the river gates and Cyrus was able to enter and conquer the city without a fight. An exact fulfillment of prophecy verified by a document unknown to the world until the last 100 years. When Cyrus was shown the prophecy, we was stunned to see himself called by name. He obeyed the command addressed to him and signed a decree to free Israel and to begin rebuilding Jerusalem. The Cyrus stone states that Cyrus became known as the ‘Messenger of God’.
For a specific purpose, God gives exact details in a prophecy. This prophecy was to be fulfilled by divine guidance and also by direct instruction.
Clouded events
Most prophecies are written as if seen behind a veil. We can get glimpses of these events, but we can’t get the whole picture. It is vital to understand that God did not intend for us to see these events clearly. We may not know why God has veiled these prophecies but there is no doubt that God, in His sovereignty, has chosen not to reveal the details until after the fact. These prophecies often serve as a warning or as a call to watch. If we fail to apply our hearts to faithfulness, we will be taken off guard just as the religious community did in Jesus’ day. We have already looked at the veiled prophecy of Jesus’ first coming, but lets look at another good example of prophecy that was unclear until after its fulfillment. This is the prophecy of the destruction of Tyre. I am sure that before the event, the people of that day thought it was clear how this prophecy of judgement would be fulfilled. But it was not until after the fact that we can look back and stand in amazement of God’s hand.
This example of prophecy comes from Ezekiel 26. Skeptics love to quote this passage as a Bible error, but in reality this is a solid example that the Bible must be the divinely inspired word of God. In this passage, God pronounces judgement against the city of Tyre. It is a long passage, so I will highlight it.
Ezekiel 26:
3 "Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: ’Behold, I am against you, O Tyre, and will cause many nations to come up against you, as the sea causes its waves to come up.
4 ’And they shall destroy the walls of Tyre and break down her towers; I will also scrape her dust from her, and make her like the top of a rock.
5 ’It shall be a place for spreading nets in the midst of the sea, for I have spoken,’ says the Lord GOD; ’it shall become plunder for the nations.
It is important to note that God clearly stated that MANY nations will come up against Tyre, the towers will be broken down and the foundation of the city will be scraped like a rock leaving it useful for drying and mending nets.
7 " For thus says the Lord GOD: ’Behold, I will bring against Tyre from the north Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of kings, with horses, with chariots, and with horsemen, and an army with many people.
8 ’He will slay with the sword your daughter villages in the fields; he will heap up a siege mound against you, build a wall against you, and raise a defense against you.
9 ’He will direct his battering rams against your walls, and with his axes he will break down your towers.
11 ’With the hooves of his horses he will trample all your streets; he will slay your people by the sword, and your strong pillars will fall to the ground.
Here is where Nebuchadnezzar enters the prophecy. God foretold that this Babylonian king would slay those in the field and lay siege on the city. He would break down the walls and break down the towers. This is where the confusion lies. Nebuchadnezzar never took the city or destroyed it completely. Skeptics say, "Aha! The Bible is wrong." However, if we look at the passage and then look at history, we see that Nebuchadnezzar did his part as instructed by God. History tells that Nebuchadnezzar laid siege and battered down the walls and towers. The people of the city retreated to a small island just off the coast of Tyre. Afterward, Nebuchadnezzar soon withdrew because he was unable to successfully attack the island. The people were able to return to the city. Let’s continue with our examination of this passage.
12 ’They will plunder your riches and pillage your merchandise; they will break down your walls and destroy your pleasant houses; they will lay your stones, your timber, and your soil in the midst of the water.
14 ’I will make you like the top of a rock; you shall be a place for spreading nets, and you shall never be rebuilt, for I the LORD have spoken,’ says the Lord GOD.
This is where the rest of the nations come in. Alexander the Great went on his world conquest. As he conquered nations, he built his army using those nations and marched on. Once again the city of Tyre was attacked. The people retreated to the island but this time Alexander finished the job. When the inhabitants fled to the island, Alexander built a bridge to the island using anything and everything he could find. He cast the stones of the city, trees, and every rock and piece of debris found in and around the city. He literally scraped the city like the top of a rock and threw it into the sea to build a bridge that he used to destroy the city. This is a powerful testimony to the accuracy of scripture. If Nebuchadnezzar attacked and conquered Tyre, it would have been interesting, but no great prediction. But the fact that the Bible calls on Babylon to start the job but foretells that other nations would finish it eliminate the possibility of this becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Individual instructions
World events are a sign to the believer. Jesus gave an apocalyptic list of events that will be in the end times and then concluded by saying, "So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near -- at the doors". The prophecy of future events serves a purpose for the believer to be encouraged and to be focused on our purpose as called men and women of God. Prophecy keeps us from being caught unaware. Jesus said that when you see these things happening, look up because your redemption draws near. Jesus also promised that He would reward those who are found watching when He returns. So we see that prophecy becomes a tool God has given us to keep us from being caught unaware. Only those who are neglecting God’s purposes can be caught unaware. Our goal is to be found watching and doing. If you are not doing God’s purpose, you will soon fall away and will not be watching. If you are doing what God has instructed, you will be watching also.
The foundation of our study will be built on Revelation 1:3, "Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near." In the rush to search for answers to the future, almost all studies of Revelation overlook this key instruction this book has given us. The whole purpose of the book of Revelation is reveal the coming glory of Jesus Christ and that we read or hear this prophecy (God’s purposes) and to keep the things that are written (God’s purposes as applied to our lives). The focus of this study will be to search out this book and hear what God is telling us to do and to keep them so that we can be blessed by God. The key to finding God’s blessing is to find God’s will and purpose for us. Claiming God’s promises without keeping God’s commands is meaningless. God’s promises are claimed by obedience. Only in God’s will can we have the flow of blessings God longs to pour out on us. Sometimes God blesses with material wealth, but always with spiritual riches. The greater of these two is spiritual riches. Only when we are fulfilling our spiritual calling can we have the peace of God that surpasses all understanding. When troubles should drive us to be into turmoil, God’s peace carries us. The world can’t understand this and those who never walk with God will not experience this peace during the hard times of life.
In conclusion
The over arching theme of the book of Revelation is the return of Jesus Christ in all of His glory. His first visitation was as a servant and redeemer. He humbled Himself and put off His right to be equal with God (Philippians 2:5-11). This is where we get the name for this book, it is the revelation of Jesus Christ. He has been revealed to those who receive Him as savior, but not to the world. When He is revealed in all His glory, "every eye shall see Him" and recognize Him. Willingly or unwillingly, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. This book was written for those of us who already know He is Lord. It was written to the church that was heavily persecuted by Rome. The coming revelation of Jesus Christ gave hope to believers who were being massacred by Rome. During our trials the enemies of God may seem so powerful, but at the time Jesus reveals Himself in all His glory, even the powerful will "see Him and mourn" (Revelation 1:7). The first principle that this book is founded on is an understanding and submission to who Jesus Christ is. We saw earlier that Jesus fulfilled His earthly purpose by dying on the cross to redeem us from sin. The latter part of Jesus’ purpose has yet to be fulfilled but will be done when He returns. Look at Revelation 1:
5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,
6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
I’ll repeat this because it is important. Whenever you study this book, keep in mind this is written to the persecuted church. The church is the body of Christ – those who have surrendered to His Lordship and trusted in His completed work on the cross. Only those who have been washed in His blood are a part of His church. To be washed in His blood simply means that you have laid your life down and received the new life He has given you by His payment for your sins in your place. The Bible says that God will avenge and punish every single sin – even the sins of those who are forgiven. Jesus’ payment was the avenging of sin for anyone who will surrender to Jesus Christ. Those who have trusted Him as Savior and Lord have the promise of verse 6. He has made us kings and priests to God. This is the encouragement to those who were suffering and in danger of dying for their testimony in Christ. The early church was persecuted heavily during the Roman rule. Even today, many Christians in hostile countries suffer and die for their faith daily. There have been more martyrs for Christ in the last 50 years than in the last 2000 years combined. But because Jesus has been raised from the dead, His resurrection is our hope. Because Jesus conquered death, we know we have life in Him. Because He shed His blood for our sins, we know we have been cleansed from our sins. Because He is ruler over the kings of the earth, we who are His will one day reign with Him. Because of this, we can be confident in our sufferings. Instead of fearing death and dreading suffering for Christ, we can be confident in our inheritance and rejoice through our tribulations. If this world was our hope, we would be miserable and each persecution would only add to that misery. But our hope is in Christ and as Peter put it, "rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ", 1 Peter 1:13. Ironically, it is not those who suffer for Christ that lose hope, but it is those who put their focus on this world that lose hope.
Our hope is on His coming. He is the ruler over the kings of the earth, but He will not claim His throne until the time appointed. Verse 7 tells us that "He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, and they also who pierced Him. All the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen". Whenever you see ‘Amen’ in Revelation, it means this is a solid truth, bound by an oath. It will come to pass because God will perform His word. The kings of the earth are unaware that they are being used to piece together the purposes of God and are going to fulfill God’s prophecy to the letter. When the end comes, they will see Him and mourn because their hope was in this world and in themselves. They did not believe He would return to execute justice. Jesus will represent everything the world hates. They have not subjected themselves to Christ, but instead have thought of themselves as to wise to submit to God. There will be no skeptics. The rebellion will be over. We will confess Him as Lord in victory, but the enemies of the Cross will confess Him in defeat and judgment.
Revelation 1:8, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."
Verse 13 identifies the voice of the Almighty as the Son of Man. As most of us know, this is the title of Jesus Christ throughout the gospels. So that there are no misunderstandings, scripture here is making sure we understand the deity of Christ. We see this same description given in the Old Testament. Isaiah 44:6 says, "Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: ’I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God." Some also get confused with the term ‘Son of Man’. Jesus used this as a reference to prophecy so that those who knew the scriptures would understand the fulfillment of prophecy. Look at Daniel 7:
13 " I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him.
14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.
This is the foretelling of what we find in Revelation 1:7. Jesus was born of a virgin, but that was not His beginning. The prophecy of the coming Christ was made clear in Isaiah 9:6,
For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
The child was born, but the Son was given. Jesus was from everlasting to everlasting – from eternity past to eternity future. In other words, He had no beginning and will have no end. Jesus made this clear in John 17:
3 "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
4 "I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.
5 "And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.
The enemies of Jesus hated Him because he equated Himself with God. Jesus’ enemies today do the same. The first point made in this prophecy is to understand who Jesus is. Those who reject who Jesus is, are counted as His enemies and will mourn when they see Him coming with glory. Jesus made it clear that to have eternal life, we must know the only true God and Jesus Christ. These two can’t be separated. To reject Christ is to reject God. To accept Christ or ‘the spirit of Christ’ and reject God is to reject both. People get confused because Jesus shows that there is a distinction between the Father and the Son, but different roles does not mean inequality. Jesus claimed to be equal with God and those who reject who Jesus was, also reject eternal life offered through faith in Christ. All of scripture points to who Jesus was and we must submit to Jesus or we are in rebellion against God.
Once we recognize who Christ is, we can understand that He is in control and has a plan. Obedience is the key to our purpose in God’s plan. As you study of the book of Revelation, keep these five things in mind. 1) Prophecy was never meant to be a divining tool to predict God. 2) Prophecy cannot be self-fulfilled. 3) Prophecy shows that God is in control and has a plan. 4) Prophecy is not merely foretelling the future, but proclaiming the purposes of God. 5) God’s purposes are proclaimed in two ways; world events that become a sign in the road that give us hope knowing God is fulfilling His purpose; and individual prophecies – God’s purpose in your life.
*** This sermon can be downloaded as a Word document by following the link at http://www.exchangedlife.com/Sermons/sermons.htm
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