Putting It All Together
Throughout this course we have approached Revelation the same way we have approached every other book of the Bible.
We began by asking how God intended the book to be read.
John answered that question in the opening verse. Revelation is communicated through signs and symbolic visions. Like the prophets before him, John used vivid imagery to reveal spiritual realities that encourage God's people and proclaim God's ultimate victory.
We also learned that Revelation is deeply rooted in the Old Testament.
Its visions are filled with images first introduced in Genesis, Exodus, the Psalms, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Zechariah, and the other prophets. The better we understand those earlier Scriptures, the better prepared we are to understand John's visions.
We saw that Revelation was first written to seven real churches in Asia. Those Christians faced persecution, temptation, false teaching, and discouragement. Before asking what Revelation says to our own generation, we first listened to the message God gave to theirs.
As we continued reading, one great truth emerged.
Revelation is, above all, the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
He is the risen Lord who walks among His churches.
He is the Lamb who was slain.
He is the One who reigns over the kings of the earth.
He opens the scroll.
He defeats every enemy.
He makes all things new.
The many visions, symbols, and dramatic scenes all point to that central reality.
The message of Revelation is not that evil will continue forever.
It is not that God's people have been forgotten.
It is not that history is out of control.
The message is that Jesus Christ reigns, God remains faithful to His promises, and those who remain faithful to Christ will share in His final victory.
As we studied the millennium, we also learned an important lesson about Bible study.
Difficult passages should be understood in harmony with the clearer teaching of the rest of Scripture. Rather than building an entire doctrine upon one symbolic vision, we compare it with the broader teaching of God's Word and allow Scripture to interpret Scripture.
When we read Revelation in that way, it becomes a book of confidence rather than confusion.
Its purpose is not to satisfy every question about the future.
Its purpose is to strengthen our faith in the present.
It reminds us that Christ has already won the decisive victory through His death and resurrection.
One day He will return.
Evil will be judged.
Death will be destroyed.
God's redeemed people will dwell with Him forever.
If you remember one truth from this course, let it be this:
Revelation was not written to make us experts in prophecy. It was written to make us faithful followers of Jesus Christ.
That is the heart of the book.
Continue Your Study
Every generation faces the same question:
Should God's people reshape their beliefs to fit the culture around them?
Or should God's Word shape the way we think, live, and respond to a changing world?
In our final course, we'll examine some of the most important issues facing Christians today and ask one question above all others:
What does the text actually say?
Related Bible Studies
Biblical Authority
How Do We Build Sound Doctrine?
Reading the Prophets
The Kingdom of God
Companion Video
Putting It All Together
Read First. Conclude Later.