The Book of Revelation Explained: Understanding the Truth about the End Times

Revelation, the last book of the Bible, is one of the most studied writings throughout history. It is commonly associated with the end of the world, with a great event that will bring total destruction. However, the original Greek word (apokálypsis) means to unveil something that was hidden, to reveal. And this is precisely the purpose of the book: to give us revelation about the end of times.

The book is full of symbols, which is why it is not easy to read or understand. In general, it is accepted that its author was the apostle John, although there is no unanimity on this. Yes, we see from the first verse of the book that the author was called John.

Where does the revelation come from?

It is also clear that God is the source of all the revelation that is in the book. He gave it to Jesus Christ so that He would show His servants what was going to happen in the future. How did the revelation reach John? Through the angel of Jesus Christ. God revealed it to Christ, Christ to the angel, the angel to John, and John passed it on in writing to the churches, to the servants of God.

It is interesting to see that there is a blessing for those who read the book and for those who listen and obey the prophecies that it contains.

What does "prophetic" mean?

The book of Revelation is considered a prophetic book. This means that it contains predictions of events that would happen after the vision. Some of the prophecies written in it have already been fulfilled, and others have not.

John, the author, explains how he received the revelation and why he wrote the book (Revelation 1:9-20). He was exiled to the island of Patmos as punishment for being a Christian. During that time, the Holy Spirit came upon him and commanded him, with an audible voice, to write the vision and send it to seven churches of that time which were located in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. These cities are located in the country we now know as Turkey.

Seven main themes

It is not easy to pinpoint when a theme begins or ends in the book because the themes are very intertwined. If we add to this the symbolism it contains, it is difficult to say that we know with certainty everything it expresses. What we can do, however, is talk about some of the main themes that are most clearly seen in the book.

1. Who Jesus is and who we are in Him

The central figure of the book is the risen Christ, and this is evident from the first chapter. In the first verses (Rev. 1:4-8), we are told the following about Jesus: He is, was, and is to come; He is the faithful witness, the firstborn of the resurrection; He is the sovereign (He is above) the kings of the earth. Jesus loves us, and by His blood, by His sacrifice on the cross, we have been freed from our sins (we are clean and forgiven). Thanks to Him, we are part of the kingdom of God, priests in service to the Father. Jesus will return to earth, and every eye will see Him. He will come to judge and reign forever.

The last words of the book assure us that Jesus will return.

What is the Second Coming of Christ according to the Bible: When Will Jesus Return?

2. Messages to the seven churches

Chapters 2 and 3 of the book contain short letters with words of encouragement, warnings, and exhortations to seven churches of that time. Each letter had a promise preceded by the phrase "He who has ears, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes..." or very similar phrases. The promises we find for those who overcome (and will overcome) until the end are:

• Eternal life, the tree of life (Revelation 2:7)
• They will not suffer death or eternal punishment (Rev. 2:11)
• Spiritual food, triumph over sin, and a new identity (Rev. 2:17)
• Authority over the nations and the fullness of light (Rev. 2:26-28)
• White garments, their name written in the book of life (Rev. 3:5)
• They will be a pillar in the temple and belong to God for eternity (Rev. 3:12)
• They will reign with Jesus (Rev. 3:21)

In these letters, we see an example of the Father’s heart, the desire He has to restore His children and help them persevere, remaining faithful to Him until the end.

Read 10 Signs of the End of Times: What the Bible says and How You can Prepare for it.

3. Visions of Heaven

The greatness and power of God and of Jesus, the Lamb, are described in great detail. In chapters 4 and 5, John explains the vision of God on His throne, how He receives worship from living creatures and twenty-four elders. He also records beautiful phrases of worship to the Father.

Jesus, the Lamb, is the only one worthy, and only He can open the scroll with the revelation of the end of times. In the throne of heaven, a new song is sung, and there is eternal praise to Jesus.

Read The 7 Trumpets in Revelation: What God's Final Judgement Means for You.

4. The End of Times

Famine, wars, natural disasters, the persecution of the church, scarcity, and the collapse of the world economy are some of the things mentioned that will happen at the end of times. There will be great tribulation, and it will be difficult to survive.

Revelation mentions a great war that will affect all the nations of the earth. This will be the great final battle before judgment.

5. The Final Judgment

After the second coming of Christ and the millennium, the devil will be thrown into the lake of fire as eternal punishment for his rebellion against God. God will judge all those who did not accept Christ as Savior or believe in His redemptive work. These will be cast into the lake of fire for eternity.

Those who received Christ and submitted to His lordship on earth, declaring Him Lord of their lives, are righteous in Him and will dwell with Him forever.

6. The Restored Paradise

Revelation 21 describes the New Jerusalem. The Earth as we know it will no longer exist, there will be a new heaven and a new earth. There will be no need for the sun or the moon, for the glory of God will cover and illuminate everything. There will be no pain, no death, no hunger. Everything will be as it should have been without evil and sin: radiant, filled with the peace and presence of God.

7. The Reign of Christ

Jesus will return, and this time He comes to reign forever. The last chapter of Revelation and of the Bible affirms that Christ will return, and this time He will come as King. All that is evil will cease to be.

Jesus will come to reward those who received Him as Lord and Savior and persevered with faithfulness amid all the struggles and difficulties of life.

Are You Prepared?

If you have not yet decided to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, now may be a good time to do so. None of us knows when the end of the world will occur, but we do have the certainty that it will happen. Jesus' desire is for all of us to become part of His family, to accept His love and the forgiveness of our sins. He calls us, and we only need to open the door of our hearts to enjoy His company for eternity.

Here are a few resources that will help you..

• 15 Old Testament Prophecies About Jesus That Were Fulfilled
• I Am The Bread of Life: What Did Jesus Mean? (John 6:35 Explained)
• No One Comes To The Father Except Through Me (Bible Study on John 14:6)
• A Deep Dive into The Way, The Truth, and The Life
• Fantastic Beasts, Monsters and Other Creatures in the Bible