1. The Book of Revelation's outline and purpose
As a result of the increasing wickedness on earth, mankind is filled with fear and is losing hope for the future. For this reason, we need to seek the help we can receive through studying the Bible's prophecies about the future. Significant, complementary puzzle pieces to Revelation are given by not only the Old Testament prophets, but also by Jesus himself, and by his disciples. The truth is always the sum of all of God's words. (Ps.119:160)
But only the last book of the Bible is almost completely devoted to the future in its comprehensive overview of the end of our own age.
Greatly simplified, the book of Revelation consists of three sections:
- Chapters 1-3 are comprised of letters to 7 churches in that time's Asia Minor. However, the message is somewhat timeless, and therefore gives good biblical direction for similar problems in our own time.
- In Chapters 4-18, the Apostle John describes his prophetic vision at the actual close of our own age. Although the standard of living in our industrialized society has been radically improved, the heart of mankind has not been changed for the better. On the contrary, moral developments are progressing ever downward, since the majority of people are becoming more and more selfish and wicked.
The principle backbone of the presentation of Revelation is composed of a chain of events consisting of seals, trumpets, and bowls of wrath. Interspersed, we find several detailed descriptions of separate more important events.
- Not until chapters 19-22 does the development take a turn for the better, when Jesus Christ imprisons the Devil, and begins to establish a righteous reign over humanity.
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The goal of the book of Revelation is to prove that the all-in-all is God and Jesus Christ, who together have the final word, and not the Devil or mankind.
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Despite the increasing evil described in Revelation, it is filled with hope for the future. We get to see how evil matures to the point that it can be exposed, and be finally conquered by Jesus Christ.
Therefore, the book of Revelation is filled with praise and worship to our Savior Jesus Christ, and it exhorts the church:
- to faithfully complete its assignment, and,
- whatever happens, to stand firm in faith, and to always try to overcome evil with good.
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When everything on earth completely falls apart, God will create a new heaven and a new earth where only righteousness dwells. Because of this, Jesus can give many rich promises to the overcomers, both for this time and for eternity.
If you feel the need to read further, may I recommend:
- "The Book of Revelation" (published by Verbum) by L. Koskinen, T. Lehtinen, W. Riekkinen
especially if you would like to know more about the letters to the seven Churches.
- "The hour of destiny for the nuclear age" Kerysso förlag, by John Åkerlund if you wish to know more about the various events of the end times.
- "The Lamb and the Beast" (published by Libris) by Mikael Tellbe
if you would like help in understanding the figurative language of Revelation.
(Still not in english)
