Keys to Unlocking the Book of Revelation

OPINION) Belief.Net – The Book of Revelation is one of the most complicated books of the Bible, even for Christians who have spent a lot of time reading the Bible. The last book of the Bible is also called the Apocalypse, meaning to disclose and reveal.

According to the Scripture, the Book of Revelation was “given by inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16). We know from this that this book of the Bible includes information our Heavenly Father intends to reveal. Given Revelation is such a complex book, there are many things that people get wrong about this text. Here are six powerful keys to unlock the book of Revelation.

Many people are confused about the background of the Book of Revelation. Some Bible translations say that the Book of Revelation is the Revelation of John, but this isn’t entirely true. Revelation 1:1 tells us, “The Revelation [is] from Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants what must soon occur.

He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John.” God talked to John in his dream and gave all the revelations he wrote in the book. However, the real author of Revelation is God, and Jesus Christ is the One who gave the Revelation to an angel to give to John.

John recorded the message but is not the real author of the book. John was fitted for this role as he considered Jesus, his best friend. He was a beloved disciple – He followed Jesus for three years and believed every word He said.

Most biblical scholars agree that the Book of Revelation’s framework is apocalyptic. As a genre, apocalyptic literature details the authors’ visions of the end times as revealed by an angel or other heavenly messenger.

It shares with prophecy revelation through visions and dreams, which often combine reality and fantasy. In both cases, a divine interpreter is usually provided to the receiver so that they may understand the many complexities of what is seen.

John uses end-of-the-world imagery, as you would commonly see from apocalyptic works. This literature type relies heavily on symbolism that speaks to the audience that the book is written for. READ MORE 
https://www.beliefnet.com/faiths/christianity/6-powerful-keys-to-unlock-revelation.aspx

6 Powerful Keys to Unlock the Book of Revelation
Improve your understanding of the Bible’s most complicated book.
By Lesli White
The Book of Revelation is one of the most complicated books of the Bible, even for Christians who have spent a lot of time reading the Bible. The last book of the Bible is also called the Apocalypse, meaning to disclose and reveal.
https://www.beliefnet.com/faiths/christianity/6-powerful-keys-to-unlock-revelation.aspx
According to the Scripture, the Book of Revelation was “given by inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16). We know from this that this book of the Bible includes information our Heavenly Father intends to reveal. Given Revelation is such a complex book, there are many things that people get wrong about this text. Here are six powerful keys to unlock the book of Revelation.

The book has a complicated background.
Many people are confused about the background of the Book of Revelation. Some Bible translations say that the Book of Revelation is the Revelation of John, but this isn’t entirely true. Revelation 1:1 tells us, “The Revelation [is] from Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants what must soon occur. He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John.” God talked to John in his dream and gave all the revelations he wrote in the book. However, the real author of Revelation is God, and Jesus Christ is the One who gave the Revelation to an angel to give to John. John recorded the message but is not the real author of the book. John was fitted for this role as he considered Jesus, his best friend. He was a beloved disciple – He followed Jesus for three years and believed every word He said.

The book is an apocalyptic prophecy.
Most biblical scholars agree that the Book of Revelation’s framework is apocalyptic. As a genre, apocalyptic literature details the authors’ visions of the end times as revealed by an angel or other heavenly messenger. It shares with prophecy revelation through visions and dreams, which often combine reality and fantasy. In both cases, a divine interpreter is usually provided to the receiver so that they may understand the many complexities of what is seen. John uses end-of-the-world imagery, as you would commonly see from apocalyptic works. This literature type relies heavily on symbolism that speaks to the audience that the book is written for. The symbols provided in the book were intended to impact hearers. Revelation is a highly poetic book that aims to influence and persuade the audience.

The number 6 in Revelation is significant.
Contrary to popular culture and popular belief, the number 666 is the name of the coming antichrist. Revelation 13:8 says, “Let the One with understanding reckon the meaning of the number of the beast, for it is the number of man. His number is 666.” The number six is thought to be the number of man: Man was created on the 6th day; man labors six days only. The workweek is missing something until God decides to set aside another day on which no work is to be done, but rest must be taken in honor of God resting from His great work. Seven typically represents completeness or perfection. The number 666 implies imperfection. Six, being on short of seven, can denote something incomplete or flawed in God’s eyes, and it can be associated with God’s enemies (1 Chronicles 20:6; Daniel 3:1). The writer of Revelation didn’t intend 666 to be the devil’s number, though it is commonly considered to be.

We can learn a great deal about Jesus’ return from this book.
The Book of Revelation is an apocalyptic letter that relies on visions, symbols, and Old Testament references to reveal the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promise given to Abraham in Genesis. While many people think that the book tells the date and time of Jesus’ return, this is not revealed here. Many people have attempted to pinpoint the time of Christ’s return, and each has failed. Jesus told his disciples on the Mount of Olives, referenced in Matthew 24:36, that “No one knows about the day or the hour,” so it is impossible to pinpoint the exact day or time of his return. However, we are told by Jesus that we will know when His return is near. “And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other” (Matthew 24:30). A big takeaway from this reading is that Jesus will return one day as King with His followers to cue repentance.

Hope is found in the book.
What all Christians should remember is that the Book of Revelation is really about God’s victory. When reading through this book, you will learn about the sufferings we will face. If you think the Book of Revelation is only about the End Times and dark days to come, you’re missing an important message.

The book symbolizes hope and assures us that God will save us all once again and defeat the enemy. If that doesn’t represent hope, then what else does?
One of the most significant themes of Revelation is God’s sovereign rule over His church and history. While the book is confusing, this is not John’s aim. His aim to bless them. Revelation 1:3 says, “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it because the time is near.” While we continue to see that the devil is at work, the devil and his negative forces will be destroyed, and God will bring about His perfect creation. As Christians, we are called to push through and endure. We will face opposition and persecution, but there is no cause more worthy.

Lesli White is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth with a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications and a concentration in print and online journalism. In college, she took a number of religious studies courses and harnessed her talent for storytelling. White has a rich faith background. Her father, a Lutheran pastor and life coach was a big influence in her faith life, helping her to see the value of sharing the message of Christ with others. She has served in the church from an early age. Some of these roles include assisting ministry, mutual ministry, worship and music ministry and church council.

5 Things to Know if Revelation Scares You
Jennifer Slattery
JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLoud.com
 14 Apr  2021

signs of the end times
Many believers experience mixed feelings regarding what scholars refer to as the “end times” and Revelation, the apocryphal book that speaks of them for numerous reasons. First, most of us don’t like to think about persecution, global wars, evil rulers with seemingly absolute power, and catastrophic natural disasters able to wipe out one third of the population. Second, the unknown triggers anxiety in many of us, and this highly symbolic and hard to understand letter can easily exacerbate this emotion.

But God doesn’t want us to live in fear. To the contrary. He directed His servant John to write the letter in order to encourage ancient believers during a time of intense persecution. Through it, God reminded them, and by extension, us, of powerful truths able to build our hope-filled anticipation of all that is to come.

Here are 5 Things to know if Revelation scares you:
1. God Wins
When sin entered into God’s once flawless creation, Satan and his demons declared war on God and His children. This invading darkness reveals itself in every instance of abuse, oppression, disease, and wounded heart. We’ve all felt the effects: Loved ones lost much too soon. Relationships shattered. Communities divided. Lives destroyed.

Surrounded by such destruction, we might fear that all is lost. But Scripture promises this is far from true. One day, the God of heaven’s armies will rally His troops to defeat evil for good. As Romans 16:20a states, “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.”
Revelation displays God’s ultimate victory as the supreme and most powerful Ruler of all. As the elders seated before God proclaim, “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign” (Revelation 11:17, NIV). Five chapters later, the nations gather against God’s people, but God prevails. An angel seizes Satan, binds him for 1,000 years and throws him into the pit. Once those 1,000 years end, Scripture says he’ll be “thrown into the lake of burning sulfur” where he will remain for all eternity (Revelation 20:1-3).
2. Utopia Is Coming
Though Revelation details the catastrophic outpouring of God’s wrath, this book isn’t about destruction and tragedy. At its core, it’s a promise of hope, reminding us all that good indeed will come and one day God will permanently banish our sorrow.

Revelation 21:1-4 tells us about a new, perfect heaven and earth that will replace our broken world. And God will live among us, dwelling with us, as He always intended. What’s more, “He will wipe every tear from [our] eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (NIV).
3. Our Eternity Is Sure
If reading the judgments described throughout Revelation triggers doubt and anxiety, know this — God will grant all who trust in Him eternal rest. Our salvation doesn’t depend on us. It’s a gift of grace bestowed upon all who believe in Christ. He Himself promised, in John 10:28, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of My hand.” Adding emphasis, He said, “My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
Let’s break this down. God the Father is greater than all. All darkness, all evil, every ruler that ever rose to power or disease that practically shut down the entire globe. Nothing can stand against Him nor can anything divert His plans or nullify His promises. He is greater than all, and He and the Son are one. One in mindset. One in will. One in power. One in love. And they hold us firmly in their hand.
What’s more, Ephesians 1:10 tells us, speaking of all who have accepted God’s forgiveness through Christ, “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit” (NIV).
We’re held firm and sealed in Christ and with Christ for all of eternity.
4. Blessed for Reading
I have read through Revelation numerous times. I’ve poured over commentaries, investigated the original Greek wording, and attended numerous sermons explaining this letter verse by verse. And yet, I am still confused. Perhaps you feel the same and worry you’re missing some crucial nugget of truth.

If so, perhaps these facts will give you peace. First, notice what John wrote in the beginning of this letter: “Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophesy, and blessed are those who hear it and take heart what is written in it …” (Revelation 1:3). Blessed are those who read and who listen, regardless of our understanding. While I want to study all Scripture, Revelation included, with the diligence and respect it deserves, I’m comforted to know God doesn’t condemn me in my confusion. Instead, He invites me to learn, trusting He’ll teach me all I need to know when I need to know it.

Second, God always clarifies and repeats the most crucial details of Scripture. For example, the Bible tells us plainly that Jesus is the Son of God who rescued us from the penalty of sin and purchased our salvation (Mark 14:61-62; Luke 1:32; Luke 4:41; John 1:34; John 14:6; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 10:9). Therefore, even in moments of confusion or misunderstanding, I have no reason to fear. Nor do you. Therefore, do your part to read, and trust God to fulfill His promise to bless you for this.
5. We Will Never Be Alone
Every hardship and struggle becomes all the more burdensome when we feel as if we’re fighting alone. That crushing weight begins to lift, however, when we realize God is with us. He remains with us through every challenge and season of sorrow, and He surrounds us with His love.

Consider all the promises preserved in Psalm 139:

“You have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.

You know when I sit and when I rise;
You perceive my thoughts from afar.

You discern my going out and my lying down;
You are familiar with all my ways.

Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.”

He knows us intimately and completely. He’s seen us at our worst, and still He envisions us at our best.

You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay Your hand upon me.”

He surrounds us with His love, a supernatural, eternal, impenetrable shield.

Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?

If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,

even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.

Like Jesus promised in John 10, nothing and no one can pry us from His hands. God holds us tight throughout our battles today and carries us into our more joy-filled tomorrow.

Revelation is a confusing, and at times unsettling, book that provides vivid displays of God’s justice and power. But these images needn’t overwhelm or terrify us. To the contrary. They should fill our hearts with hope-filled anticipation of the joy and eternal peace God promised.
Jennifer Slattery is a writer and speaker who hosts the Faith Over Fear podcast. She’s addressed women’s groups, Bible studies, and writers across the nation. She’s the author of Building a Family and numerous other titles and maintains a devotional blog at JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLoud.com.

As the founder of Wholly Loved Ministries, she’s passionate about helping women experience Christ’s freedom in all areas of their lives. Visit her online to learn more about her speaking or to book her for your next women’s event  and sign up for her free quarterly newsletter HERE  and make sure to connect with her on Facebook and Instagram.