Back to Basics - April 5 Followup

We had a chance to look into the Apostle John’s last words.  He wrote them about 90 AD, and in them are the last recorded words of John and Jesus.  (see Revelation 3:20)

Here we discovered a number of things pertaining to Revelation.

1.    John was writing to a group of Christians who were already feeling the pressure of persecution.  So it was important that he wrote in language that only they would understand and that the encouragement that came from his pen would not be thwarted by those who would steal their joy.

2.    Revelation is not meant to be mystical, rather it is a series of “glimpses” that John was allowed to visualize from God.  He wrote down the best he could describe, given his culture - his world understanding, and what he already knew of God.  It was John showing us God in revelations given to him.

3.    The Book of Revelation gives us symbols, some explained some unexplained, but each one has a particular relevance.  They help us to not only understand God’s working in the lives of His people, but also to provide hope that whatever we may being going through, there will be an end.

We also realized that God has always had a “Remnant” people that He calls His followers - those people who do not give up on their loyalty to God; those people who do not fold from the pressure of men or bend towards the convenience or comfort of compromise.  (see Revelation 14:12)

Why do you think it was so important that John revealed that God had a faithful people who were true to Him?  Look what God said to the prophet Elijah when he was so discouraged and thought he was the only one that followed God.  1 Kings 19: 13-18

Revelation is a book of Hope for those who choose to make Christ the God of their lives.