R. Paul Stevens - Revelation: The Triumph of God

Many people misunderstand the book because of two commonly held misconceptions. First, Revelation is not difficult to understand. Though it is highly symbolic, it is not a lock whose key has been lost. The major reason we have difficulty decoding the symbolism of this book is that, unlike the first readers, we are largely illiterate when it comes to the Bible.

The Old Testament provides the most important clues for decoding Revelation. Of the 404 verses in Revelation, 278 allude to the Old Testament (though not one direct citation is actually quoted). The book is a biblical implosion. Old Testament ideas, symbols, names and themes have been powerfully pulled together through the inspiration of the Spirit to form a collage, a kaleidoscope effect in the message John brings.

For example, phrases like God will wipe away every tear from their eyes (7:17) is a creative adaption of Isaiah 25:8. Proper names like Balaam, Jerusalem and Sodom and concepts like the tree of life are adapted from Johns Bible. Numbers like twenty-four months are used symbolically, as they are in the Old Testament (Dan 9:27). This book above all others in the New Testament must be interpreted by Scripture.

Second, we misunderstand Revelation when we treat it as a book of predictions. It is not so much a prediction of future events as it is an expos of spiritual realities that affect us now and will bring the events of history to a worthy end. John shows us how the world looks to someone in the Spirit.

John wrote Revelation between A.D. 90 and 95 from his place of exile on Patmos Island. Tradition tells us that prior to his exile John left Israel to live in Ephesus, capital of the Roman province of Asia. The seven churches to whom this book is addressed were visited by a courier traveling on the circular road through modern Turkey. His letter described Johns vision of Christ as Lord of the churches (1:12-3:22), as the Lamb on the throne (5:1-14), as the liberating Word of God (19:11-16) and as the Leader in the new creation (2122). This book is truly the Revelation of Jesus Christ (1:1).

John says, Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it (1:3). Look forward to this blessing as you study Revelation.