His-story
“Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.” ~ Revelation 1:3
Have you ever had a perception about something for so long that you never stopped to question whether your perception was actually right? That was me with the book of Revelation. For years, my perception of Revelation was that it was basically a book about the Antichrist. I thought this was the time when the Antichrist would finally take over and life as we know it would come to an end. In my mind, Revelation was about the enemy taking control, the world falling apart, judgment, destruction, dragons, strange creatures, seals, trumpets, bowls, and one terrifying event after another.
I honestly thought, “Well, since I won’t be here when all of this happens anyway, why do I need to take time to understand it?” I had made Revelation a book I was somewhat afraid to open because I thought I already knew what it was about. But, it turns out, that couldn’t have been further from the truth.
So I began to listen to Revelation on my Bible app and eventually study it verse by verse. The more time I spent in the book, the more I realized something that completely changed my perspective. Revelation isn’t the story of the Antichrist taking over. It’s the story of Jesus Christ revealing His ultimate authority, His victory, and the fulfillment of God’s plan. Oh! Now I get it: It’s still His story!
The enemy is certainly part of the story, and Revelation doesn’t shy away from the reality of evil, judgment, and the final conflict. But the enemy isn’t the main character, and he certainly doesn’t get the final word. The Jesus Christ does.
That realization changed everything for me. I had spent years looking at Revelation through the lens of what the enemy was going to do. But then as I spent time in it, the Holy Spirit began showing me to look through the lens of what God is doing during that time.
What I found was not a book where Satan finally gets his opportunity to take over God’s creation. I found a book that reveals that God plan still stands, Jesus is still Lord, God’s purposes are still being accomplished, and ultimately, Jesus and His people stand in victory over the enemy for all eternity.
More than five years ago, I worked my way through Revelation verse by verse. The book I had avoided for so long became one of my favorite books of the Bible. That’s why I’m so excited to take this journey through Revelation with you.
Today’s key verse in the very beginning of Revelation, gives a promise that I don’t want anyone to miss. Verse 3 tells us there is a special blessing for those who read the words of this prophecy, those who hear them, and those who keep the things that are written in it.
I love this because God isn’t just telling us what is going to happen someday. He’s inviting us to listen, to receive what He is saying, and to allow His Word to affect the way we live today. I can personally confirm that this blessing is real. I know it won’t be long until you recognize it, too.
As I began studying Revelation for myself, verse by verse, something happened in my life. God began opening my understanding, changing my perspective, strengthening my faith, and revealing things about Himself that I hadn’t seen before. The blessing wasn’t simply in gaining knowledge about what would happen in the future. The blessing was in knowing Him more deeply in the present and understanding that He is the Victor, not our enemy.
I’ve experienced that blessing personally, and that’s one of the reasons I’m so excited for you to take this journey through Revelation with me.
Because if you’ve ever thought, “I could never understand that book,” I want you to know that you don’t have to have it all figured out before you begin. You simply need to come with an open heart and a willingness to listen, exactly what I had to learn.
Maybe you’ve had some of the same ideas I had. Maybe you’ve thought Revelation was too confusing, too frightening, or simply a book about the end of the world that doesn’t have much to say to you today. But what if we’ve been looking at it from the wrong perspective?
What if, instead of looking first for the Antichrist, the judgment, the beasts, the battles, and everything that seems frightening, we looked first for Jesus? After all, Revelation begins by telling us exactly what it is: “The Revelation of Jesus Christ.”
It’s His story. And I think you’re going to be surprised by what happens when we begin to see it from that viewpoint.
Today’s scripture reading: Revelation 1:1-3
1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John,
2 who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.
3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.
Journal:
- What has been my attitude toward the book of Revelation in the past? Have I approached it with curiosity, fear, confusion, or anticipation?
- What stood out to me most about Revelation 1:1 to 3?
- What does this passage reveal to me about Jesus?
- Is there anything that has made me hesitant to study Revelation? What would it look like to give that fear to God?
- What does it mean to me personally that Revelation promises a blessing to those who read, hear, and keep what is written?
- Where do I need to remember that God is still in control even when circumstances around me feel uncertain?
- Write a prayer beginning with, “Jesus, as I begin this journey through Revelation, open my heart to see You more clearly…”
