BibleProject | One Story That Leads to JesusSample

You’ve made it to the Book of Revelation. Amazing! This is where the Bible describes the end of the world, right? No, not exactly. John wrote this to real people in the Roman province of Asia, who lived under the persecution of Roman Emperor Domitian. As the video explains, this book is not a secret, predictive code about the timing of the end of the world. The Greek Bible titles it the “Apocalypse of John” (Apokalupsis Yohannou). And “apocalypse” means “reveal.”

John reveals God’s perspective on the world so that readers can see what’s happening in their world in light of history’s ultimate outcome. By calling his writing a “prophecy” (Rev. 1:3), John suggests that he’s embracing the tradition of Israel’s prophets, who often warned or comforted God’s people during crises. The prophets belonged to the same story as John’s readers, both finding completion in Jesus’ story.

In today’s reading, John addresses seven churches in the Roman province of Asia, some falling away from Jesus and others staying faithful. Pressure to reject Jesus is mounting, so John warns everyone about a decision this pressure will soon force them to make. Will you remain in Christ or not?

The plot tension that forms in today’s reading will drive the rest of Revelation’s story. Will Jesus’ people persevere through pain? Will they inherit God’s new world? And why is faithfulness to Jesus described as “conquering?”

Buckle up. After opening pleasantries, an explosion of mind-bending images fill the pages. Heavenly thunder booms, stars fall, and smoke pours out of the cosmic abyss. The apocalyptic moments in Revelation reveal God’s point of view on a story that human eyes can only see glimpses of. The Book of Revelation offers a wild, important, literary adventure through time and space, revealing how Jesus will someday conquer the world through love.

Reflection Questions

• Meditate on the messages to the specific churches. What behaviors receive commendation or rebuke? What encouragement might this offer to future generations of the Church?
• Compare Daniel 7:13-14 with Revelation 1:12-16. How do these two passages portray Jesus the Son of Man?