Revelation... in 5 minutes!

Revelation is the most controversial and debated book in the whole Bible. It is as full of odd numbers and weird symbols as there are weird and wacky interpretations of it. Reading it usually leads to two kind of responses: despair and speculation. Those who go for the former get so confused by the book that they give up on it all together. Those who opt for the latter read Revelation to the point of obsession - and not a good obsession. Guess what? Neither position is right. Revelation can be understood, and when it is it is profoundly uplifting and encouraging! However, I am the first to acknowledge that it is difficult to understand, hence the sheer mass of odd interpretations! What is the way forward?

The gist of this post is in the title. The idea is to summarize the message of the book of revelation in a post that can be read in five minutes or less (for an average reader). Once you have read this post, try re-reading the whole of revelation in one go (that should take you less than an hour) with this framework in mind and see if it makes any more sense. I should note before I start that I am so heavily indebted to John Hosier's teaching and writing that this post is practically plagiarism!

Revelation in five minutes

Revelation is like an X-ray rather than a Crystal ball. It is not primarily about predicting the future, but about providing insight into what is currently going on in heaven. Behind the difficulties of life, the persecution, John's (author) readers could perceive another reality in these visions - the reality of what God was doing behind the events that were unfolding before their eyes.

John, at the beginning of Revelation sees a vision of the Ascended Christ. After the shock of this encounter, Jesus tells him to write seven letters to seven churches in which Jesus himself warns them about various things (I'm trying to keep this short) and tells quite a few of them off. We're usually fine with the letters - they are easier to understand. The rest of the book (Chapters 4 onwards) is another matter altogether.

Chapters 4-5 provide the backbone to the book. In Chapter 4, John has a vision of heaven opened in which he sees the throne of God. In the midst of the church's suffering, John's eyes are opened to see that throughout this, God is on the throne. In chapter 5 this is extended. John sees a vision of the conquering lamb of God, who because he died for the sins of the world, has authority to unfold the events of history. The suffering church which read this would understand this: "God is on the throne and the lamb of God has conquered. Therefore we have a hope that this world will finally be put to rights!".

The bulk of the book is taken up with 3 cycles of seven. Seven seals (6-8.5), seven trumpets (8.6-11.19), seven bowls of wrath (chapter 16). Don't get bogged down with the odd imagery. Each of these cycles is a different perspective on the folding out of history which climaxes with the end and return of Christ on the seventh of each. In other words, the seven seals, the seven trumpets and the seven bowls of wrath tell the history of the Church in very broad strokes. The first two series are interspersed with an interlude on (1) the assurance of the saints (chap 7) and (2) the mission of the Church (chap 10-11).

The more discerning of you will have notice that I have jumped over chaps. 12-14. These three chapters describe the battle between the Church and Satan from a heavenly perspective. The beasts in chapter 13 may well refer to particular Roman institutions and Emperors, but that doesn't change the interpretation of the book as a whole. The idea is that behind the oppression of the Church are the spiritual forces of darkness. In the midst of this all, however, the Church can be sure that they are ultimately safe and that the forces of evil will be destroyed (chap. 14).

After the final bowl of wrath (chap 16), there are two chapters which describe the fall of the great prostitute Babylon, which represents Rome (and by implication all world super-powers). In chapters 17-18, it is exposed for what it really is: a sham! Moreover, she is ultimately destined to fall, just like every other earthly empire. This is celebrated in 19.1-10. 


In 19.11-21, Jesus returns to establish justice again on earth and destroy all of his enemies! After a difficult chapter to interpret (chap. 20), there is a vision of judgement (20.11-15) and ew creation (Chaps. 21-22). The dead are raised to life and judged. The righteous go into eternal life and the unrighteous to eternal wrath. What follows is a vision of the new earth and new heaven and the new Jerusalem (the Church). All things are made new, all wrongs are righted and all tears are wiped away.

The book concludes with the encouragement that Jesus is returning soon, which acts as a warning to complacent Christians and an encouragement to suffering Christians. Behind the intense persecution which the Church in John's day was enduring, God was sovereign, the lamb had conquered and would return quickly to make all things new. In other words, revelation speaks to generations of Christians who find themselves in persecution and complacency with the message: "God is still on the throne, the lamb has conquered and he is returning soon to right all wrongs!"