Why We Should Study the Book of Revelation Today

Many people will not read and study Revelation anymore, because they claim it is divisive.

I once had a pastor who believed this. He thought those teachers who did teach were only after money, and it was divisive.

But

The Lord Jesus gives a special blessing to those who do:

B1 Revelation 1:3 WEL Blessed is the one who reads, who hears the words of this prophecy, and who obeys those things which are written in it, because the time is near.

B2 Revelation 22:7 WEL “Look, I come quickly. How blessed is the person who obeys the words of the prophecy of this book.”

Some quotes from others:

B1 Moffatt as found in Robertson’s Word Pictures: “The content of the Apocalypse is not merely prediction; moral counsel and religious instruction are the primary burdens of its pages” (Moffatt).

B2 W. A. Criswell: God has said that there is an attendant blessing in this study, and in this preparation, and in this preaching, that is not attendant upon any other part of the Word of God. The only book in the Bible that has in it an especial blessing for those who read, and study, and ponder, and meditate, and treasure is this Apocalypse of Jesus Christ [Revelation 1:3]. And lest we miss the blessing, the word is repeated again in the last chapter and the [seventh] verse: “Blessed is he, blessed is he that guards, that treasures, that ponders the sayings of the prophecy of this book” [Revelation 22:7]. (Source)

Some notes:

B1 Some prophesy is sealed; Revelation is unsealed:

C1 Daniel 12:4 NLT But you, Daniel, keep this prophecy a secret; seal up the book until the time of the end, when many will rush here and there, and knowledge will increase."

C2 Revelation 22:10 NLT Then he instructed me, "Do not seal up the prophetic words in this book, for the time is near.

B2 The churches are warned to repent: Revelation 3:3 NLT Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again. If you don't wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief.

B3 The Gospel is preached. All of humanity is warned to repent.

C1 Revelation 9:20-21 NLT But the people who did not die in these plagues still refused to repent of their evil deeds and turn to God. They continued to worship demons and idols made of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood--idols that can neither see nor hear nor walk! And they did not repent of their murders or their witchcraft or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

C2 Revelation 16:11 NLT and they cursed the God of heaven for their pains and sores. But they did not repent of their evil deeds and turn to God.

C3 Revelation 14:6-7 NASB And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people; and he said with a loud voice, "Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters.

B4 Knowledge of the end times, especially to those who will live at the time of fulfillment.

B5 It is so important that God sent his angel to bring the message to the Apostle John and to us: Revelation 22:6 WEL Then he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true, and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to show his servants the things which must happen shortly.”

The Book of Revelation must be interpreted in the plain, normal sense as all Scripture must.

Revelation 1:3 WEL Blessed is the one who reads, who hears the words of this prophecy, and who obeys those things which are written in it, because the time is near.

B1 Blessed

C1 Today the first definition is to make holy by religious ritual; sanctify. (Source)

C2 The definition in the Greek is more enjoying spiritual happiness and the favor of God (Webster’s Dictionary 1828).

C3 Some uses:

D1 Matthew 16:17 NLT Jesus replied, "You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.

D2 Romans 4:8 NIV Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them.

D3 Revelation 19:9 NIV Then the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!" And he added, "These are the true words of God.

B2 We want and strongly desire to read this message from the Lord Jesus. Three blessings; three classes blessed:

C1 The one who reads

C2 The one who hears

C3 The one who obeys (believes and lives God’s way)

B3 Joy is different than happiness.

C1 Happiness is defined as: Research in the field of positive psychology and happiness often define a happy person as someone who experiences frequent positive emotions, such as joy, interest, and pride, and infrequent (though not absent) negative emotions, such as sadness, anxiety and anger (Lyubomirsky et al., 2005). (Source)

C2 Joy is define as: Joy is distinctly a Christian word and a Christian thing. It is the reverse of happiness. Happiness is the result of what happens of an agreeable sort. Joy has its springs deep down inside. And that spring never runs dry, no matter what happens. Only Jesus gives that joy. He had joy, singing its music within, even under the shadow of the cross (S. D. Gordon). (Source)

C3 Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. It is not a result of circumstances.

C4 Reading and studying Revelation is a blessed joy.

Psalm 16:11 NLT You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.

Some resources:

B1 Studies in Revelation by J. Hampton Keathley III

B2 A Testimony of Jesus Christ by Tony Garland

B3 Commentary on the Revelation by William Newell

B4 Revelation Commentaries an extensive list on Precept Austin