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Blessed is the one who reads, and those who hear the words of the prophecy and keep the things which are written in it; for the time is near (Revelation 1:3, ESV).
It’s easy to miss the point of the book of Revelation.
The Apostle John describes a blessing for those who understand and practice what is revealed in it.
What is the point of the book of Revelation? What is it that we don’t want to miss?
The book of Revelation describes the millennium, judgments of wrath, the battle of Armageddon, along with descriptions of Hell and Heaven. All these topics reveal God’s purposes, giving us both hope and warning.
However, this isn’t the point of the book of Revelation.
I’ve led a Bible study on the book of Revelation several times when I pastored a church and invariably someone would ask, “The book is so confusing, why was it written?”
The point of the book of Revelation is the Presence of God!
I love reading Revelation 4 as it describes the throne room of God. What a great start to the many end-times prophecies revealed in the book. Descriptions of a rainbow, an appearance like an emerald, flashes of lightning, peals of thunder, and a sea of glass – describe our God who sits on the throne in chapter 4.
The Presence of God begins the book of Revelation. Those surrounding the throne see God’s glory and fall in worship!
The book of Revelation also ends with the Presence of God…
Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God (Revelation 21:3).
I like discussing the end-times, especially now since we are living in the end-times!
But the point of the book can get lost describing the four horses and understanding the bowls of wrath. Discussing the 144,000, Babylon, the false prophet, and the two witnesses make great conversation. But understanding the book of Revelation falls short if we don’t realize that in eternity, God will…
Wipe every tear from our eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away (Revelation 21:4).
The Presence of God heals.
During the turmoil of history, despite current events and the past few years of COVID, we have the Hope of Heaven where…
The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp (Revelation 21:23).
The Presence of God gives light and truth.
Dwelling in the Presence of God yields worship. God doesn’t command us to bow our knees, but we will gladly worship Him when we fully know His purposes in history.
No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads (Revelation 22:3-4).
Have you ever thought, “Why did God allow this to happen?”
The Presence of God means intimacy. When you are in the Presence of God and see His face – you will know the answer.
The Presence of God means healing, truth, and hope. You don’t have to wait until heaven.
The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price (Revelation 22:17).
The point of the book of Revelation – come to Jesus now and dwell in the Presence of God for all eternity.
Interruptions will feature the Book of Revelation in 2022. Read #280, #281, #295, #307,
#316, #333, #343, #364, #380, #395, #406, #432, #433, #559, and #566 at www.grantedwardsauthor.com for previous blogs on Revelation.
I’m writing 13 more blogs on Revelation in the next year.