My Bible study group is slowly working through Revelation. I have read through this book several times and find the themes to be hopeful and triumphant. But through the ages Revelation has been a difficult and sometimes troubling book for Christians.
Since I was a teenager I have heard people predict the end of the world based on their reading of Revelation. Since the world is still here, we might want to reconsider how we study this particular book. Or, maybe we should consider studying this book the way we study all other Scripture: by asking questions and praying the Spirit will illuminate our hearts and minds to the wonderful truths the book contains, and look at it in the full context of Scripture. Revelation is Scripture, and like all the books of Scripture its mysteries must be unlocked for us by the Holy Spirit, and like all other books in the Bible it reveals God in Christ.
This book is a challenge because of all the strange creatures, celestial beings and imagery it contains. Still that should not stop us from seeking the truth of God in Christ written in these pages. We might not understand all of the content. But, we don’t understand all there is to know about any book of the Bible. We can understand only what the Spirit teaches us.
This is what John the Baptist meant when he said, “A man can receive only what is given Him from heaven” (John 3:27). Anything we know about Scripture comes to us from God through the Holy Spirit.
Venture into all the books of Scripture with the Spirit, and hear what God has to teach you.
Denise Larson Cooper has a passion for Christ and sharing His Word. A wife and mother of two daughters, Denise currently works as a gymnastic coach.
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