Your church’s hymnal is full of allusions to Revelation. “Crown him with many crowns, the Lamb upon his throne” (cf. 5:6; 21:1, 3). “The King of love my shepherd is, whose goodness faileth never // Where streams of living water flow, my ransomed soul he leadeth” (cf. 7:17). The list could go on and on. Images and refrains from the book of Revelation have captured the hearts of Christian songwriters for generations, and for good reason. Unfortunately, in many churches, Revelation’s prominence in the music ministry contrasts with its glaring absence in the preaching ministry.
I can understand why some pastors might be hesitant to preach through Revelation. Some view the book as debated, controversial, or difficult to understand. Others assume the book is primarily an obscure, cryptic prediction of details surrounding the end of the world and other things only vaguely connected to everyday life. However, Revelation (like every other book in the Bible) is a message from God for the teaching, reproof, correction, and training of His people (2 Tim 3:16). Revelation is for the church today, and the church needs pastors to preach its message with boldness and clarity.
The Right Approach: Obedience not Obscurity
John began the book of Revelation with a charge to his audience: “Blessed are those who hear, and who keep (tēreō) what is written in it” (1:3). He repeated this blessing in the concluding chapter: “Blessed is the one who keeps (tēreō) the words of the prophecy of this book” (22:7). The word translated keep in both of these verses is the same word that Jesus used in the great commission when he told us to make disciples, “teaching them to observe (tēreō) all that I have commanded you” (Matt 28:20). The entire book of Revelation is framed with twin reminders that the book’s message is a command from God for Christians to obey! Revelation is not a cryptic book about obscure mysteries of far-off realities. It speaks directly to the Christian life. Sure, Revelation contains ambiguous passages and certain symbols that leave interpreters scratching their heads. The main message, though, resounds clearly throughout the book. And trust me, this message will preach!
The Story to Be Obeyed
Revelation tells the story of the battle between God’s kingdom and Satan’s kingdom. This is the same story told throughout the NT, just packaged in a genre that communicates through apocalyptic symbols and a visionary narrative. Satan’s kingdom is a grotesque caricature of God’s kingdom. God sits on his throne, ruling over all creation in justice. Satan set up his throne in the midst of immorality, idolatry, and the oppression of God’s people (2:13). God exercises his rule through his Son (2:18), who is the Lion of the tribe of Judah (5:5) and the Lamb who was slain and yet stands victorious (5:6). Satan exercises his opposition to God’s kingdom through a beast who has a mortal wound that was healed (13:1–3). Christ sits with his Father on the divine throne (3:21; 22:1, 3). Satan gives his throne to the beast (13:2), and the beast uses his authority to blaspheme God and persecute Christians (13:5–8; cf. 11:7).
Every kingdom also has a society under the king’s rule. Revelation symbolically describes two societies as two women and two cities. The society of Satan’s kingdom is described as Babylon (14:8; 16:19; 17:5; 18:2, 10, 21). Babylon is a great prostitute who practices all kinds of wickedness and is drunk with the blood of the Christians she has persecuted (17:6). She is clothed with jewels, and she holds a cup “full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality” (17:4). The society of God’s kingdom (i.e., Christians) is the New Jerusalem. While Satan’s society is a prostitute arrayed in the filth of her sinfulness, God’s society is the bride of Christ clothed with her righteous deeds (19:7–8; 21:2). Both societies have an intimate relationship with their respective champion. Babylon sits upon the beast (17:3), and the New Jerusalem marries the Lamb. However, these are two drastically different relationships. The beast actually hates and kills the society under its dominion (17:16–17), but the Lamb laid down his life so that his people can live forever by the power of his blood (1:5; 5:9; 12:11).
This battle has no neutral ground. Every person is either in God’s kingdom or in Satan’s kingdom. Every person worships either the dragon (i.e., Satan) and his beast (13:4) or God and the Lamb (4:8–11; 5:9–14). Every person is either sealed by God (7:2–4; 9:4; 14:1; 22:4) or marked by the beast (13:16–18). In the end, when Christ returns and God makes all things new (21:5), every person will either reign victorious with Christ or be destroyed along with Satan. Revelation forces its readers to answer an eternity-altering question: Where does your allegiance lie? Do you belong to the Serpent or to the Lamb? Allegiance to the Serpent can provide temporary pleasure and worldly acceptance, but it ends in judgment. Allegiance to the Lamb will lead to temporary hardship and tribulation, but it ends in glory.
Revelation heralds God’s marching orders for how Christians can fight the good fight on the spiritual battleground.
Next week, we’ll see the three imperatives that aptly summarize the essence of Revelation’s message: persevere, witness, and worship.
Cody Roberts
Cody Roberts serves as pastor of Red Bluff Baptist Church. A native of Winfield, Alabama, he holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Alabama in Huntsville and a Master of Divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Cody and his wife, Becky, have one daughter and are eagerly anticipating the arrival of their second.
- Cody Roberts
