Revelation is the Bible book that piques our curiosity in a major way. Its words turn lots of heads. Strong reactions are provoked. Some take it literally. Others read it as figurative – moral stories with hidden messages. Others dismiss it as fantasy, a collection of allegorical expressions from the wacky minds of persecuted people suffering from martyr complexes.
To take a look at this part of our Scriptures means that we first have to consider who received these words and to whom they were directed. Like the majority of the New Testament books, Revelation was crafted as a letter. It had a sender and an intended audience. This is a reality presented right up front.
The angel came to earth to visit John the Apostle and reveal “things that must shortly take place” (Revelation 1:1). Before the discourses about the things above and events afar off in the future, the words provide details about the situations on the ground in the congregations as they existed in Asia Minor as Year 100 approached.
There’s a promise right up front for us: “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it, for the time is near” (Revelation 1:3). He who ignores Revelation misses out on something awesome.
At this point of his hearing, seeing, and writing, John was the only one of the original 12 Apostles yet alive. He had survived waves of attacks on the Christian movement. He still witnessed the Gospel spread throughout the Empire and beyond it – Thomas, the doubter of John 20, had reached and perished in India by this time.
John watched over Mary, the mother of Jesus, as he was instructed to by Jesus as He, the Savior, hung upon the Cross. Eventually, the Apostle wound up in Ephesus, serving the congregation that had been founded and nurtured by Paul and his companions, Priscilla and Aquila.
John saw the Lord in his time of trouble. The message came to him as he was in exile on Patmos, an island used by the Roman Empire for banished political prisoners. He was sent there “because of the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus” (Revelation 1:9).
Circumstances aside, John worshipped in Spirit and Truth. Jesus met him and commanded him to write a letter to the churches of the region. The Son delivered seven particular messages addressed to the leaders of these congregations.
Kingdom of Priests
For starters, believers who take up and read Revelation are reinforced in their identity as members of Christ, the first born of the dead, the One who loved us and “released us from our sins by His Blood” (Revelation 1:5). As ruler of all of kings on earth, the Alpha and Omega who possesses all dominion, has called his followers to serve as Kingdom Priests.
This phrasing hearkens back to Exodus 19. There, the Israelites, freshly delivered from their long season of slavery in Egypt were told of their purpose in the plan of the Lord: “… you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6).
What does it mean to be a priest in the economy of God? The book of Leviticus outlined the duties delegated to the tribe chosen to serve at the Tabernacle, the worship center for Israel. Among other things, their primary jobs were to teach the commandments, to receive the sin offerings and sacrifice them, to inspect those stricken with leprosy and pronounce cleanness and uncleanness. They served the people as they were to get to know God and helped them to learn how to walk in His Presence.
Did they fulfill this purpose faithfully? They did not, as the Old Testament stories show us. That does not mean that they are done away with.
These priestly duties now fall to us who belong to Jesus. We are preeminently priests, servants of His Temple, the Temple of His Body (see John 2). We talk of God. We point to the one true Finished Work offering of the Son. We encourage people to draw near to Him. We reveal Heaven’s thoughts on sin and repentance, on forgiveness and reconciliation.
Touched by the Son
There, in the setting when Revelation was communicated, Jesus sought to draw His disciples back into order with their great calling. For this reason, I see it as important for me to put myself into each of the churches addressed in the early chapters of this book.
I am called by the Good Shepherd. He knows me by name. He first loved me and now I can love with His love.
John, being the disciple who most talked of the love of God, wrote Revelation with an emphasis on the love that comes from the Lover of all souls. The close of the first chapter describes how John fell faint at the feet of His Master. Jesus was gloriously attired and He possessed flaming eyes of fire. His face shone like the sun.
We need to take note of how Jesus responded to John: “And He laid His right hand upon me, saying, Do not be afraid, I am the First and the Last, and the living One, and I was dead, and behold I am alive forevermore. …” (Revelation 1:17-18).
Ponder these introductory passages before you read further. These words give us a true sense of how Christ yet seeks to relate to those on earth. Even resurrected and positioned in glory, Jesus comes as One who serves. As He washed the feet of His followers in the Upper Room, He now lifts up the faces of those cast down.
Knowledge of His perfect love should drive away our fears about Him. He came not to bring us to sorrowing that leaves us paralyzed. He seeks to encourage us in the Mission He communicated. There’s a big world that He’s in love with, so in love that He came and died to make the Way for any who would turn to Him to become royal family members.
Can you see Him like this? Sure, those eyes of fire might burn us as they burned John. Imagine the touch of that hand of grace, that right hand of full authority reaches to us. Arise and be comforted for the Lord is God and He has saved you.
Later on in Revelation we will read of His coming as the Conqueror. Evil shall be once and for all defeated, the wicked ones cast away and assigned their places among the dead, separated from the Holy Presence.
Hear and Open to Him
What Jesus told the churches listed here in Revelation 2 and 3 was particular. However, He emphasized that every one of His followers must tune his ear to hear what the Spirit has to say.
To the Ephesus congregation, He instructed them to get back to the simple love that once characterized their fellowship. To Smyrna, a group under persecution, the Word was to fear not and hold fast. Pergamum was warned to turn back to Truth and away from false teaching.
Thyatira was commended for deeds of love and faith and service, but chastised for the practices of immorality promoted by some in the church. “Wake up and strengthen what little you have left” was the charge given to those in Sardis, a fellowship on life support with a remnant of true believers.
Philadelphia was a faithful band of followers and the promise was that they would be kept in their hours of testing. Last was Laodicea, the lukewarm, self-satisfied congregation, a lost sheep church that was on the mind of Jesus. He was there for those in Laodicea, knocking at the door, waiting for an opening to sit and dine with them on a meal of truth and life.
As believers today, we can find ourselves in any of these seven spiritual environments. The great news for us is that the Son cannot leave nor forsake us. He comes. He knocks. He patiently waits, hoping for us to open up to Him.
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My Voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and with dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20).
