Many people avoid studying the Revelation of Jesus Christ, either because of its frightening imagery or because it is so hard to understand: even John Calvin never wrote a commentary on it. But in verse 3 John promises a blessing on those who read this prophecy and who keep what is in it. So, let’s take a deep breath and dive in.

But while we explore this book, we need to remember that it belongs to a special kind of Biblical literature: it’s an apocalypse, like parts of the Old Testament books of Daniel, Ezekiel, Joel, and Zechariah. That means it uses not just words but lots of visual images to express its truths. And many of these images are obviously symbolic: take for example the “seven spirits” that John mentions in verse 4. We know there’s only One Holy Spirit, but the number “seven” has great symbolic meaning throughout the Bible: it’s an image of completeness. We’ll see other numbers used in this way throughout the book, just as many of the images found in the Old Testament apocalyptic books will reappear in the Revelation.

But as we puzzle over these pictures and numbers, we need to keep the main points of the Revelation firmly in mind. For this is a Revelation of Jesus Christ. It thus focuses on Who Christ is in the past, the present, and the future. For because He is God He is not limited by either time or space. He is, and He was, and He is to come. He says He is the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last letters of the Greek alphabet, both the source of all life and the conclusion of all history.

And what promise does this eternal Christ give to us? That He is coming again in clouds of unmistakable, unimaginable glory (v. 7). And when He takes up His dominion forever and ever, He will make His faithful people a kingdom of priests to God (v. 6), even as those from every tribe and tongue and nation who have rejected Him will mourn (v. 7).

So, no matter what terrifying things we may read in this book, and no matter what dismaying things happen in the world around us, let’s keep the main thing the main thing: Christ has risen from the dead. He rules over all the kings of the earth even today. And just as we celebrate His first coming today, we can be sure that He is coming again to make all things right.

Revelation 1:1-8 (NASB)

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must shortly take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John,
2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.
3 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.
4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come; and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne;
5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first-born of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us, and released us from our sins by His blood,
6 and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father; to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
7 Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. Even so. Amen.
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”