Scripture Reading: Revelation 1:1-20, 1 Corinthians 15:54-57, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17
Let’s just be honest right out of the gate, shall we? I mean, we’re all friends here. When you think about reading the book of Revelation, you probably have a specific reaction. Be it fear, confusion, intrigue, elation—rarely is “neutral” the response to the grand finale of the Christian scriptures. For some, it brings out the instinct to solve a puzzle, with all the numbers and imagery appearing as pieces we want to try and fit together. For the more concrete thinkers, it might lead to frustration that Jesus’s revelation to the apostle John wasn’t more clear and straightforward. And for those of us who don’t relish the adventure of uncertainty, the book of Revelation can simply feel daunting.
Personally, I find that no other book in Scripture is quite like Revelation, simultaneously bringing up questions and curiosity right alongside the deepest sensations of hope, trust, and assurance. There is a settling exhale that happens when you turn the final page. It doesn’t come with a list of answers to all the questions that have been jotted in the margins. Instead, Revelation offers wisdom, insight, and hope for God’s people so we know how to live with the end of the story in mind. This is not a fuzzy hope for the distant future; Revelation brings the kingdom of heaven into our everyday lives and asks us how we will respond.
I don’t have many guarantees for your journey through this book of the Bible. You might find the finish line of your study has tied up some bows for you. Or you might find you have a whole different set of questions than the ones you began with! You might even find the journey wasn’t as scary as you thought it would be. But I do know this: It will be worth it.
Remember where you’re heading, and ask the Holy Spirit to give you glimpses of the greater story at hand. Beyond all of the imagery and poetry and prophecy—all part of Revelation’s beautiful and intricate tapestry—we are prompted to direct our gaze toward the throne of the only One who is worthy. He is the same one who is the Firstborn of all creation. The same one born in human flesh. The same one who walked dusty roads with fickle disciples and made His way to die on a cross outside Jerusalem. The same one who rose from the dead and now sits at the right hand of the Father. This is Jesus—the Son of God, the Alpha and Omega, the Lion of Judah, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords. And He is coming again.
Written by Lindsey Jacobi
