The book of Revelation has puzzled people for centuries. With its mysterious language, imagery, and battle scenes, as well as being an unfamiliar genre (letter-apocalyptic-prophecy), Revelation often leaves us frustrated and/or grasping for meaning. Some might focus on chapters 1-4 because of its warning, or 21-22 for its comfort. Others focus on the central body of the text trying to determine the end of the world (1988? 2021? 2026?). Many have zeroed in on 13:17 which gave pause on getting a credit card, tattoo, Covid vaccine, and no doubt Elon Musk’s Neuralink (coming next year). So what do we do?
Timothy writes, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim 3:16-17), so we cannot ignore or only focus on parts of Revelation - we need to look at it completely and do the work of trying to understand what John was trying to write. And so, although there is still much debate about the meaning of all that John saw, we dive in with certainty for he assures us it is “The revelation of Jesus Christ…and all who read it are blessed.”
