Reveling in Revelation
By: Matthew Lugibihl
Tags: Bible, Theology, Revelation

This is another post about discovering — for the first time — the truths contained in a book of the Bible I’ve neglected. Sorry for the lack of originality.

How does the church view Revelation? Until my more recent study, I had never seriously read the book. Every one of my attempts started well enough. The church letters were straightforward and didactic, but I would tend to stall out in the middle of chapter four in the throne room of God. While trying to visualize the four living creatures and understand their significance, I would grow pessimistic about the book having any edifying value. What was with these strange animals? Then there were dragons and bowls and trumpets and… My estimation was that this distant future was so unrelatable that there wasn’t much of a reason for me to learn it at all. It should be left as trivia fodder for seminary students. My only other impression of the prophetic book was based on vague memories of the Left Behind series. I knew that if I was saved I wouldn’t have to worry much about those errant, frightening descriptions, and I was content with this understanding of the book.

That was it. What a tragedy. I can’t recall a single sermon or Bible Study over this book. Why was I starved of the rich truths within these scriptures? But first,

I’m Sleeping

In a recent reading of the gospels, I for the first time saw the duality of the disciples and Jesus each, at some point, being frustrated with the other for sleeping.

The disciples were incredulous that Jesus was sleeping through the great windstorm that threatened to capsize their boat. In fear they came to Him and asked “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” (Mk. 4:38b). Lacking faith and living in unbelief they feared for their lives. The disciples were uncertain about their end and lived unaware of the spiritual reality: the reality that the Word of Jesus is a divine imperative powerful enough to set the planets in motion, call dead men to life, and quiet the wind and waves. This is why Jesus’ first remark was, “Where is your faith?”

Then, the scene in Gethsemane. Jesus was deeply distressed and troubled because He knew the cup He was about to drink, because of the spiritual realities He was walking into. In the single most pivotal moment of all history, the disciples were sleeping in ignorance. This was not a forgivable ignorance. They had been told multiple times of what was coming to pass. Jesus’ immense agony was visibly evident to them. Despite this, Jesus’ friends couldn’t stay awake and keep watch as He prayed. They didn’t understand in their hearts the gravity and weight of what was taking place. They once again found themselves unaware of the spiritual realities in which they lived.

On the surface, of course one should be scared for their life, and of course our bodies get tired, but these missteps are not merely hairline cracks. They run deep, exposing a weak foundation beneath.

Wake Up

I propose a neglected role of Revelation is as a powerful antidote to this ignorance. It unveils spiritual realities to encourage our faith and sure up our foundation. This is a consistent theme of scripture. In Hebrews 12 it was “for the joy set before him” that Jesus took on the cross. The writer proceeds to charge believers to “consider him who endured such opposition from sinners so that [we] will not grow weary and lose heart.” In other words, see the world from God’s eyes.

Consider the book’s audience. Revelation was written to believers living in the midst of hostile persecution as they resisted the Roman enforcement of emperor worship. Revelation is not written as idle fortune telling. It was written to strengthen believers who desperately need it to strengthen their faith. We need it for the same reason.

In demonstration, allow me to extoll briefly on chapter four’s description of the throne in heaven. Each piece paints a beautiful picture of ultimate reality behind it all.

The emerald-like rainbow circling the throne and the sea of glass, clear as crystal.

To know the grandeur of it all.

The surrounding twenty-four thrones of the tribes and apostles, representing all believers crowned and dressed in white.

To know that cloth of righteousness.

The blinding lightning and the peals of violent thunder.

To know the authority of the throne.

The creation-encompassing living creatures in such focused worship towards the thrice holy God.

To know the ultimate supremacy of God over creation.

The elders laying down their crowns before the throne in proclamation of God’s glory and honor and power.

To know the humility that produces this diligent worship.

The vibrancy of the apocalyptic descriptions entreat the heart to live in the supreme reality of God’s glory and His victory. Often we don’t need to know a higher number of truths, we need to humbly submit to the soul-ravaging truths we’ve already been told. It is one thing to know God is king in an intellectual sense; it is another to understand the magnificence of His throne and His sovereignty over every atom in the universe.

This is just a sampling of the fruit that can come from meditating on God’s Revelation to John. Reveling in Revelation can bring us to rejoice in victory as the dragon is hurled to earth, to despise sin’s depravity as we consider the whore of Babylon, and to long for our more complete reconciliation as we await the New Jerusalem. This scripture is sweet to the tongue and restorative to ours souls.

The word revel, while of course is alliterative, also speaks to a life within the scripture which is often treated as dead. In Desiring God Piper describes that the best question to identify a follower of Christ is not to ask whether they believe in Him, but whether they treasure Him. Revelation is exactly this, bringing us to cherish our victorious king. We have had this all backwards. Revelation is not one of the more dry books (like is commonly ascribed to Leviticus), it is one of the most inviting.

In the age we are living in, we have no excuse. With infinite commentaries and sermons at our fingertips, an exegetical and expository teaching of Revelation is more accessible than ever. If you have been as ignorant as I have been, my encouragement is that of a parent coaxing their kid off the diving board. Despite the obvious reservation, it will certainly bring you the most joy, and awaiting you will be the warm embrace of Jesus’ encouragement to you.

I do not want to say this ‘reveling’ is the only benefit of Revelation. There is also direct teaching, and eschatological interpretations can direct how we should live our lives, but my point is that there is a rich joy in the prophecy which is too soon robbed by confusion and false impressions.

Enjoy the book. Get a good commentary and meditate on the imagery. The victory has already been won.

I would recommend Matt Chandler’s series on it. If you watch it, you will clearly see how he basically dictates my perspective shared here. He provides a good survey of the book as a starting point for deeper study.

Link: Matt Chandler’s Sermon Series on Revelation