The Revelation of John the Evangelist is the last book of the Bible. Its author was one of the disciples of Jesus Christ - the apostle John. He wrote it around the 90s of the Nativity of Christ, while in exile on the island of Patmos.
Revealing God's Mystery
Sometimes this book is called the Apocalypse, because that is how the word "Revelation" sounds in translation from the Greek language. It would be a mistake to think that God's Revelation is contained only in this final book of Holy Scripture. The entire Bible is an initiation into the mysteries of God's plan. The last book is a completion, a generalization of all Divine truths "sown" in the very first biblical book - Genesis, and consistently developing in subsequent chapters of the Old, and especially the New Testament.
Prophecy in Scripture
The Revelation of John the Theologian is also a book of prophecy. The visions that the author received from Christ mainly refer tofuture. Although in the eyes of God, who exists outside of time, all these events have already happened and are shown to the seer. Therefore, the narration is conducted with the help of past tense verbs. This is important if you read Revelation not out of idle curiosity for predictions, but as part of the Church of Christ, which finally defeated Satan here and became a magnificent New Jerusalem. Believers can gratefully exclaim, “Praise the Lord! Everything has already happened.”
Summary of the Revelation of St. John the Theologian
The final book of the Bible tells how the Antichrist (the incarnation of Satan) was born on earth, how the Lord Jesus Christ came a second time, how a battle took place between them, and God's enemy was thrown into the lake of fire. The Revelation of John the Theologian tells how the end of the world and the judgment on all people happened, and how the Church became the New Jerusalem, free from grief, sin and death.
Seven churches
John's first vision was of the Son of Man (Jesus Christ) in the midst of seven golden candlesticks that symbolize the seven churches. Through the mouth of John, God addresses each of them, characterizing its essence and giving it promises. These seven represent the one Church at different times of its existence. The first, Ephesus, is its initial stage, the second, in Smyrna, characterizes the Christian church during the period of persecution, the third, Pergamon, corresponds to the times when God's assembly became too secular. The fourth - in Thyatira - personifies the church that has departed from God's truths,turned into an administrative apparatus. Bible scholars say it is in line with the medieval Roman Catholic religious system. Whereas the fifth church in Sardis recalls the reformation of Martin Luther. The gathering of believers in Philadelphia symbolizes a return to the truth that all who are redeemed by the blood of Christ are members of His universal Church. The seventh, Laodicean, represents the time when the believers "faded" in their zeal, became: "not cold and not hot." Such a church makes Christ sick, ready to “spew it out of his mouth” (Rev. 3:16).
Who is around the throne
From the fourth chapter, the Revelation of John the Theologian (Apocalypse) tells about the throne seen in heaven with the Lamb (Jesus Christ) sitting on it, surrounded by 24 elders and 4 animals worshiping Him. The elders denote angels, and the animals denote living beings on earth. One who looks like a lion symbolizes wild animals, like a calf - livestock. The one with the "face of a man" represents mankind, and the one like an eagle represents the kingdom of birds. There are no reptiles and animals that live in the water, because in the coming kingdom of God they will not be either. The Redeemer is worthy to break the seven seals from the sealed scroll.
Seven seals and seven trumpets
First Seal: A white horse with a rider symbolizes the gospel. The second seal - a red horse with a rider - means countless wars. The third - a black horse and its rider portend famine times, the fourth - a pale horse with its rider denotethe spread of death. The fifth seal is the cry of the martyrs for vengeance, the sixth is anger, sorrow, a warning to the living. And finally, the seventh seal is opened with silence, and then with a loud praising of the Lord and the fulfillment of His plan. Seven angels sounded seven trumpets, judging the earth, waters, luminaries, living people. The seventh trumpet proclaims the eternal kingdom of Christ, the judgment of the dead, the reward of the prophets.
Great drama
From the 12th chapter, the Revelation of John the Theologian shows the events that are destined to happen next. The apostle sees a woman clothed in the sun, who is tormented in childbirth, she is pursued by a red dragon. The woman is the prototype of the church, the child is Christ, the dragon is Satan. The child is raptured to God. There is a war between the devil and the archangel Michael. God's enemy is cast down to earth. The dragon chases the woman and others "out of her seed."
Three harvests
Then the seer tells about two beasts that appeared from the sea (Antichrist) and from the earth (False Prophet). This is an attempt by the devil to seduce those who live on earth. The deceived people take the number of the beast - 666. Further, it is said about three symbolic harvests, personifying one hundred and forty-four thousand righteous uplifted to God before the beginning of the great tribulation, the righteous who heeded the gospel during the tribulation and were raptured to God for it. The third harvest is the pagans thrown into the "pressure of the wrath of God." Angels appear, carrying the Gospel to the people, announcing the fall of Babylon (a symbol of sin), warning those who worship the beast and accepted itprinting.
The end of old times
These visions are followed by images of the seven bowls of wrath pouring out on the unrepentant Earth. Satan deceives sinners to go to battle with Christ. Armageddon takes place - the last battle, after which the "ancient serpent" is thrown into the abyss and imprisoned there for a thousand years. Then John shows how the chosen saints rule the earth with Christ for a thousand years. Then Satan is released to deceive the nations, there is the last rebellion of the people who did not submit to God, the judgment of the living and the dead, and the final death of Satan and his followers in the lake of fire.
God's plan fulfilled
The New Heaven and the New Earth are presented in the last two chapters of the Revelation of John the Theologian. The interpretation of this part of the book goes back to the idea that God's kingdom - Heavenly Jerusalem - descends to Earth, and not vice versa. The holy city, saturated with God's nature, becomes the dwelling place of God and His redeemed people. Here the river of water of life flows and the tree of life grows, the very one that Adam and Eve once neglected, and therefore were cut off from him.
