The book of Revelation is difficult.
The bottom line is that most of the church is not prophetically gifted. I’ve even heard pastors ‘recommend’ to their congregations to just stay away from Revelation altogether. Most likely to avoid the inherent difficulties in deciphering angels, bowls, trumpets and the like.
Yet verse three, chapter one speaks plainly:
Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.
But really, how important can it be since most of us don’t understand the book? Jesus said that “no one knows the day or the hour.” And Paul said that you can “have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and knowledge,” but without love, you are nothing.
So if you don’t understand it, you’re not going to know the “day or the hour” anyway, and prophecy isn’t your gifting, then why read it?
I asked the same questions. James 1:5 says if you lack wisdom, ask God. So I did.
Here’s the answer. Here’s why reading the book of Revelation is so important.
Revelation reminds us that there will be an end.
For some of us, that end will come sooner than others, and 2 Corinthians 5 tells us:
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad (10).
Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. (9)
Yes, I reversed the order of the verses to make the point, but it’s really a matter of perspective. Reading The Revelation of Jesus Christ (1:1) frequently and keeping it front of mind, helps us to keep our lives and our efforts in the right perspective.
How many of us need to be reminded that ‘this,’ whatever it may be, although it seems oh-so-real and so important, is only temporary? And that only what is done for Christ will last?
