Why Should We Study the Book of Revelation?
I. Text: (Rev. 1:1-3 NKJV)
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, 2 who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw. 3 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.
II. Seven Reasons Why We Should Study the Book of Revelation.
A. First, the Book of Revelation is the Grand Finale of God’s Word.
1. The Grand Finale is the last part, or climax of a piece of music or a play.
2. Because Revelation is the climax of the Scriptures, it is vitally important to our wellbeing that we understand it.
3. The Book of Revelation contains God’s grand conclusion of our redemption from sin, Satan, cursing, and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.
4. The utter defeat of Satan’s best plan is beautifully described within this glorious book.
2. Because Revelation is the climax of the Scriptures, it is vitally important to our wellbeing that we understand it.
3. The Book of Revelation contains God’s grand conclusion of our redemption from sin, Satan, cursing, and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.
4. The utter defeat of Satan’s best plan is beautifully described within this glorious book.
B. Second, the time of the fulfillment of the Book of Revelation is near.
1. (Rev. 1:3 NKJV) 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.
2. (Dan. 12:4 NKJV) 4 “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”
a. The phrase “time of the end” identifies the closing of a vast period of time in the Scriptures known as “the last days.” We are living at the end of the last days.
1. The last days began when Jesus appeared the first time to pay for our sins on the cross. (Heb. 9:25,26 NKJV) 25 not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another—26 He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
2. So, we see that Jesus appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself on the cross at the end of the ages. In other words, the last days began when Jesus died on the cross.
3. The last days began when Jesus appeared to speak to us in His earthly ministry. (Heb. 1:1, 2 NKJV) God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;
3. The Book of Revelation covers the last 7 years of the last days. None of the contents of its prophecy have been fulfilled yet, but the prophecy that is being fulfilled in our generation indicates that we are the generation that shall not pass away until all these things are fulfilled.
a. (Matt. 24:32-34 NKJV) 32 “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.33 So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! 34 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.
b. The fact that we are living in the last days is evidenced by the fulfillment of prophecy in our generation.
1. Vast increase in knowledge and travel. (Dan. 12:4 NKJV) 4 “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” We are living in a time of unprecedented increase in technology, information, and travel in our generation unparalleled in history.
2. The regathering of Israel. (Ezek. 38:8 NKJV) 8 After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely.
3. World wide outpouring of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:17 NKJV) 17 ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams.18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy.
4. An increase in earthquakes, famines, pestilences, wars, and deceptions. (Matt. 24:3-8 NKJV) 3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
4. (Rev. 1:1 NKJV) The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. The contents of this prophecy will shortly take place. People who are not aware of these things will make wrong decisions in this life. Those who rejected Noah’s preaching about the things that were coming made wrong choices.
2. (Dan. 12:4 NKJV) 4 “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”
a. The phrase “time of the end” identifies the closing of a vast period of time in the Scriptures known as “the last days.” We are living at the end of the last days.
1. The last days began when Jesus appeared the first time to pay for our sins on the cross. (Heb. 9:25,26 NKJV) 25 not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another—26 He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
2. So, we see that Jesus appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself on the cross at the end of the ages. In other words, the last days began when Jesus died on the cross.
3. The last days began when Jesus appeared to speak to us in His earthly ministry. (Heb. 1:1, 2 NKJV) God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;
3. The Book of Revelation covers the last 7 years of the last days. None of the contents of its prophecy have been fulfilled yet, but the prophecy that is being fulfilled in our generation indicates that we are the generation that shall not pass away until all these things are fulfilled.
a. (Matt. 24:32-34 NKJV) 32 “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.33 So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! 34 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.
b. The fact that we are living in the last days is evidenced by the fulfillment of prophecy in our generation.
1. Vast increase in knowledge and travel. (Dan. 12:4 NKJV) 4 “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” We are living in a time of unprecedented increase in technology, information, and travel in our generation unparalleled in history.
2. The regathering of Israel. (Ezek. 38:8 NKJV) 8 After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely.
3. World wide outpouring of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:17 NKJV) 17 ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams.18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy.
4. An increase in earthquakes, famines, pestilences, wars, and deceptions. (Matt. 24:3-8 NKJV) 3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
4. (Rev. 1:1 NKJV) The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. The contents of this prophecy will shortly take place. People who are not aware of these things will make wrong decisions in this life. Those who rejected Noah’s preaching about the things that were coming made wrong choices.
C. Third, it is the will of God for every believer to understand the Book of Revelation.
1. I have heard from the time I was a little boy that “no one can understand the Book of Revelation.” But that is not true.
2. Jesus wants all of us to understand it. (Rev. 1:1 NKJV) The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place.
a. Revelation means something that is revealed or made known; not something that is veiled or hidden. If He revealed it then it’s because be He wants us to know it.
b. God gave Jesus this revelation to show to us not to confuse and confound us.
c. Notice that the word “servants” is plural, not singular. That means that all of us can understand it.
d. We should all apply ourselves to the understanding of this prophecy. (2 Tim. 2:15 NKJV) 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2. Jesus wants all of us to understand it. (Rev. 1:1 NKJV) The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place.
a. Revelation means something that is revealed or made known; not something that is veiled or hidden. If He revealed it then it’s because be He wants us to know it.
b. God gave Jesus this revelation to show to us not to confuse and confound us.
c. Notice that the word “servants” is plural, not singular. That means that all of us can understand it.
d. We should all apply ourselves to the understanding of this prophecy. (2 Tim. 2:15 NKJV) 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
D. Fourth, we are instructed to keep those things which are written in the Book of Revelation.
1. (Rev. 1:3 NKJV) 3 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.
2. There are Divine instructions for us in this book. 3. We can’t keep them if we don’t learn them.
2. There are Divine instructions for us in this book. 3. We can’t keep them if we don’t learn them.
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