The Next Chapter - God's Big Picture, Ch 8

Considering that Revelation is the bookend and closing chapters of the Bible, it is better to interpret it as a closing statement and summary than as a series of frequently indiscernible events. 

In Genesis, the other bookend, we saw the fall of mankind and the promise of redemption and restoration. Hundreds of prophecies foretell the coming of the Messiah, and many, many more tell of His return, once He suffers and dies. 

The promise of His first arrival was spectacularly fulfilled. His present kingdom has been established. But, the perfected kingdom has yet to be revealed. The Book of Revelation is the promise, in detail, of that soon-to-come, perfected kingdom. We can believe in it and trust in it's arrival because all the previous promises have been fulfilled in minute detail.

What is easy to miss amid all the visions and metaphor is that the events and visions seen in Revelation are meant to, as Roberts says, "strengthen believers to persevere despite their suffering". The things described in Revelation are terrifying if not seen in the light of promise and glory of the closing chapters. 

The Book opens with letters to the churches, warning them and encouraging them to be steadfast in the faith, even in the face of heavy persecution. Ironically enough, there are warnings against getting too comfortable as well. In either case, we see in Rev 4:2, that God is on the throne, in sovereign authority over all of it. Significantly, the book ends in the throne room, where God remains seated, Jesus by His side (Rev 22:1-3). This is the bookend of the entire story of the Bible; Gen 1:1 "In the beginning, God..." In the end, God still seated on the throne, the Trinity having accomplished the goal of all creation, to give glory to God. 

What has been proven along the way is that Jesus is the King of all creation, His suffering and shed blood guaranteeing that all those who suffer and shed blood for Him, on earth, as well as all those who call on His name as Lord and Savior, will join Him in eternity, worshiping the Father. 

Roberts' contention that the seals, trumpets and bowls are concurrent, rather than consecutive, judgments is well supported among those who see the big picture. To them, they are a description of the sum of the events between Christ's ascension and His second coming, events that the church will have to endure. The church should be encouraged by the closing chapter of the Book of Revelation rather than discouraged by the middle chapters. 

In those final chapters, we see the ultimate fulfillment of God's people (a multi-national family of God), God's place (the New Jerusalem, a new Temple) and God's rule and blessing (the Throne of God and the Lamb of God, perfect rule and perfect blessing).

Revelation ends where the Gen 3 points us and the end of the Old Testament leaves us, looking forward to the final, perfect redemption and restoration promised by God, a return to the "it is good" of the garden, Adam's imperfection and fall undone by the second, perfect Adam, Jesus Christ. 

Our next installment will bring the session of "The Next Chapter" to a close. If you've enjoyed reading along, let us know you're out there. Also, if you have a suggestion for our next book to read together, post it below or email me at kuvakas@gmail.com.

I've been looking at a few options; Jerry Bridges "Transforming Grace", Kevin DeYoung's "Taking God at His Word" and J.I. Packer's "Knowing God". These are just suggestions, though. If you have your own, let's hear them.