The last book of the Bible, Revelation, can be confusing to many. It gives a glimpse of the future that some people do not want to think about. It uses imagery that some people find confusing. The book of Revelation says that “blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein” (Revelation 1:3). Although the book of Revelation can be confusing to many, those that read, hear, and keep the words of the book will be blessed by it.
Reading Revelation
Reading Revelation is something that most literate adults can do; understanding it is an entirely different matter. The book contains 22 chapters, and is broken down into different sections. In chapters 1 through 3, John (who penned the book of Revelation) greets seven churches that are in Asia. While John didn’t know about it at the time, these seven churches represent seven different stages that the church would go through. In chapters 4 and 5, we are able to see a glimpse of what Heaven is like. Chapters 6 through 19 talk about the things which are to come in the future, through the battle of Armageddon. Chapter 20 talks about the Great White Throne judgement. The final two chapters, 21 and 22, speak of the new Heaven and the new Earth, as well as the new city of Jerusalem.
The more you read the book of Revelation, the more you can understand it. Those that read the book, and are also a follower of Jesus, will realize that the story has a happy ending for Christians, and while difficult days may come in the future, it will all be all right.
Hearing Revelation
Not everybody is literate, but everybody that is not deaf can hear Revelation. There are different ways that you can do this. You can listen to Revelation on CD or mp3, or you can listen to Revelation being preached. Sadly, many churches avoid preaching on the book of Revelation, because it can be such a confusing book, even to some preachers. When I was a kid, for example, I asked my pastor who the 144,000 mentioned in Revelation were; I never got my answer, and I think it was because he didn’t know. For those that are interested in Revelation, it is easier than ever to hear Revelation being preached, through the Internet, although it is important to verify everything that you hear with scripture, and stick with trusted sources.
Keeping Revelation
How do you keep the book of Revelation? There are several ways that you can do this. You can memorize it. You can obey it. One effective way to keep the book of Revelation is to give it away. Tell other people about the things that you learn in the book. If you have read the news lately, that isn’t hard to do. The events that are predicted in the book of Revelation seem to be in the near future, even inevitable. In just the last several months and years, the amount of anti-Semitism in the world has grown. When you tell others about what you have learned, it becomes ingrained in your mind so that you don’t forget it, and you get to keep it.
Receiving Blessings
The Bible promises blessings to those that read, hear, and keep the book of Revelation. While this holds true for most of the Bible, it is particularly true for Revelation. Watching the news these days can be alarming. Those that are familiar with the book of Revelation can find comfort in the fact that God has predicted that these times would come, and that everything will be alright for those that believe in him and receive salvation.
Sources:
Bible. Revelation 1:3.
