Reflections of Grace - Revelation 1:3

“Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.” — Revelation 1:3

In the last article, I touched on the book of Revelation and introduced the main viewpoints on eschatology (doctrine of last things) in the Christian church as they relate to the “millennium” of Revelation 20.  Though the entire Bible directs us in eschatology, the book of Revelation gets the most attention in this regard because of its apocalyptic content. 

It is true that the book of Revelation provides some information on the end of all things and what to expect.  However, if we set aside our presuppositions before reading the book, we actually find that the Apostle John (the human author) emphasized that the content of the book was relevant for his first-century audience: seven churches in Asia Minor (Rev. 1:4). 

As the passage cited above indicates, the goal for the original audience was that they would “hear and…keep” the words of John’s prophecy.  However, it is quite telling that John emphasizes the importance of heeding this prophecy by noting that “the time is near.”

That alone does not necessarily mean that an event is going to happen within a short amount of time.  2 Peter 3:8 teaches us that one day with the Lord is as a thousand years with us.  However, the book of Revelation repeatedly provides context clues that the main apocalyptic events described in the book are going to be experienced by the original audience, that is, in the first century A.D. 

For example, in addition to the verse above, Revelation 1:1 tells us that the entire prophecy is about things that “must soon take place.”  Chapters 2 and 3 contain specific addresses to each of the seven churches in Asia Minor and each address concludes with an exhortation for those saints to persevere in faith in Christ even through difficulty. Revelation 13:10 says much the same thing right in the middle of the prophecy. 

Furthermore, the final chapter of Revelation concludes by once again emphasizing the nearness of these things to the original audience (Rev. 22:6), with the Lord even commanding John not to seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, “for the time is near.”

This consistent emphasis on “nearness” would be nonsensical to the original audience if the vast majority of the book described events that were at that time still thousands of years in the future.  It would be nonsensical to emphasize perseverance through trial and tribulation if the church was going to be raptured out of said tribulation.  Instead, Revelation prepares the people of God to face the sufferings of this life with great resolve, knowing that Christ is presently ruling from his throne and that his people will share in his final victory over all his enemies.  Amen.