Getting Job-ed
The Book of Revelation is often portrayed as a fearful book of the events to come in history or a magic fortune cookie that is attempted to be deciphered to figure out every detailed event at the end of time. However, this book was actually a letter written to churches in the first century to provide hope and comfort for them as they were facing persecution. What does this book say to us today? This was a paper written for Belhaven University. This is Part 1 of 2:
“… in your presence is fulness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11 English Standard Version). The Book of Revelation is a letter that attempts to convey this reality to a group of churches that were facing persecution in the first century by calling them to remain faithful and if so, they will be in the presence of the all-satisfying God of the universe.(1) This call remains true for Christians today: remain faithful and receive blessings in the presence of God forevermore. The Book of Revelation provided (and continues to provide) hope and comfort for the church facing persecution and suffering by revealing hope for humanity, hope through continued faithfulness, hope in justice from God, and comfort in the promise of God’s new creation.
Background
The Book of Revelation is addressed to churches in the first century that faced persecution and the temptation was for the churches to abandon their faith.(2) Similar to the prophets of the Old Testament, the Book of Revelation calls its audience to either repent of their sins and turn back to God(3) or continue in their faithfulness despite affliction and if they succeed, they will be in the presence of God forever. Similar to the offer for the Israelites in Deuteronomy 30:15-20, if they refuse this offer of life, destruction will occur. Knowing the audience, historical setting, and context of Revelation is extremely helpful when reading the book, but the call remains the same for our time: remain loyal to Jesus and receive true life to come, or refuse and receive the judgment that will follow.
The Book of Revelation conveys there is a hope for humanity, despite the darkness of sin and all the suffering and persecution that the Church is facing. The Book of Revelation begins with a call to five out of the seven churches to repent of their sins and turn back to God (Revelation 2:5, 16, 21-25; 3:3, 19). By calling the audience to repent, there is a real hope for them to change their ways and be faithful to God, yet also there is real urgency in that time is running out (Revelation 22:7, 12, 20).(4)
Repentance
Christians should always be hopeful for the repentance of people, even their enemies. Christ calls us to love our enemies (Matthew 5:43-48) and even calls for God to forgive them while on the cross (Luke 23:34). As God’s prophet, John is acting as God’s ambassador to call out the sin of the people and to submit to His rule.(5) Throughout the Book of Revelation, the offer of repentance was given but rejected by people (especially seen in the “bowls” of Revelation 16:9, 11). The only hope for mankind is the New Covenant promise discussed in Jeremiah 31:31-34 and Ezekiel 36:16-38, that salvation is a miracle by God’s grace (Ephesians 2:1-9). But this does not excuse mankind’s obligation to choose God and worship Him alone (Romans 1:18-3:20). We are not privileged to know who the elect are and are not, so our call is to choose God (Deuteronomy 29:29, Romans 10:9-13). Thankfully, God has given mankind the opportunity to repent while we still have the chance (Hebrews 3:15). Whether implicitly or explicitly, the Book of Revelation portrays this reality throughout.
Faithfulness
The call to faithfulness is a prominent theme throughout the Book of Revelation, and that call to faithfulness provides hope and comfort for those who are suffering. Revelation 2:10 ESV: “Do not fear what you are about to suffer… Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” There is a real hope for those that are faithful unto death: both life in the presence of the all-satisfying God and also true justice for evil-doers and evil itself (those two points we will cover later in this discourse).
The suffering that is experienced by Christians in this life is temporary. This reality says that Christians are cursed, but this is not the Ultimate Reality (namely, God Himself- Revelation 2:10, Matthew 5:2-12).(6) The Book of Revelation pulls back the veil of this reality and exposes the spiritual realm that is involved behind the events in this world.(7) God is, in fact, in control and moving history in a direction to bring about His ultimate glory through Christ by His people (Revelation 1:12-20). The temptation for the original audience was to turn from faith and trust in the Roman Empire,(8) as throughout history anything and everything is competing for the spot in our hearts that should only be reserved for God Himself.
In the next part, we’ll conclude our study on how the Book of Revelation brings hope and comfort to the persecuted church.
Footnotes
1. Third Millenium Ministries, “The Book of Revelation Lesson 1: The Background of Revelation,”
accessed April 15, 2023, https://thirdmill.org/seminary/lesson.asp/vid/133
2. Third Millenium Ministries, “The Book of Revelation Lesson 1: The Background of Revelation.”
3. J. Daniel Hays and Tremper Longman III, The Message of the Prophets, (Michigan, Zondervan, 2010), 146.
4. Third Millenium Ministries, “The Book of Revelation Lesson 3: The King and His Kingdom,”
accessed April 18, 2023, https://thirdmill.org/seminary/lesson.asp/vid/135
5. Third Millenium Ministries, “The Book of Revelation Lesson 1: The Background of Revelation.”
6. Third Millenium Ministries, “The Book of Revelation Lesson 2: Structure and Content,” accessed
April 15, 2023, https://thirdmill.org/seminary/lesson.asp/vid/134
7. Third Millenium Ministries, “The Book of Revelation Lesson 3: The King and His Kingdom.”
8. Third Millenium Ministries, “The Book of Revelation Lesson 3: The King and His Kingdom.”
9. Austin Rankin, “How do you know God exists at all? Part 1 of 2,” accessed April 20, 2023,
https://gettingjob-ed.org//how-do-you-know-god-exists-at-all-part-1-of-2/
10. Third Millenium Ministries, “The Book of Revelation Lesson 2: Structure and Content.
11. Vern Poythress, The Returning King: A Guide to the Book of Revelation, (New Jersey, P&R
Publishing Company, 2000) 159.
12. Third Millenium Ministries, “The Book of Revelation Lesson 1: The Background of Revelation.”
13. Third Millenium Ministries, “The Book of Revelation Lesson 3: The King and His Kingdom.”
14. Poythress, The Returning King: A Guide to the Book of Revelation, 25 & 97.
15. Third Millenium Ministries, “The Book of Revelation Lesson 2: Structure and Content.”
16. Third Millenium Ministries, “The Book of Revelation Lesson 1: The Background of Revelation.”
17. Third Millenium Ministries, “The Book of Revelation Lesson 1: The Background of Revelation.”
18. Third Millenium Ministries, “The Book of Revelation Lesson 1: The Background of Revelation.”
19. Poythress, The Returning King: A Guide to the Book of Revelation, 183-186.
20. David Matthis, “We Are Far Too Easily Pleased,” accessed April 21, 2023, https://www.desiringgod.org/ articles/we-are-far-too-easily-pleased
21. Poythress, The Returning King: A Guide to the Book of Revelation, 161.
22. John Piper, “God is Most Glorified in Us When We Are Most Satisfied in Him,” accessed April
19, 2023, https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/god-is-most-glorified-in-us-when-we-are-most-
satisfied-in-him
23. Third Millenium Ministries, “The Book of Revelation Lesson 1: The Background of Revelation,”
accessed April 15, 2023, https://thirdmill.org/seminary/lesson.asp/vid/133
Bibliography
Hays, J. Daniel, and Longman, Tremper III, The Message of the Prophets, (Michigan,
Zondervan, 2010).
Matthis, David, “We Are Far Too Easily Pleased,” accessed April 21, 2023,
https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/we-are-far-too-easily-pleased
Piper, John, “God is Most Glorified in Us When We Are Most Satisfied in Him,” accessed April
19, 2023, https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/god-is-most-glorified
-in-us-when-we-are-most-satisfied-in-him
Poythress, Vern, The Returning King: A Guide to the Book of Revelation, (New Jersey, P&R
Publishing Company, 2000).
Rankin, Austin, “How do you know God exists at all? Part 1 of 2,” accessed April 20, 2023,
https://gettingjob-ed.org//how-do-you-know-god-exists-at-all-part-1-of-2/
Third Millenium Ministries, “The Book of Revelation Lesson 1: The Background of Revelation,”
accessed April 15, 2023, https://thirdmill.org/seminary/lesson.asp/vid/133
Third Millenium Ministries, “The Book of Revelation Lesson2: Structure and Content,” accessed
April 15, 2023, https://thirdmill.org/seminary/lesson.asp/vid/134
Third Millenium Ministries, “The Book of Revelation Lesson3: The King and His Kingdom,”
accessed April 18, 2023, https://thirdmill.org/seminary/lesson.asp/vid/135
