Last One Standing

The Book of Revelation in the Bible needs some clear definition. First of all…it is what it is…A Revelation of Jesus Christ (or Apocalypse) to John, to be written down. It is expected to be understood. Much of it is frighteningly clear. Some symbols are explained, others are not. The general theme given to John is divided into three parts. John is instructed to write: (1) What he has seen, (2) What he is now seeing, (3) What will take place.

The number seven plays a critical role in Revelation.

There are seven letters addressed to the seven churches in Asia Minor. There is a seven year period of terrible suffering and tribulation coming. There are seven lamps sitting before the Throne of God—Blazing. There’s a lamb with seven horns, and seven eyes. There’s a leopard-like beast with seven heads. There’s a scarlet-colored beast with seven heads. In the Book of Revelation, there are seven seals, seven trumpets, seven vials, seven candlesticks, seven stars, seven angels, seven Spirits, seven thunders, and seven mountains. The Bible begins with seven days of creation and ends with a book of sevens! Reading the Book of Revelation will take you about an hour or so. Studying the Book of Revelation could well take the better part of a lifetime. Be prepared, don’t be the last one standing when the first trumpet sounds. Bottom Line Just as God finished the work of creation (Genesis 2:1-3) and Jesus finished the work of redemption (John 19:30), so the Trinity will finish the entire plan of salvation by inviting the redeemed into a new creation. Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people.