The revelation of John the Evangelist is the last book of the Bible. Its author was one of the disciples of Jesus Christ - the apostle John. He wrote it approximately in the 90s from the Nativity of Christ, being in exile on the island of Patmos.
Disclosure of God's mystery
Sometimes this book is called the Apocalypse, as the word “Revelation” sounds in Greek. It would be a mistake to think that God's Revelation is contained only in this final book of Holy Scripture. The whole Bible is an initiation into the mysteries of God's purpose. The last book is the completion, a generalization of all Divine truths, “sown” in the very first biblical book - Genesis, and subsequently developing in the subsequent chapters of the Old, and especially the New Testament.
Scripture prophecies
The revelation of John the Evangelist is also a book of prophecies. The visions that the author received from Christ mainly relate to the future. Although in the eyes of God, existing outside of time, all these events have already occurred and are shown to the seer. Therefore, the narrative is conducted using the past tense verbs. This is important if you read Revelation not out of idle curiosity about predictions, but as part of the Church of Christ, which finally defeated Satan here and became the magnificent New Jerusalem. Believers can gratefully exclaim: “Glory to the Lord! Everything has already happened. ”
Summary of the Revelation of St. John the Theologian
The final book of the Bible tells about how the Antichrist (the incarnation of Satan) was born on earth, how the Lord Jesus Christ came a second time, how the battle between them happened, and God's enemy was cast down into the lake of fire. The revelation of John the Evangelist tells of how the end of the world and the judgment of all people came about, and how the Church became the New Jerusalem, free from grief, sin and death.
Seven churches
The first vision of John was the Son of Man (Jesus Christ) in the midst of the seven golden lamps that symbolize the seven churches. Through the mouth of John, God speaks to each of them, characterizing its essence and giving it promises. These seven represent a single Church at different times in its existence. The first, Ephesus - this is its initial stage, the second - in Smyrna - characterizes the Christian church during the period of persecution, the third, Pergamon, corresponds to the times when God's congregation became too worldly. The fourth - in Thyatira - personifies the church, which has departed from God's truths, has turned into an administrative apparatus. Bible scholars say it corresponds to the medieval Roman Catholic religious system. Whereas the fifth church in the Sardis recalls the reformation of Martin Luther. The assembly of believers in Philadelphia symbolizes a return to the truth that all who are redeemed by the blood of Christ are members of His Universal Church. The seventh, Laodicean, represents the time when believers "died out" in their zeal, began: "not cold and not hot." Christ is sick of such a church; he is ready to “cast it out of the mouth” (Rev. 3:16).
Who is around the throne
From the fourth chapter, the Revelation of St. John the Evangelist (Apocalypse) tells about the throne seen in heaven with the Lamb (Jesus Christ) sitting on it, surrounded by 24 elders and 4 animals worshiping Him. Elders designate angels, and animals - living beings on earth. One who has the appearance of a lion, symbolizes wild animals, like a calf - livestock. One that has a “human face” represents humanity, and an eagle-like kingdom of birds. There are no reptiles and animals living in the water, because in the future kingdom of God they will not be either. The Redeemer is worthy to remove the seven seals from the scroll, sealed until the time.
Seven Seals and Seven Trumpets
First seal: a white horse with a rider symbolizes the gospel. The second seal - the red horse with the rider denotes countless wars. The third - the black horse and his rider portend famine, the fourth - the pale horse with his rider indicate the spread of death. The fifth seal is the cry of the martyrs for vengeance, the sixth - anger, sorrow, a warning to the living. And finally, the seventh seal opens with silence, and then with loud praise of the Lord and the fulfillment of His purpose. Seven angels sounded in seven trumpets, judging the earth, waters, luminaries, and living people. The seventh trumpet proclaims the eternal kingdom of Christ, the judgment of the dead, the reward of the prophets.
Great drama
From the 12th chapter, the Revelation of John the Theologian shows the events that are destined to be accomplished further. The apostle sees a woman, clothed in the sun, who is suffering in childbirth, she is pursued by a red dragon. A woman is a type of the church, a child is Christ, a dragon is Satan. The infant is delighted with God. There is a war between the devil and the archangel Michael. God's enemy is cast down to earth. The dragon drives a woman and others "out of her seed."
Three reaping
Then the seer talks about two beasts that emerged from the sea (Antichrist) and from the earth (False Prophet). This is an attempt by the devil to seduce those who live on earth. The deceived people accept the number of the beast - 666. The following refers to three symbolic harvests, personifying one hundred forty-four thousand of the righteous ascended to God before the great tribulation, the righteous who heeded the evangelism during the tribulation and admired God for it. The third harvest is the Gentiles, thrown into the "crush of the fury of God." The appearance of angels carrying the gospel to the people, proclaiming the fall of Babylon (the symbol of sin), warning those who worship the beast and accepted its seal.
End of old times
These visions are followed by images of the pouring of a seven cup of anger on an unrepentant Earth. Satan deceives sinners to battle Christ. Armageddon is taking place - the last battle, after which the "ancient serpent" was cast into the abyss and imprisoned there for a thousand years. Then John shows how the chosen saints have ruled the earth with Christ for a thousand years. Then Satan was released to seduce the nations, the last revolt of people who did not submit to God, the trial of the living and the dead, and the final death of Satan and his followers in the lake of fire.
God's plan came true
The New Heaven and the New Earth are presented in the last two chapters of the Revelation of John the Theologian. The interpretation of this part of the book goes back to the idea that God's kingdom - the Heavenly Jerusalem - descends to Earth, and not vice versa. The holy city, saturated with God's nature, becomes the dwelling place of God and His redeemed people. Here the river of the water of life flows and the tree of life grows , the very one that Adam and Eve had once neglected, and therefore were torn away from it.