This is the first in a series of studies on the book of Revelation.
From the first verse of the very last book of the Holy Writ is to be found not only the title of it but the other name of the Bible. “The Revelation of Jesus Christ”. In this first discourse, we will only focus on Revelation 1:1. It is written,
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: KJV Revelation 1:1
The word “Revelation” comes from the Greek word ‘apokalupsis’ which is the same word translated in 2 Thessalonians 1:7 as revealed. We read, “the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,” therefore, the word “Revelation” means revealed. To reveal is to disclose. So this is a book which makes Jesus Christ known to us, it testifies of Him, a testification of Jesus Christ.
Having seen that, I want us to notice that the book of Revelation is not any different from the rest of Scripture. In John 5:39 Jesus said, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” Christ, referring to the Old Testament which then formed the Scriptures, says they testify of Him. In other words, they are His revelation; the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
This is especially true because Jesus is the Word of God (John 1:1,14,17). The Bible is of and about Jesus Christ. In fact, it was His Spirit, “the Spirit of Christ” that moved the holy men of God to speak and write. 1 Peter 1:10, 11. What then shall we say to these things? The WHOLE Bible is the Revelation of Jesus Christ as well. This explains my opening statement.
The Gospel in The Revelation
The first section of the New Testament (comprising the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) is commonly referred to as the Gospel. This is because these books are concerned with the life, crucifixion, death, resurrection, and teachings of Jesus. If you would ask for the book(s) of the Bible which make Christ known to us, any nominal Christian would point you to no other section of Scripture but this.
I’d like to suggest to us one Gospel book that has long been neglected and given no diligent study as compared to any other book. Actually, contrary to the beliefs imposed on the other Gospel books, many have come to conclude that it is impossible to understand this book, at least not in this life or present world. This, as we shall see, contradicts the content and even the very name given to its inspired pages.
The book I’m here referring to is none other than the book of Revelation. In my estimation, not opinion, it is not just a gospel book but the Gospel book with a thread of prophecy. This I will endeavor to show in a moment.
John, who is the author of the Revelation, is also the author of the Gospel book of John and the three letters of John. Apparently, in all of his writings, it’s only in the book of Revelation that we find the word ‘Gospel’. John writes,
And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue and people, KJV Revelation 14:6
We will first look at the gospel bit and then the thread of prophecy. In understanding what the gospel is, we will clearly see how the book of Revelation is a gospel book both in the title and in the content of its words. However, before we define the word gospel, let us examine the use of the phrase the Revelation of Jesus Christ in the Bible.
In Revelation 1:1, we saw that John received the Revelation of Jesus Christ in whose pages we meet the everlasting gospel. Revelation 14:6. Elsewhere in Galatians 1:11 and 12, Paul writes and says that he received the gospel by the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
Let us juxtapose these two passages. Paul receives the gospel by the Revelation of Jesus Christ while John receives the Revelation of Jesus Christ which has the gospel, the everlasting gospel. In other words, both Paul and John received the gospel by the Revelation of Jesus Christ. We, therefore, need to understand what the gospel is?
In defining the gospel, we will read Romans 1:16.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. KJV Romans 1:16
From the above verse, we see that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes. Christ is the power of God. 1 Cor. 1:24. Paul continues to write, “For therein (in the Gospel of Christ) is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:17
The gospel which is of Christ and is the power of God unto salvation does reveal the righteousness of God. It is worth noting that the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith and by faith. Not just by any faith but by the faith of Jesus Christ. As it is written, “Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all that believe:” Romans 3:22.
Ah, now, what or who is the righteousness of God? 1 Cor. 1:30, Christ is the righteousness of God. Therefore, what the seventeenth verse of Romans 1 is saying is that the Gospel is the revelation of Jesus Christ. In the gospel is Jesus Christ, the righteousness of God, revealed. The Revelation of Jesus Christ is the real Gospel.
Onto the next bit, why do I say that the book of Revelation is a gospel book with a thread of prophecy? What is special about it?
The other gospel books should be taken as they read, but this, however, is different with the book of Revelation. How different is it? We read in the first verse of Revelation, “he sent and signified it (the Revelation of Jesus Christ) by his angel unto his servant John:”.
What does it mean to signify? The other gospels will help us understand this. Read John 12:32-33. Jesus signified what death He should die using a symbolism we find in the Old Testament. Numbers 21:9. See also John 3:14. Therefore, to signify means to indicate. That is, to show something using a sign or a symbol. There are, therefore, symbols employed in this book. Here is the thread of prophecy.
In addition, we read in the nineteenth verse of the first chapter, John was to write the things which he saw, “the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;” This means there are things written in the Revelation which were at the time of John taking place and others were a prophecy, what was to take place in the future of which some have not been fulfilled. This marries the historical view of interpreting the book of Revelation. A view which was held by Martin Luther and the reformers.
Now let us hear the conclusion of this matter: the book of Revelation is a gospel book with a thread of prophecy. Interestingly, as we shall see, the Gospel is more distinct and clearest in this book of Revelation as compared to any other book.
In the Revelation all the books of the Bible meet an end. Acts of the Apostles page 585 paragraph 1
In every line, every chapter, every verse, Christ is revealed and therefore, Christ MUST be seen, I say it again with the risk of inspiring boredom in you, Christ MUST be seen in every line of this gospel book with a thread of prophecy.
Gas Mask