Exploring Revelation – Introduction, the Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Revelations – Introduction, the Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Today I would like to begin a sermon series exploring of the Book of Revelation.  I am not quite sure at this stage how many weeks it will take, and I certainty can’t say that it will be THE definitive guide to the Book of Revelation, but hopefully it might offer some thoughtful perspectives.

The book of Revelation is the last book in the Bible. It is also the last of the books to be included in the Bible. It is also probably the most controversial, and I would dare to say most abused and misinterpreted of all the books of the Bible. 

The wild, colourful and bizarre symbolism and imagery has given rise to a history of equally wild, colourful and bizarre interpretations. 

It is probably also the most violent of all the books of the Bible which has raised questions by Christians from the earliest times whether it belongs in the collection of Biblical writings at all. 

Right up until about 382 AD, there was divided opinion whether the Book of Revelation should be considered as sacred scripture at all.  Over a period of roughly 250 – 300 years, different Christian leaders would have drawn up lists of letters and writings that they considered worthy of the name Christian Scripture, books that could be used and relied on in some way as faithfully witnessing to the life, ministry and meaning of Jesus. These different lists of books, letters and Gospels floated around and would eventually by the Council of Rome in 382 AD become standardised into what we would call the New Testament.  But in these differing lists of books, the book of Revelation was the most disputed book of them all, and was regularly left out of such lists by what historians would looking back consider to have been some fairly big names in Christian Theology. 

The Eastern Orthodox Church only really began to include the book of Revelation around 680 AD, around 300 years after the Churches in Western Europe. Even today there are some branches of the Ancient Eastern Church that would reject Revelation as a book of Scripture.

For us as Protestants, what is perhaps even more interesting is that quite a number of the key figures in the Reformation opened the debate again as to whether Revelation should even be included in Scripture. Martin Luther in his 1522 preface to the book showed that he had a very low view of the book.  He wrote that he could not discern Christ in it’s pages. By that he probably meant that he could not discern what for him was the kernel of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, namely that we are saved by Grace through Faith.  In its place the book seems to put the onus for salvation on the good works of the believer and the ability of the believer to persevere under persecution.

The very basis for Martin Luther’s faith however rested on the fact that he was a sinner who did not have it in him to save himself.  His moment of spiritual relief had come when he realised that it was ultimately not up to him to save himself or present himself as perfect before God, but rather that salvation was a gift of grace that came from God because God already knew that we are unable to save ourselves. And this gift of grace could only be received by faith and trust.

About 10 years later Martin Luther wrote another preface in which by this time he had come to acknowledge that the book was not completely without merit, because it did point to the day when God in Christ would be victorious over evil, but it is clear that he still regared the Book of Revelation as having a secondary status and value when compared to the book of Romans and the Gospels.  

Ulrich Zwingli, another of the key early reformers disregarded the book of Revelation completely, believing that it should never have been included in the Canon of the New Testament. And although John Calvin may not have taken as radical a stance as Zwingli, it is significant that the book of revelations is the only book that he never wrote a commentary on.  That in itself speaks volumes. 

And so the book of Revelation has been the most disputed of all the New Testament books. It was the last book to be formally accepted and adopted into what is called the Canon of the New Testament.  The word canon in this sense means measuring rod.  The canon of the New Testament, in other words, the list of the New Testament books was regarded as a kind of measuring road that could be used to measure correct teaching. As I said, even today some Eastern Christian Churches would not include it in their Bible and some Reformers felt the same way.

All those who have raised questions of it’s place in the collection of New Testament writings might have differing opinions as to why, but underlying all of these there has in some way been a question of whether the book accurately reflects the spirit of Jesus and his teachings.  The level of violence that occurs in the book might be one of those factors that seems a little our of kilter with the ‘Way’ and the spirit of Jesus. 

In addition, it needs to be admitted that some of the weirdest, most unhealthy and most cult like expressions of Christianity have all taken the book of Revelation as a central text. 

These include:

Jim Jones who was an American cult leader who promised his followers a utopia in the jungles of South America after proclaiming himself to be the “messiah”

David Koresh who in 1990, he became the leader of the Branch Davidians, built an “Army of God” by stockpiling weapons in preparation for the Apocalypse. 

The 1995 Japanese cult Aum Shinrikyo which was responsible for a nerve gas attack in Tokyo subways that killed 13 people and injured countless others.

The Heaven’s Gate cult of Marshall Applewhite which led many people to commit suicide.

The American Cult leader Charles Manson whose Manson family were responsible for a number of murders in the Los Angeles area. 

For some this is just another indication that there is something unbalanced, unhealthy and even possibly heretical about the book itself. Any book that produces so many weird and dangerous movements and groups is worthy of being questioned in some way.

And yet, despite it’s dodgy, disputed and controversial history, the Book of Revelation also contains some of the most glorious and beautiful passages of Scripture:

Revelations 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” 

Revelation 21:1-2 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 

Revelation 22:5  And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever. 

Revelation 21:6-7.  It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 

Revelation 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let those who hear say, "Come!" Let those who are thirsty come; and let all who wish take the free gift of the water of life.

Revelation 21:4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Revelation 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God."

The book of Revelation has also inspired some of our greatest hymns: 

Holy Holy Holy

O for a Thousand tongues to sing. 

There is Power in the Blood

Come ye Thankful people Come. 

The Battle hymn of the Republic

I will sing the wondrous story

Crown him with many crowns

All Hail the Power of Jesus Name

Jesus, Name above all Names. 

When the roll is called up yonder

The Holy City, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, lift up your voice and sing. 

Even the phrase, “The Pearly Gates” is inspired from a description of the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21:21 where we read “The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate being made from a single pearl.”

And so over the next few weeks, I hope to offer some reflections on the book of Revelation as we explore its various assets, the good, the bad and the ugly. 

Today, I leave just one verse with you to reflect on: 

Revelations 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” 

How wide are the door of our hearts open to the Love and Wisdom of Christ? How often do we allow that Love and Wisdom in? Are there times when maybe we would rather usher Christ back out the door because it is inconvenient to have him around? 

And yet in-spite of our closed doors, Christ continues to knock, and continues to desire to commune with us in the depth of our hearts.