This month we start a new series looking at the Letters to the ‘Seven Churches’ in the book of Revelation.

‘Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and to keep what is written in it, for the time is near’ (Revelation 1:3).

I wonder how you feel about the book of ‘Revelation’?  I have encountered two reactions.  The first is a reluctance to engage with the book.  This is often because these people have experienced speakers, or teachers who have formulated strange ideas, based on their interpretation of the book.  So, in their view, they see it as the domain of ‘crackpots and weirdo’s’!  The second is exactly that: a very unhealthy fascination with the stranger aspects of the book which has led to an obsessive and unbalanced interest that leads people to form extreme and strange ideas!  But neither attitude is right, because: ‘All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work’ (2 Timothy 3:16-17)!  Therefore, in the coming months, we will be looking at the opening chapters where Christ addresses the ‘Seven Churches’ in what we now call Asia Minor. Before we do this, however, we need to take the time to look carefully at the introduction to the book.

Long before becoming a Pastor, when I was starting my building and decorating business, I had the great fortune to work alongside a very experienced builder and decorator.  He taught me many things, but one has particularly stuck in my mind: “Always read the instructions!” Therefore with anything I assemble, even if I think I know the how to do it, I first check the instructions. Likewise, before we start looking at these seven Churches, we need take a look at the background of the book to understand its purpose.

Revelation is ‘apocalyptic literature’. This was very common in the first century and, as such, familiar to those the book was written to, but it is not to us!  Secondly, the Greek title of Revelation is ‘The Apocalypse’. This word often conjures up ideas of doom and destruction!  But actually the word ‘apocalypse’ simply means ‘to uncover’.  Revelation is, therefore, a book that uncovers what would normally be hidden.  The third aspect is the time John’s vision was recorded. Scholars consider there are two possibilities. The first is the persecution of the Church in the reign of the Emperor Nero (AD 54-68).  The second, and the more likely one, is the persecution during the reign of the Emperor Domitian (AD 81-96).  The key aspect, however, is that these Churches were being persecuted, or about to face persecution.

And, this background brings us to the reason for the book, which is to…encourage us!  Next month we will take a look at how we understand the introduction John has given the book.  But for now let us take Revelation 1:3 to heart: ‘Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and to keep what is written in it, for the time is near.’ Revelation’s purpose is to bless us, not confuse us or scare us witless!  So hopefully, as we look at what Christ says to these Churches we will find that to be the case!

Want to listen to a sermon on this passage? John Explains the Purpose of the Book.