The Revelation Of Jesus Christ

 The first verse of Revelation (translated 'apokalupsis' from the Greek, and often called the Apocalypse) makes a very important statement that is too often misconstrued, misapplied, and even mistranslated... often giving it a meaning that is opposite to the truth, resulting in all sorts of confusion. Revelation is not an Apocrypha as many teach (something that is hidden) but an Apocalypse; a revealing, an unveiling, a disclosing, a making known.
 The opening verse of the Apocalypse explains what is being revealed: "The Revelation Of Jesus Christ." It is the revealing of the Lord Jesus Christ "which God gave Him, to show to His bond-servants the things which must soon take place.
 Jesus is both the Giver of the revelation and also the Subject of the revelation. In the Gospels, He was revealed to us in His humility. In Revelation, He is displayed in majesty and great glory. In the Gospels, He came to earth as the suffering Servant Who was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities, and by Whose stripes we are healed. In Revelation, He returns to earth as the triumphant Hero.
 While there are many other things that are made known in this book, like the Antichrist, the four horsemen, the two witnesses, the ministry of angels, mystery Babylon, the mark of the beast, and the Great White Throne judgement seat... the primary thing that is being revealed throughout its pages is Jesus Christ. The principal person that is made known to us is the Lord Jesus Christ, without Whom every other event within its pages is of no significance.
 While the book contains many prophecies that are to take place in the future , the fundamental truth to which we should hold is that the Lord Jesus is the central object of all prophecy. Jesus is the one about whom prophecy is written and He is the one that ultimately fulfils all prophecy. John reminds us in Revelation 19: "The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,

Our United Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word and that You have told us what will happen before it happens so that we will believe. Have us all read, mark, and learn from all You have told us in the book of Revelation and we be guided by the Holy Spirit into all truth. Above all, as we read this book, we pray that Jesus would be revealed to us, more and more, and we will know Him more clearly, love Him more dearly, and follow Him more nearly, all the days of our lives. In Jesus' name we pray, AMEN.