Back to the Future: John writes Revelation
Our Timeless Truth series has shown us that God’s Word is filled with truth from God that is timeless. Though it was written thousands of years ago, the truths we see even in the earliest pages of the Bible are still applicable today. We spent last month looking at the moments at the very start of our timeline, but this month, we’re jumping way ahead – Back to the Future – to the moments at the end of our timeline.
As we head “Back to the Future,” our theme verse this month reminds us that part of God’s plan, woven throughout all of the pages of Scripture, is a future plan that we should be eagerly waiting for–
Hebrews 9:28 | Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.
There are many places in the Bible we can go to learn about God’s plan for the future, but perhaps the most famous and logical place is the Bible’s very last book: Revelation. The very first verses of the Revelation explain the book’s name:
Revelation 1:1-2 | This is a revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants the events that must soon take place. He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant John, who faithfully reported everything he saw. This is his report of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.
In other words, Jesus reveals to John God’s plan for the future, a future that would ‘soon’ take place. So when and how exactly does this vision happen? John explains!
Revelation 1:9b-10a | I was exiled to the island of Patmos for preaching the word of God and for my testimony about Jesus. It was the Lord’s Day, and I was worshiping in the Spirit.
The island of Patmos served as a prison of sorts, with no way off the island for those being punished there. John is sentenced to Patmos for relentlessly living out His faith but still, even as a prisoner, John is worshiping God. He continues–
Revelation 1:10b-11 | Suddenly, I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet blast. It said, “Write in a book everything you see, and send it to the seven churches in the cities of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”
John explains that when he turns around to see who is speaking, he sees the Son of Man, a name Jesus used for Himself and that Daniel used in the Old Testament when writing about the promised future. John then describes the appearance of Jesus:
Revelation 1:13b-16 | He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest. His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And his eyes were like flames of fire. His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves. He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came from his mouth. And his face was like the sun in all its brilliance.
The brilliance of Jesus isn’t missed by John –
Revelation 1:17a | When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead.
But Jesus responds–
Revelation 1:17b-18 | But he laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.”
Jesus, God the Son, defeater of death, and Savior of man takes time to comfort John and reminds us of His great love for mankind. He tells John -
Revelation 1:19 | “Write down what you have seen—both the things that are now happening and the things that will happen.”
You see, God has a plan for the future. Jesus reminded His disciples of this often, telling them He prepared a place for them, would come back like a thief in the night, and would be with them again. But at this point, Jesus had been gone from the Earth in human form for about 60 years! Many of the disciples are gone and John himself is an old man who won’t be on earth much longer. In His love and grace, God has John write down His plan for the future so that we’d have the hope we needed to run our races with endurance (Hebrews 12:1) and to eagerly wait for His return (Hebrews 9:28).
While the book of Revelation is filled with many parts of God’s foretold future, the heart of God’s plan is seen right at the start of Revelation-
Revelation 1:7 | Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven. And everyone will see him— even those who pierced him. And all the nations of the world will mourn for him. Yes! Amen!
We’ll look at this more closely in the coming weeks, but the main message of Revelation is that Jesus will return and when He does, we need to be ready! For now, our Timeless Truth for today is: God has a plan for the future. Let that give you hope. Let it help you endure. Let it make you excited, expectant, and eager!
What did you learn or what stood out to you about John’s vision of the future?
What excites you about God’s plan for the future?
What questions do you have or what makes you nervous about God’s plans for the future?
Are you ready for Jesus’ return? How do you know or why not?