Revelation by Dennis McCallum (2013)

A revelation from Christ appears to John, which he records in this letter. John emphasizes the importance of listening to the message God presents here because the time of Christ's return will be sudden. He directs the letter to the seven churches in Asia. The significance of the number seven, the mourning of all people in light of Christ's sacrifice, and John's conviction to write this letter are explored. Several ways to interpret Revelation (preterist, historical, futurist, idealist, and blended) are critiqued, followed by John's description of an intense vision of Christ.

In John's vision, Jesus begins to address seven churches in Asia. The first address (or letter) is to Ephesus, and it encourages them on their work, toil, endurance, lack of tolerance for evil, and the examination of claims they hear. Christ then admonishes them for leaving their first love, which would be the love the Ephesians had for each other. Christ then prescribes solutions for this problem, reminding believers that love is the most important act.\r\n\r\nChrist's second address is to Smyrna, and he encourages them in the suffering they are enduring by promising them the crown of life for their faithfulness.

Jesus's address to the churches continues with Pergamum, Thyatira, and Sardis. These three churches have a common flaw: passivity. Christ addresses this sin, which invokes careful consideration of what it looks like to be an apathetic or dead church and the dangers involved.

The final churches Christ addresses in John's vision are Philadelphia and Laodicea. While the former is encouraged, Laodicea is completely rebuked. Laodicea was content in the world, and they refused to be more than lukewarm towards God. This passage digs into the dangers of being like Laodicea, including the impact on ministry that can have.

John is given another vision that displays God's wrath and intent to judge. This passage leads believers and people curious about who God is to consider what justice means and if judgement is warranted on Earth. It also leads to some startling realizations about the world we live in today and how we are closer to this time than ever.

John describes a scroll with seven seals that needs to be opened ? the consummation of human history. The Lamb of God is the only one able to break the seals, and the seals release forms of judgment. The first is conquest; the second, war; the third, famine; the fourth, death. The fifth and sixth seals released the martyrs and natural disasters. These first six seals mostly represent passive judgment where the earth is already in agony. The question that remains is this: as the situation worsens, will this tribulation period lead people to turn to God?

John's vision now delves into a description of "The Great Tribulation". This is a period of time between the first and second coming of Christ, but specifically a seven-year period of trial near the end. This vision needs careful dissection to understand the symbolism behind this tribulation, the Abomination of Desolation, and the regathering of Israel. Daniel 9 is used as a reference to help aid this.

John's vision of the opening of the seals continues when the Lamb of God opens the seventh. Terrible disasters and wars occur, and demons are unleashed. Despite all of the evidence of God, people still do not turn to Him. John's vision is a warning of how living a life without God is always self-destructive and dangerous.

John relays more information from his vision, while leaving some information out on purpose. He mentions the Temple, which could be confusing because there is no Temple. Ezekiel 40-48 is used to help interpret this, leading to the following conclusions: there will be a literal rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem; there will be two witnesses who are real men; and their message of judgment will be fulfilled. God is telling us the future of the world so we can respond.

The next piece of John's vision contains a dragon who waits to devour a woman's newborn son. The dragon represents Satan, who attempts to destroy the child and his mother, causing destruction and persecution of the Jewish people. Although he is defeated at the cross, there are still ways that Satan accuses humanity to each other and God throughout time.

Three Beasts emerge in the next part of John's vision. The roles of the first Beast are reinforced by prophecy from Daniel, including his humanity, his total world dominion, and the abomination of desolation. The Beast will persecute the people of God, but will ultimately be destroyed by Christ when he returns. The course of history that would allow these predictions is dissected, and the possibility of this prophecy becomes clear.

The next scene in John's vision describes proclamations of God's victory and of the judgment for those who rejected Him. Seven more angels from the Temple pour out the last of the plagues from the bowls they are given. The plagues cause catastrophe like never before, supremely illustrating the fact that living apart from God is always self-destructive.

John's vision continues with three "impure spirits" going into the world and gathering people for battle. Meanwhile, the seventh bowl is poured out, and natural disasters rip through the earth. God's wrath is unleashed on those who follow Satan and commit spiritual adultery. An angel explains the mystery of Babylon, walking John through the imagery used around her (Babylon): she presents a false unity and gets people to waste their lives and die. She will eventually fall, showing that the only lasting kind of unity is with God.

John's vision shows Heaven cheering at the defeat of Babylon. The triumph of Christ causes worship and celebration. Satan is bound and thrown into a bottomless pit for a time (before he will need to be released again). This vision paints the picture of the ultimate celebration in Heaven, beginning with the return of Christ!

The last piece of John's vision shows Satan being released from his prison. He spends his time deceiving people before being cast into the lake of fire eternally. Those who died are all before God, and he judges them according to their works or by Christ's death, depending on which book their name is in. The Book of Life contains the names of all the people who accepted Christ's death as their payment for sin. Everyone else joins Satan. John sees the new Heaven and Earth brought to life, and God dwells among the people who live there in eternal beauty and security.