We are just getting started in a study of the book of Revelation on Sunday morning. I don’t know how most of you feel, but I always get a bit nervous when I read this book, and even more when I teach it. Why? Well, a number of reasons: (1) on one level it is a book that is much more challenging to understand, (2) there are always questions raised by myself or others that I can’t answer (good for my humility) J. (3) But on a more spiritual level, it is disturbing because Revelation dramatically shows us the great enemy we fight against.

The book bristles at the wickedness of the devil. If you haven’t met him, you will in this study. He is depicted as a fierce dragon and a cunning serpent, powerful, crafty, and resourceful. The book reveals that our Adversary has a host of effective allies on his payroll hired for the express purpose of over throwing our faith. He may at times employ physical persecution where saints are killed by the sword of the government. He can also use counterfeit religion very effectively because it looks very similar to God’s religion (he might even use a combination of the two). Satan will also utilize the seduction of worldliness – where Christians naively begin making alliances with the world, seeking security in its corporate and commercial walls. They are enticed by its glittering lights, enamored by its wealth. Then when the economy collapses or its corruption consumes them, their faith collapses with it.

The devil is so wicked! When I think of the devil as a crafty serpent, I think of Kan the snake in Kipling’s Jungle Book who hypnotized his victims until he could wrap his coils around them. But, while the book of Revelation shows us the devil and his devices, it is not the devil who is the victor, he is the looser. God did not want his saints in the first century to be overwhelmed or duped by the deductive serpent. He wanted them to have hope and confidence and feel a sense of victory.

This book pulsates with the eternal power and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. If you have never met Him, you will in this study. He is neither a baby in a manger, nor a weak, defeated man hanging on a cross. He is the Conqueror! He has overcome! He was dead, but now He is alive! We see Him first in a powerful vision when He is dressed to judge the wicked. He has flaming eyes, a sharp two-edged sword, a roaring and deafening voice, feet like bronze. He is ready to deal with the Devil and his allies. Jesus places his hand on His faithful servant John to reassure him that He has the key to give life to those who are faithful to Him! That is YOU AND ME! He advises his churches that He expects faithfulness of them and demands repentance and change where the devil has won some victories. But then He reassures them, that He is their Champion, and they rule with Him if they remain loyal to Him.

Revelation rejoices with the power of God. He is seated on a glorious throne. All of creation and the universe revolves around Him. The Lamb, Jesus Himself, takes His place on the Throne and is given a book full of words of encouragement for US! Saints then and now, who suffer for the testimony of Jesus need to know that God is going to Win, and that they will win too. There is no need to cast the fulfillment of this book into the 21^st century or beyond. Revelation showed definitively the very present power of God to save those in the 1^st century! They needed that. And we can be sure that if He was present to deliver them through the trials of faith in their day, He knows our trials and will deliver us as well. He is the One who is and who was and who is to come, the Eternal One! Jesus Christ is “the same yesterday, today and forever.”

So, while the book of Revelation can make me a bit nervous, it always ends up lifting up my spirit and makes me hope in God. I love to teach this book because I always know that God will be greater in the minds of those who read and the devil will appear more as the defeated villain that he is. Faith is the truly the victory! And Revelation will give us the visions of a victorious Christ and the victorious redeemed so that we can hold our heads high today and walk confidently by faith in our Glorious Lord and Savior.

Mike