Matthew

Revelation

LeRoy Eims

This book is designed to encourage, comfort, and steady the church of all times in setting forth the ultimate triumph of the kingdom of Christ. The long warfare between good and evil will end. Satan, the beast and false prophet will be overthrown and the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ.

Revelation is the central terminal where all the great and various paths of the prophetic word meet and are thus the consummation of all revealed truth. It was meant to be understood for the following reasons. First of all, it is a revelation or unveiling. "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant, John, who bore witness of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw." (Revelation 1:1,2)

Secondly, it promises a blessing to those who read, hear, and keep its words of prophecy. "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is at hand." (Revelation 1:3)

A key is given to understanding the book. "Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter." (Revelation 1:19)

Revelation is the grand finale of the Bible and the ultimate triumph of Christ. The writer is God Himself. God communicated it through Christ, to an angel, to John, who wrote it down and sent the book to the churches of the earth.

Roughly speaking, there are four general systems of interpretation for this book and in each of them are various schools of thought. One says that the book is referring to its own day and the struggle with the Roman Empire. Another is the historical interpretation which says the book was designed to forecast a general view of the whole period of Church history; showing the successive steps and outstanding features of the church's struggle to final victory. Another centers largely around the time of the Lord's coming and the end of the world. Another says it is a representation of the great principles of Divine government, applicable to all times.

There is an amazing parallel between some of the teachings of the book and the course of church history. There is much in the book that evidently refers to the time of the end.

The Book of Revelation supplements other scriptures and gives us a statement of what is to occur at the close of the age. In the midst of the operations of Satan, the domination of evil, strife and distress, when things are the blackest, the coming of Jesus Christ crushed the forces of evil and brings in the new age that was set forth in such glowing terms by the Old Testament prophets.

In The Bible At a Glance we have passed through the centuries of time. In the 66 books of the Bible is a divine revelation, truth given by the inspiration of God. By this revelation we know the living and true God. The deep yearnings of our soul come to rest in Him.

By it we know of our need of salvation and the way of salvation in Jesus Christ. We glance back and we can readily see the unity of the Bible which came to us over a period of about 1600 years. In the 66 books is 1 book. In it is the unfolding of the ages. We are carried to the very end.

We know that in the end, the kingdom of Christ will spread over the whole earth, that peace and righteousness shall be worldwide, and that finally the earth shall be rolled together as a scroll and we shall be forever with the Lord. Study the Book of Revelation to see the triumph of Christ.