The Book of the Apocalypse

July 30, 2020
Midweek Thoughts from Don:
The Book of the Apocalypse
   As you read my title for this article, perhaps it caught your attention. The word “apocalypse” has been widely used to refer to the end of time. It is an exciting word that often refers to the end of the world. So, what book of the Bible is referred to as the Book of the Apocalypse? It is the last book of the Bible; perhaps the most common designation for this book is The Book of Revelation. The word, apocalypse, is a transliteration of the first Greek word in the text of The Book of
Revelation. (By the way, a transliteration is a direct copy of a word from one language to another using the same letters.) When God gave the Apostle John inspiration to write the Book of Revelation, he started the book with the phrase: “The Apocalypse from Jesus Christ.” That phrase might sound a bit strange to our modern ears, so many translations say “The Revelation from Jesus Christ.” Perhaps that helps, or maybe I need to amplify the opening words of the Book of Revelation which say: “Here is a message from Jesus about the end of things.”
As recent times have gotten crazy and frightening, there have been many dire predictions that the end of the world is near. That might be true, I can’t say. The reason I can’t say is that I do not
know when the “end of the world” will take place. By the way, no one does. If you hear someone saying that they know when the end of all things will take place, run away! Whoever tells you this is either mistaken or they are trying to take you for a ride. I know, my last statement sounds a bit forward and presumptuous, but it is not intended to be, rather it is a truth that comes straight from Scripture.
Today’s fascination with the future and the “apocalypse” is nothing new. A quick look back at history shows that people have always had an interest in such things. It was this interest that led many in Jesus’s day to ask, “When will the end come?” They also asked, “Will there be any signs predicting the coming Judgment Day?” To these questions Jesus gave an emphatic, No! Jesus said that no one knows when the end will come. He said that even he did not know when the apocalypse would be. Jesus compared the desire to know when the end of the world would be with the coming of

a thief. Jesus explained, “Do you know when a thief is going to break into your home?” Of course not! No one knows when such a thing will happen. After all, no self-respecting burglar would send a schedule of robberies to the intended victims. So also is the end of time. Jesus cautioned his hearers to be ready and prepared for the end of the world. The idea is to live like today is your last day.
Let me turn your attention back to the Book of the Apocalypse. This book, the last and final book of the Bible, is intended to give Christians hope. This book was a needed reminder to first century Christians, who were being slaughtered by their enemies, to remember that God was in control. The early Church faced devastating persecution by the Romans and the Jews. These frightened Christians wondered if God knew what they were going through. They wanted to know if things would get better. Would there be justice? God answered their questions in the Book of the Apocalypse. The end will come with God being victorious over His (and their) enemies.
A very simple and short synopsis of the Book of Revelation is: “The Lamb (Jesus) wins!” Not only was this book a boost of confidence for Christians of the first Century, it is also intended to be a boost for every Christian who has lived since. The Church has always been the target of
Satan. Satan attacks Christians in every century. As long as Jesus waits, as long as the apocalypse
 delays, Christians will need to be encouraged. What about you? How are you doing? The COVID virus has terrorized our world. War still rages, evil still pervades society and difficulties remain for every person who lives in this old world. God wants to remind us that He is in control. While we do not know all the answers, He does. We do not know when the end is coming, but God does. Join me over the next several weeks as we look at the Book of the Apocalypse. We will unpack the wisdom and encouragement that God knows we need. Keep looking up!