Why I wrote my book

When I first began to study Revelation I thought, as many do, that it would give me a glimpse into the future. That desire to know what’s coming is still what draws many people to Revelation. I learned very soon that I was off course.

Think about it, what’s the focus of prophecy? Is it to let people know what’s going to happen in the future or is it to get them to change their ways? When the Jews are told that they must change their ways or they will be scattered and the Temple destroyed what’s most important, that they will be scattered and the Temple destroyed, or that they must change their ways. When the Jews are told thousands of years before the coming of Christ that a suffering savior is going to come to those who hold fast to the one true God what’s more important trying to figure out what this savior will be like or figuring out how to hold onto the truth?

If we look at Revelation as a futuristic book we miss the points that John is trying to make. Think about all the things you’ve read or seen televised about Revelation. Have any of the things you’ve read or seen tried to tell you what God wants you to do in your life whether Christ returns tomorrow or 5000 years from now. Unfortunately there is way too much written that distracts us from the message of Revelation and there is much to be learned from Revelation.

Some of Revelation’s messages in no particular order of importance are.

1. God is in control

2. Being a Christian can be difficult and doesn’t mean guaranteed prosperity

3. There will be a judgment day

4. There is a devil

5. People from all religions, races, and nations will be saved

6. There will be wars

7. There will be natural disasters

8. Hold fast in temptation

9. Don’t follow other gods

10. Test what you are being taught

11. Be prepared Christ will come quickly

12. No matter how hard we try as long as there is evil in the world it will not be an ideal place

13. There is a beautiful future for those who hold fast

If we only look at Revelation as a guide to future events we miss all these important messages.

I’ve been asked if I’m a dispensational premillennialist, historic premillennialist, amillennialist, postmillennialist, or one of many other categories people want to put you in. My response is that I’m none of these. I’ve been asked whether there is going to be a rapture or not? Will there be a rapture before, during or after the tribulation? I don’t want to get into any of these discussions because they are not the point of Revelation. If we spend our time worrying about these things we miss the messages in Revelation.

When I talk about the messages it does look like an amillennialist view but that’s because it seemed like the only way to talk about the day to day impact on our lives.

I wrote my book to try to get the focus of Revelation off the future and on to what is really important.

WHAT DOES GOD WANT US TO BE DOING TODAY?

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