So far the book of Revelation has offered a number of interpretive challenges, but the meaning of chapters 1-5 has been relatively straightforward. The visions of heaven and the messages to the seven churches inspire Christian worship and faithfulness. However, beginning with chapter 6 the interpretive challenges escalate. Like an ancient mariner hugging the safety of the coastline but at last setting out into the open sea, studying the book of Revelation begins with some simpler images but eventually turns to what seems like uncharted waters. Thankfully, there are guiding lights along the way. For example, in His Olivet Discourse Jesus predicted many of the same events that surface in the predictive chapters of Revelation. In Matthew 24:4-8 Jesus warned about future “birth pains,” events that would increase in intensity and frequency. These birth pains include false messiahs, warfare, and famine, all of which will lead to death—the same sequence that John reveals in the context of the four horsemen of Revelation 6:1-8. These four horsemen constitute the first four of seven “seal” judgments that emerge from the sealed scroll of Revelation 5. These seal judgments are followed by seven trumpet judgments and then seven bowl judgments. The future definitely holds a time of worldwide judgment, and that judgment will be fair and just because humankind continues to resist its Creator and Redeemer. One challenge in this book is taking the predictions about the future and applying them to Christian living today. At the outset, however, we can safely conclude that Jesus looks at sin differently than we do and He extends grace more readily than we deserve.
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