The Book of Revelation

In the Beginning

Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.—Revelation 1:3

Reading and hearing the words of the book of Revelation are easy. Understanding the words is another matter because scholars do not agree about the details. Keeping the “things which are written” is perhaps the most difficult for the Lord’s footstep followers, especially during times of intense persecution from the enemies of the church.

This issue of The Herald looks at some of the major themes found in this book. These include the seven messages to the churches (chapters 2 and 3), the opening of the seven seals (chapters 5 to 7), the sounding of the seven trumpets (chapters 8 to 11), and the seven last plagues (chapter 16). The messages, seals, and trumpets all describe the events of the Gospel age which began in John’s day. The seven last plagues describe the events occurring at the end of the age, the period in which we are now living.

Our verse-by-verse study examines the events described in chapter 12, a transition chapter between descriptions of the events of the entire age and the events that end this age. By itself, chapter 12 is a brief summary of everything that would happen from John’s time to the full establishment of the kingdom.

One article discusses the symbols of the beast, false prophet, and dragon which appear together in chapter 16. The beast and the false prophet symbolize false religious systems and are destroyed in chapter 19. The dragon, a symbol of the state or civil power, is restrained and not destroyed until the end of the 1,000-year kingdom described in chapter 20.

Although imperfectly understood through the years, the book of Revelation has been a comfort to the true church. Even a superficial reading shows that evil systems will eventually be destroyed and righteousness will triumph.

These articles represent the best thinking of their various authors. We send them forth with the hope they will be a source of blessing and encouragement to you all.