BEWARE of the Book of Revelation!
It’s common to hear Christians shy away from the book of Revelation. The reasons often sound logical at first:
«Why study scary, distant future events? Jesus said, “…do not worry aboute tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things…” (Matthew 6:34).»
«I’ve been born again, saved from hell, and my name is in the Book of Life. Rapture, or no Rapture, I’m going to Heaven and that’s all I care about. As the saying goes, “Ignorance is bliss.”»
«Revelation is so symbolic and confusing that it’s difficult to understand, and the many conflicting interpretations make it even harder. I’d rather focus on what Paul emphasized: knowing nothing except “Christ and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).»
These arguments may seem logical and even Biblical, but they’re actually a misinterpretation of Scripture. If God, the Author of the Bible, saw fit to “breathe” the book of Revelation into existence through John’s pen and include it in His Holy Word, then our only response as born-again Christians should be, “Yes and Amen!” (2 Corinthians 1:20). It’s our Heavenly Father’s Word and a love letter written directly to us. We will read it, study it, pray it, and treasure every word within it.
Years ago, someone brilliantly summarized a believing Christian’s attitude toward God’s Word, the Bible:
“God said it.
I believe it.
That settles it!”
Here’s why we should NEVER avoid this powerfully blessed book of Revelation and all the many other End Times teachings in the Bible:
Point 1: “Don’t Worry” Does Not Apply
When Jesus said, “Don’t worry about tomorrow,” He was talking about the anxieties of daily life—not about ignoring Biblical prophecy. The proof of this is found in the Gospels which are filled with Jesus’ teachings on the End Times. While Revelation does contain some very dark gloom and doom prophetical descriptions of the future, it also proclaims the brightest and clearest message of hope in the whole Bible. It gives us a future glimpse of Satan’s defeat and Jesus’ ultimate triumph. It even describes our future home for all eternity! Wow!
Studying the future events described in the Bible, especially in Revelation, is definitely not about worrying; it’s about preparation, eternal rewards, and our glorious hope in Christ:
Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that HE IS A REWARDER of those who diligently seek Him.
Revelation 22:12
And behold, I am coming quickly, and MY REWARD is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.
2 Timothy 4:8
Finally, there is laid up for me the CROWN of RIGHTEOUSNESS, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
Point 2: Ignorance Is NOT Bliss
The Bible is a Christian’s guide, much like a GPS. Imagine you’re in a car with a lost driver who refuses to use a map or ask for directions. How frustrating that would be, right?
The Apostle Paul did not tolerate ignorance. He said in several epistles: “I do not want you to be ignorant.” To the Thessalonians, he referred specifically to the Rapture:
1 Thessalonians 4:13
But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.
And Paul must have done an excellent job of teaching them. Look how he commends this church:
1 Thessalonians 5:1-2 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves KNOW PERFECTLY that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.
The Apostle Peter also spoke against ignorance concerning Jesus’ Coming:
2 Peter 3:3-9 (KJV)
Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming?
For this they WILLINGLY ARE IGNORANT of…
But, beloved, BE NOT IGNORANT of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Instead of being ignorant, God wants His followers to seek out and study his Word. He even calls this desire “noble-minded,” as it’s a quality He highly values:
Acts 17:11 (NASB)
Now these were more NOBLE-MINDED than those in Thessalonica, for they received the Word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.
Jesus said that He used parables to the multitudes so that His message would only understood by them who chose to approach Him and ask questions like we see the disciples doing (Mark 4:10-11, 33-34).
Those who are NOT “noble-minded” will just skip right over portions of the Bible they don’t grasp right away without even thinking of asking Jesus for more understanding. But the “noble-minded” study and search, and always have many questions for Jesus!
Look at this challenge to “kings” (the “noble-minded”):
Proverbs 25:2
It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,
But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
Yes, God hides things – NOT FROM US, but FOR US – for the “noble-minded” Christian who values and cherishes every word in the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. They know that all Scripture is “in-breathed” by God and is “…profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness…” (2 Timothy 3:16).
Point 3: God Delights to Answer Questions
The idea that Revelation is “too confusing” is a poor excuse to avoid studying it. As the Apostle Peter acknowledged, some of Paul’s teachings, including those about the end times, are indeed “hard to understand” (2 Peter 3:15-16). However, the difficulty of a topic is not a reason to stop seeking truth.
As we “consider” (read, study, and meditate on) God’s Word, He will provide clarity. Paul’s promise to Timothy is an encouragement to us:
2 Timothy 2:7
Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in all things.
God so delights in those who ask questions that He sent the Holy Spirit, a personal Teacher, to live inside the believer. Jesus promised, “the Spirit of Truth…will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13) and “the Holy Spirit…will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all things that I have said to you” (John 14:26).
However, to receive this assurance of guidance into “all truth,” we must:
(a) Study the Whole Bible, Not Just Parts
The Holy Spirit cannot bring something to your remembrance if you’ve never read or heard it. This is a practical and logical prerequisite for the Holy Spirit’s work of recalling Scripture.
(b) Be Willing to Do His Will
Jesus said, “If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself” (John 7:17 NASB). This verse highlights that spiritual understanding is connected to a person’s desire and readiness to obey God. Without the willingness to do God’s will, a person may not be able to discern what is God’s Truth from what is a human “private interpretation” –
2 Peter 1:20-21 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, For prophecy [all Scripture] never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
The Bible is not a product of human invention but a divinely inspired revelation. By extension, this principle applies to our own reading of Scripture: true understanding comes from seeking God’s intended meaning, not imposing our own ideas.
Point 4: Mature Faith Is Built On The Seven Foundational Doctrines
Paul’s teaching did not stop with “Christ and Him crucified.” While that message is absolutely central, he went on to instruct believers in many other essential doctrines, especially the details concerning the Events of the End Times. Hebrews 5:11-15 reprimands believers who only want to have “milk” teachings and not the “solid food” of the Word. The next chapter continues by laying out seven foundational doctrines needed for Christian maturity:
Hebrews 6:1-3
Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,
Of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
And this we will do if God permits.
The last two of these seven doctrines —”resurrection of the dead” and “eternal judgment”— are directly about the End Times and would therefore, by necessity, include the Book of Revelation.
Christ is the Rock of our foundation (1 Corinthians 3:10-11), and all SEVEN of these teachings must be precisely laid upon that Rock BEFORE any building work above ground can commence and grow to “perfection” as Hebrews so challenges us.
Bonus Point: God’s Blessing – Another Reason!
It’s no surprise that Satan works so hard to keep people from reading the Book of Revelation. This book is incredibly important for Christians, and its message about the ultimate defeat of evil is a direct threat to our adversary, the devil. It’s likely because of Satan’s intense hatred for Revelation that the Holy Spirit inbreathed a special promise in its very first chapter:
Revelation 1:3
BLESSED is he who READS and those who HEAR the words of this prophecy, and KEEP those things which are written in it; for the time is near.
Amazing! The only book in the Bible that pronounces a special blessing just for those who READ, HEAR, and KEEP [cherish and treasure] the words of this precious book.
Let’s embrace this precious book for all the blessings purposed for us therein! This blessed Book is a guide for preparation, not a reason for worry. Reading it is essential for a mature faith and a deeper understanding of God’s complete Word and His Eternal Purpose for us.
So, clearly, it’s not “BEWARE of the Book of Revelation,”
but “BE AWARE of the Book of Revelation!”
Revelation 22:20
He who testifies to these things says,
“Surely I am coming quickly.”
Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
