Ah, Revelation! The author John makes it clear that this letter was a “revelation”, placing it squarely in the category of apocalyptic literature – meaning that it recounted a prophet’s symbolic visions that revealed God’s heavenly perspective on history. The purpose of apocalyptic writings was generally to encourage and warn readers and allow them to view present events in light of God’s perspective of history.

The books of Genesis and Revelation are bookends on the grand narrative of God’s history with humankind. Genesis tells us of God’s original intent and what went wrong. Revelation explains how the work of Jesus Christ intervened in history to set things right and how everything plays out at the end of time. Note, this letter is “a revelation of Jesus Christ” (Rev 1:1) meaning that the focus of the entire letter is on the work of Jesus Christ – lifting up the edge of the veil so that we can see what has happened from a heavenly perspective. Many strange and terrible events will be noted in Revelation, let us keep in mind that the wider purpose of the letter is to reveal Jesus Christ.

As we consider this opening chapter, make a note of how Jesus Christ is portrayed. “Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be the glory and dominion forever and ever, amen.” (Rev 1:5-6) “I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Rev 1:8)

Jesus Christ is the “Son of Man” (Rev 1:13) and he speaks: “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forever more, and I have the keys to Death and Hades. Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are, and those that are to take place after this.” (Revelation 1:17-18)

In this opening chapter John shares with his readers an image of Jesus as the Son of Man standing among seven lampstands, which he explains are seven churches (Rev 1:12,20). The golden lampstand imagery is adapted from Zechariah 4 (another apocalyptic letter). Seven is the biblical number of completion – remember the seven days of creation – and there will be many sevens in Revelation!

John’s writing was a “circular letter” which was written for these seven churches and would have been shared among them. As we read this whole letter, we start with the presumption that most of what John wrote would have made sense to his audience, they would have been familiar with many of the Old Testament references. They were churches enduring a season of persecution under the Roman empire, a season of tribulation. Even John writes, “I am your partner in the tribulation and the kingdom” (Rev 1:9).

In this difficult season, these churches will be forced to decide between compromise and accommodation of the world or faithfulness to God. Revelation will encourage them to remain faithful and endure to the end.