The Revelation and the late twentieth-century world, there is no doubt that the book has many relevant messages and challenges for today. A good book. Many more have not been discussed. Given the space limitation,. What is given here is therefore far from being exhaustive. sevens, only seven of the more pertinent messages of his work will be discussed, albeit in summary form.
A declaration is made that only those whose names were found written in would be the ones to enjoy the bliss of living eternally in the presence of written in the Lamb’s book of life, and they can have their names in that1:12 makes it very clear that it is “to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, “that “he gave the right to become children of God. “Granted that the bulk of the message of Revelation is for believers, one cannot become a part of that group until he or she accepts Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord. Believing in Jesus Lamb of God is therefore the first message, the starting point.
The Need for Faithfulness to Christ and His Cause
Many times the writer of The Revelation calls on believers to remain faithful to Christ. There was good reason for this. The immediate addressees of the work were having a difficult time. Many had backslid-den because of the allurements of the world in the face of the many demands of the Christian life. Of course, only those who remain faithful to the last, who would not soil themselves by engaging in the practices of the great harlot (Rev.17:1,5), would receive the crowns preserved just for them. One should always remember that although the demands of the Christian life are great, greater are its blessings. There is therefore the need for one to endeavour to remain faithful to Christ and his cause, in both public and private lives, despite the many temptations around(Rev. 2:10b, 13b; 17:14).
The Need for Perseverance
Revelation 80 calls on believers to persevere. Only those who can persevere and endure hardships for the name of Christ will receive his commendation and glory at the end (Rev.2:2,3). Again, as has been indicated, the addressees were having a very difficult time. They were facing persecution unleashed by pagan rulers. Many believers had been killed; a good number were imprisoned or exiled (like John the Seer); many more were facing general harassment.
Perseverance was thus a major test for each believer. To succumb to the pressure of persecution and renounce the faith would, of course, mean immediate but temporary relief. A greater and eternally enduring blessing awaited those who would persevere to the end. It was not going to be an easy task, but that was the only way of a certain victory.
The similarity between the present time and the period when Revelation was written, as already demonstrated, makes the call for perseverance very pertinent. Persecution of believers Is still going on the day, and as with the ancient times, there is still the possibility of some losing heart and betraying their faith in Christ. Doing this would, of course, mean automatic disqualification from being listed in the Lamb’s Book of Life. It is therefore imperative for believers to persevere. The crown of victory is said to await only those who persevere to the end.
It should be noted, however, that perseverance cannot be done on one’s strength alone. The Lord’s strengthening presence and sustaining grace will be needed. As the Lord himself indicated (John 15:5-18), it is only as people remain in him that he would give them the power to survive and bear much fruit. Perseverance is possible only by God’s grace. It is only as believers cling strongly to Jesus that they will be able to “hang in there” to the end.
The Courage for Living in Times Like This
Beyond the need for perseverance is the courage to live holistically in times like this. It will not be enough to persevere but live a grudging half-baked life. A believer is expected to live buoyantly as promised by Jesus Christ (John 10:10; Luke 4:18-19). One purpose of John’s revelation was to inspire confidence in believers so they could live with courage amidst the difficulties they were going through.
A contemporary Christian needs to live with courage. The times and demands of modern life call for it. Whether one thinks in terms of the bribery and corruption that have become endemic in our society, the loose sexual morality, or the cut-throat competition in business and professional classes, it is obvious that it requires enormous courage to live the Christian life today.
Christian ethics is often characterized as out-model and those living by it are perceived either as conservative or old-fashioned. It is only with the exercise of courage that Christians can live out their convictions and maintain a sense of integrity in an increasingly corrupt world. This, again, calls for much dependence on God. Only with the Lord’s grace can one fully exercise the courage to live.
The Need for Renewed Hope
The Revelation is also about the renewal of hope. Amidst persecution and suffering some people may lose the vision or hope of a better future. The feeling may emerge that faith in God and the struggle for righteousness are no longer worth anyone’s time, especially in the face of the seeming success of evil. There is no doubt that some of the believers in John the Seer’s time had started feeling that way. The message of renewal of hope was therefore apt and pungent. They did not need to despair because God was still in control and the cause of righteousness was guaranteed to prevail. The struggles and sacrifices of the present were not in vain, as ultimate victory awaited God’s people. Christians could therefore remain steadfast in hope.
Christians today have no less a need for the renewal of hope than those of the first century. As indicated earlier in this chapter, enormous demands are made on the contemporary believer. At times it appears as if there is not much of a hope. But then a reading of Revelation reassures one that the expectation of victory remains valid. No matter how long it takes to work out, ultimately God and the cause of righteousness will prevail. The hope, so eloquently espoused in Revelation, should provide succour to modern believers and re-energize them to buoyant living and continued faithfulness to the Lord.
The Need for Continued Service
Renewed hope is meant to rekindle commitment to service for Christ’s sake. Doubt and despair produce Luke’s warmness and lack of commitment. reasons for hopefulness also renew the spirit to fight on, with the believers that victory is secure.
The call to faith in Christ is a call to service in his vineyard. Each one serves according to the gifts with which the Lord has endowed him or her. Counselling, what matters is one’s faithfulness in the service. Waiting for the Lord’s second coming arrival of the new Jerusalem amounts to waiting in service. In the Lord’s vineyard, there is no room for idleness. Believers are called to service in obedience to the Lord’s command.
Living with a Sense of Victory
A sense of victory pervades the whole of Revelation. There is victory for the Lamb and for all those whose names appear in his book of life. The different visions or episodes of the book build up to a climax where the triumph of good or righteousness over evil becomes very obvious. This is cast in the image of sweeping aside the present world order as a new heaven and earth emerge. So the triumph of good over evil· becomes an established reality.
By his or her relationship with Jesus Christ the believer is already part of the new reality of victory. A sense of victory is therefore expected to pervade the individual Christian’s life. One can live victoriously even amidst the difficulties of this world by always keeping in view the victory already secured by Jesus Christ. This is the essential message of the vision of John of Patmos. A child of God has no reason to live with a sense of defeat since a defeated Christian is a contradiction in terms. Revelation as mad it clear that God and the forces of righteousness have triumphed and every believer partakes in that victory.
Conclusion
The Revelation has a message for everyone. For believers in Jesus Christ, there is encouragement, reassurance and renewal of hope. There is the challenge of greater commitment, faithfulness and perseverance. Believers also have the task of serving in the vineyard of the Lord with a sense of victory, in the conviction that God’s will has finally triumphed. John’s vision abounds with a warning for unbelievers, the backslidden and the wicked. They all face eternal torment in the lake of sulfur fire if they do not repent. The only place of safety is the new Jerusalem where God’s will prevails. People become part of it only by accepting God’s son Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord and living by his words. Fortunately, God is always ready to accept those who would come to him seeking forgiveness, succour and redemption. The warning signals are clear, however, for unbelief, unfaithfulness, and wickedness.
