Conclusion

We have now finished studying the entire book of Revelation. Our method has been somewhat revolutionary in using a flowchart as a guide in keeping everything in perspective, and I hope it has been helpful. I imagine that it no longer looks as complicated as it appeared when you first saw it.

Another revolutionary aspect of this study consists of the two basic principles we followed, that of reading this book naturally, not necessarily literally, and trying to figure out how the original readers would have understood it before applying it to ourselves. These two principles helped in ensuring that we did not come up with any wild or outlandish theories, based more on speculation than anything else, that could not possibly been part of the original readers' understanding. As stated from the very beginning, the purpose of all the above was to help us focus on the big picture.

Summing up the book, we saw that it was given to the apostle John by Jesus, chapter one, and that if we understand it we'll be blessed.

Chapters two and three made comparisons of the seven churches of Asia, the first four doctrinally, the last three in terms of loyalty to Jesus.

Chapters four and five showed God as both the creator and the redeemer, both in charge and in control, two key points to remember.

Chapter six showed man's efforts without God, leading to oppression, war, famine, and death. We saw an appeal to God, resulting in the gospel being introduced into the world.

Chapter seven showed in two visions all those who accepted that gospel.

Chapters eight through eleven showed all those who rejected the gospel, and the severe consequences of that ill-fated decision, culminating in the final judgment.

Chapters twelve through fourteen showed Satan failing to keep Jesus from His appointed mission, then in anger turning his efforts against the church. Here he fails again, with another view of the final judgment.

Chapters fifteen and sixteen showed God's judgments against rebellious mankind in more graphic detail, ending with Armageddon.

Chapters seventeen through nineteen gave us a graphic picture of the fall of Babylon, that is, Rome, ending with yet another view of Armageddon.

The first ten verses of chapter twenty gave us the two major defeats of Satan, the first at the cross, the second at Armageddon.

The last five verses of chapter twenty gave us a picture of the final judgment, showing the utter ruin of the condemned.

The last two chapters gave us an encouraging glimpse into heaven, described in terms as best as the human mind can comprehend. The last chapter ended with warnings not to change anything in the book, and with a prayer for Jesus to come without delay.

As far as our current point in history is concerned, we've been able to place it at 11:14, 14: between 8&9, 16:15, 19: between 10&11, and 20: between 6&7. Checking the flowchart one last time, we see these passages represented by the vertical red line. And so everything to the left of that line is in the past, and everything to the right of it is still in the future. And so while we disagree with the premillennialists who say the entire book is in the future, we also disagree with the preterists who say none of it is. We believe ours is a more balanced and biblically accurate view, and it is presented here for your studied, Berean (Acts 17:11) consideration. It is up to you to decide for yourself whether or not we have sufficiently proven our case.

And so we are left to try to figure out what the purpose was in writing the book, what the original readers would get out of it, and what we can get out of it.

The gospel has been found in this study to be central to this book, unlike some other studies that don't find the gospel in it at all. But we've seen the first five seals leading up to it, the sixth seal, chapter 14, and 20:1-6 representing it, and the rest of the book showing the results of either accepting or rejecting it. And so Revelation is gospel-oriented, through and through. Missing that point misses the purpose of the book entirely.

In 1:3 and 22:7 it is promised that if we understand this book we'll be blessed. What is the nature of those blessings?

Outside of the specific instructions to the seven churches of Asia, it seems to us that the purpose of this book is to encourage Christians to hang in there, that the reward will more than compensate for any hardship they may now have to endure.

The long-suffering of God is demonstrated in His partial judgments against rebellious mankind, giving them every opportunity and reason to repent, not wanting any to perish, as Peter said in 2 Peter 3:9. That rebelliousness of mankind has its impetus from the devil, and much of it is directed against the church. But regardless what happened, every box in the flowchart covering chapters eight through twenty all ended the same way; those who remained rebellious were condemned, while those who remained faithful were rewarded with heaven.

So this is the ultimate thrust of the book, that evil will eventually be defeated, no matter how much it may seem to be winning now.

Another important lesson we can see is that man is accountable for his actions, and for the choices he makes in this life. The warning can be summed up as what Paul told the Galatians in 6:7a, "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction." Hell therefore is ultimately the sinner's own choice.

Galatians 6:7b,9 are for us: "The one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

The Greek word translated blessed in 1:3 and 22:7 is the same one Jesus used in the beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-11, which simply means happy. In fact, v12 says to "Rejoice and be glad..." Why? "...because great is your reward in heaven."

And so happy is he that keeps the words of this book. Why? Because this book fills him with assurance, hope, and confidence that God is still in charge and in control, regardless of what may happen to us in this life, and that if we remain faithful Jesus will receive us as His brothers. In fact, the entire book can be summed up in just two words:

Yes!! If you are a Christian you can shout with Paul, "But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ," 1 Corinthians 15:57. And to that we add our hearty

There is no room for arrogance in any of this. Rather, we are left with a feeling of humility and thanksgiving when we consider the awesomeness of what God has done in the past, continues to do today, and promises to do for us in the future.

We close with the appropriate words of Carol Wimmer in her 1988 poem, WHEN I SAY, I AM A CHRISTIAN: