Conclusion
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. – Matthew 28:18-20
Now, given all the supernatural and cataclysmic events of the first century, as well as the growing persecution, confusion, and skepticism as time wore on, it only makes sense why God gave mankind the book of Revelation near the end of the first century. He wanted to ensure the early church (and us) knew He had not abandoned them. Furthermore, He wanted them to know and have clear guidance regarding what is to come. This is why He gave the last living apostle, John, the book of Revelation. This is also why the book of Revelation (or the Apocalypse of Jesus Christ) is the only book in the Bible in which God gives special blessings to those who read and understand it.
As cryptic and scary as the book of Revelation is often portrayed to be, the name Revelation itself comes from the Greek word apokalypsis (ἀποκάλυψις). Apocalypse simply means a revealing or a revelation. In this case, God is revealing to mankind His plans for the future. He even divided the book up into three sections for us so we could understand it easier (Rev. 1:19). These sections are: what John saw (chap. 1), what is now (chap. 2-3), and what is to come (chap. 4-22).
Similar to the first century, we are once again, living in prophetically charged times. After nearly 2,000 years, there is even more confusion, skepticism, and outright scoffing about our Lord’s return. Christendom is divided like no other time in history, especially on how and when Christ will return. Not to give the devil his due, but it is a testament to Satan’s cunning strategy in how successful he has been in confusing the Christians in these last days. So successful has he been that only a small handful of believers would even be watching and waiting for Christ’s return (reminiscent of Christ’s birth).
Similarly, there is also much confusion about how the end comes because scoffing and skepticism have crept into the churches disguised as higher criticism and liberal progressivism. Much false hope has also been dealt by foolish date setting, as well as false claims of revival and restoration as if we can somehow will the kingdom back to the earth in our own power. Although a kingdom is coming, it won’t be anything the church can do to bring it to the earth.
In fact, there are so many doctrines of demons floating around today, it is a testament to the Holy Spirit’s power that anyone is watching at all. All of these devilish doctrines are designed specifically to attack the authority of the Bible and dismiss with the utmost extreme, the possibility of Christ’s promised return.
It reminds me of the quote by Phil Johnson in which he said, “The gospel’s most dangerous earthly adversaries are not raving atheists who stand outside the door shouting threats and insults. They are church leaders who cultivate a gentle, friendly, pious demeanor but hack away at the foundations of faith under the guise of keeping in step with a changing world.” Ironically, these wolves in sheep clothing, through their soft-spoken belittling of Bible prophecy, have become guilty of fulfilling the very prophecy Peter gives us in the third chapter of his second epistle.
Knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.”
As previously mentioned, there are five categories of believers in these last days. The fifth category is the faithful remnant who are eagerly watching and awaiting His return. We may not agree on every specific point, but if we believe Christ has to return before the Tribulation (Daniel’s 70th Week) begins, then we are holding to the only, biblical, explanation for how the end begins. While our blessed hope is not rooted in the sensational headlines or in the rapid decline we see dismantling our world, but in the very promise of Jesus, who said, when these things begin to happen, look up, lift up your heads, for your redemption draws near (Luke 21:27).
Christianity is, by its very nature, apocalyptic. Just as there was a definite beginning, there will be a definite end to life as we know it. Furthermore, we expect the end to come because God’s word spends nearly 30% of its literary real-estate telling us it will come. Those believers who either deny or pervert this truth will suffer the consequences (Rev. 3:3).
We are told not just to watch, but to eagerly watch and wait for His return. We can still do this and occupy until He returns. Let us be the good stewards and servants of our master, and He will reward our faithfulness accordingly.
“And you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.” – Luke 12:36-38
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