“The Key to Revelation”
Revelation 1:1-11
Heart of the Rockies Christian Church
David A. Shirey
We’re going to spend the next few weeks in the book of Revelation, but don’t be afraid. To many, Revelation is the pit bull of the Bible—chained at the back of the biblical yard, growling and barking hellfire at anyone who comes near. Or else it’s the haunted house on the hill—a spooky book to be avoided. Or it’s an unfathomable mystery filled with bizarre symbols and weird images, a daunting question mark that requires a code to decipher.
In fact, it’s none of the above. The book of Revelation wasn’t written to bite, scare, or confound. It has proven to be difficult to understand, however. Thankfully, we have help available from learned scholars. Alexander Campbell, one of the founding figures of our Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), was as devoted a student of the Bible as there ever was. He bequeathed to us, his spiritual ancestors, some guidelines to help us read the Bible with understanding. Some call it Alexander Campbell’s W-Key: “On opening any book in the sacred scriptures, consider first the historical circumstances… Who is the author? When was it written? Where was it written? Why was it written? To whom was it written? What is the message the author is conveying?”[1]
So, let’s begin our series on Revelation using Campbell’s key and allow his questions to guide us. Beginning with: Who is the author? and To whom is it written? The author is a pastor named John writing to churches in what is present-day Turkey. Most Bible scholars doubt this is the John who wrote the Gospel according to John and the three letters of John because the vocabulary and style of Revelation is so different from those writings. We know the John who wrote Revelation was a pastor because he wrote to seven churches he knew intimately (Rev 2, 3) and pastors know their congregations inside and out. What’s more, he describes himself in intimate language as their “brother and companion” (Rev. 1:4, 9) and pastors love their congregations. The word pastor after all literally means “shepherd.” Pastors yearn for the well being of their flocks. John did and Wendy and I do. His first words to them are “Grace and peace to you” setting the tone from the start that this is to be an encouraging word, not a distressing one. And when Pastor John receives his first glimpse of the vision that unfolds in Revelation, he’s told, “Do not be afraid” (Revelation 1:17). So, if you come across an interpretation of Revelation that stirs up feelings contrary to “grace,” “peace,” or “fearing not” beware. If somebody tries to pass off on you something that is fear mongering or anxiety producing — that’s a sure-fire red flag you’re being misled. There are people out there who interpret Revelation as if it were written by Stephen King when it was written by a pastor of Christ the King. It’s a pastoral letter, not the screenplay for a slasher movie. So, Who is the author of Revelation? To whom is it written? Revelation was written by Pastor John to encourage congregations he loves.
Where was Revelation written? From the isle of Patmos during a time of persecution: “I John, your brother, who share with you in Jesus the tribulation… was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus” (Rev 1:9).
The isle of Patmos is a rocky island about eight miles by six miles in the Aegean Sea off the west coast of Turkey. It was a 1st century Alcatraz. A prison. Why was Pastor John there? Because of his “testimony of Jesus.” At the end of the 1st century and beginning of the 2nd, Christians were persecuted by the Roman Empire for their “testimony” – their confession of faith – that Jesus Christ is Lord. Roman emperors claimed the title of lord for themselves and didn’t take kindly to competition for citizens’ allegiance. So, citizens were periodically rounded up and required to say the pledge of allegiance – to the emperor. How? By saying, “The emperor is lord,” then bowing to an image of the emperor and burning a little incense in homage to Nero or Caligula or Domitian or Trajan. Those who resisted were given an offer they couldn’t refuse: pledge allegiance to Caesar alone, or else. Many of our forebears, including Pastor John, chose “or else.” Those decades of persecution were known as “the tribulation.” It’s noteworthy that the Greek word translated “testimony” throughout the book of Revelation is the word martureo—from which we get the word martyr. I counted no less than 22 times it appears. Whereas you and I may not think of ourselves as martyrs, think again. Because though we may not be called to die because our of faith, we are called to live for it, meaning that every day we’re presented with choices of how we’ll comport ourselves. How we act either conveys or betrays our testimony that we are Christians. Where was Revelation written? From the island of Patmos during a time of persecution.
When was Revelation written? Most scholars date it to the early 90s A.D. But I want us to note the day of the week when this revelation came to Pastor John. It was on a Sunday during worship: “On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard ... a loud voice ... which said: "Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches. (Rev 1:10, 11) The book of Revelation is best understood within the context of worship. Revelation is filled with images, many of them downright dizzying, but many of them have to do with worship. An altar appears seven times throughout the book. What happens at an altar?
God’s Word is read and listened to. In the book of Revelation’s 404 verses there are over 500 references to Scripture. Eugene Peterson says, “Everything in the Revelation can be found in the previous sixty-five books of the Bible.”
Prayers arise from the altar. There are many images of prayer in Revelation.
Communion takes place at the altar. Revelation begins and ends with powerful images of God’s people communing with one another and with God.
Singing takes place around the altar. And is there ever singing in Revelation! Did you know that the book of the Bible that is the source of the most hymns and choruses across the ages is the Book of Revelation?
All of this is to say that if you come across an interpretation of Revelation that doesn’t seem to belong in a sanctuary on a Sunday morning accompanied by prayer and singing and communion – that’s a red flag. Let me put it this way: if the book of Revelation had a soundtrack, it would be Handel’s Messiah, not the theme from Jaws or the music from the shower scene in Psycho. If the book of Revelation were a prayer, it would be “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven ... Deliver us from evil ... Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.” When was Revelation written? In the early 90s A.D. during worship.
What kind of writing is Revelation? It’s an apocalyptic poem. Both words are important. Apocalyptic is a big word, but don’t be afraid. The first words of the last book of the Bible are: “The revelation of Jesus Christ.” In Greek, “The apokalupsis of Jesus Christ.” What does the word apocalypse mean? An unveiling. A revealing. Of what? Of God’s sure and certain victory over all manner of hurt and harm and evil through Jesus. In a word, God wins. Good wins. Love wins. What Revelation does not reveal is some End Times “Countdown to Armageddon” calendar. As Eugene Peterson wrote, “The Bible warns against a neurotic interest in the future and escapist fantasy into the future.” Jesus told his disciples, "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. (Matthew 24:36). Revelation is not a crystal ball predicting newspaper headlines in the last days, it’s a Christ-all book that reveals – promises – God’s steadfast presence and ultimate victory.
And it’s a poem. Revelation uses poetic language. Poetry, unlike prose, is not to be read literally but metaphorically. Sadly, many interpreters of Revelation insist on taking literally the one book of the Bible that explicitly claims to be a vision. A Dream. Try taking your dreams literally. John didn’t. He communicates his vision, his day dream, of God’s ultimate victory in poetic language using symbols and numbers that would have been understood by his first-century audience and were relevant to their situation. Which means any interpretation of Revelation that would not have been meaningful and relevant to his original audience is a red flag warning that it’s off base. What kind of writing is Revelation? Apocalyptic poem.
The climactic question in Alexander Campbell’s W Key is: What message is Pastor John is trying to convey to his congregations? In one word: persevere. Pastor John’s reason for writing his letter to the people of his beloved congregations was to encourage them to persevere through the tribulations that assail them. In the opening verses, he speaks of the “patient endurance that is ours in Jesus” (Rev 1:9). The message of Revelation is an encouraging word: persevere. In Greek, the word is hypomene and it appears seven times! (1:9, 2:2, 3, 19; 3:10; 13:10, 12) It’s one of the great words of the Bible. It’s defined as “the ability to bear up and not lose heart while under a great siege of trials[2]” The message of Revelation is hang in there. Keep on keeping on. Stay the course. / Don’t give up. Don’t give in. Do the right thing. / Don’t return evil for evil. Don’t succumb to cynicism or pessimism. Take the high road. / Don’t capitulate. Don’t cut moral, ethical corners. Don’t get lazy or lethargic or lackluster. / Don’t let the turkeys get you down. Who among us has not found ourselves at some point, maybe at this point, under siege, in danger of losing heart, in need of an infusion of spiritual sustenance capable of enabling us to persevere?
In all the ways you struggle to hold fast to your testimony and faithfully endure, I want to piggy-back on Pastor John’s words and say in Revelation language to the congregation I pastor:
From David, your brother and companion in Jesus Christ, to the church at the corner of Trilby and Lemay in the province of Larimer. Grace to you and peace from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face and persevere, knowing God’s victory in Christ is certain.
To be continued next week...
[1] The Christian System, 1839
[2] R.C. Trench in The Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible, p. 676.
