Revelation

Imagine trying to understand a technical report that makes reference to several key source documents but ignoring the source documents. This is how most people read the book of Revelation. In all 66 books of the OT and NT the book of revelation is the most personally given book. It starts out reading "the Revelation of Jesus Christ" and ends with " I Jesus" and yet this book is the least understood. What is so shocking is the fact that so few people think it is really that important for salvation. Of all the books in the bible one might think that the one book "personally" given by God himself would be toward the top of importance rather then treated as the "redheaded stepchild" in the cannon. This irony is further compounded by the fact that revelation means to reveal. Too often, even with the scores of opinions that do exist, what we find in this revealing is really just more mystery! The truth is most people have no idea how to even approach the book which brings us back to the beginning and a third irony. That irony being that almost everything in it , with few exceptions, is just repeated or restated information of things already written about and in fact even quotes from them. So important is this book that proper understanding of Revelation is critical to a full understanding of the mystery of the gospel. In fact, a proper understanding of the testimony found in Revelation determines almost every single doctrine in Christianity from Christ second coming; the judgment; nature of the resurrection; singing; to popes at the Vatican, More recent prophets in Christianity and other religions. Almost every single doctrine in Christianity can be taught or is directly affected by the impact of this book. At first, you may pick this book up and complain about the title, after all Revelation is the last book "so how can it be the first gospel". You will also probably find the tone caustic at times, after all Christ turn the money changers over ever so delicately and never used " judgmental words" like "hypocrites" ; "snakes" ;"fools and blind guides". Through perseverance, you will at first ask yourself, if this is the simple and easy to understand truth of it, how come we don't see this anywhere. However, by the end of this study, you will come to realize the sad state of truth in the hearts of men; and in the end you will ask "How could it be otherwise?"