Troublesome Topic: KEY #3 Understand the Purpose of Apocalyptic Literature in Scripture

This way of looking at Revelation naturally leads to the following question: Is Revelation about events yet in the future or not? Pardon me for being so bold, but here is “the answer”: Revelation is not limited to one era of time; it is intended to encourage believers of any era of human history that are facing persecution or strong opposition. This understanding of the purpose of Revelation will be confirmed over and over again by the actual text of Revelation.

What does the word “apocalypse” mean? We tend to assume from its common usage that the word apocalypse refers to some climactic or destructive event. For instance, we talk about something being of apocalyptic proportions. But apocalypse means “the revealing” or “the revelation.” The revelation of whom? According to Revelation 1:1, it is the revelation of Jesus. If apocalyptic literature is not intended to describe some horrific events in the future, what is its purpose? What is the purpose of this “revealing” of Jesus? He was revealed to John in a way that John had never seen Him before in order to encourage him and others like him.

I am not just assuming that John and others of his day were suffering persecution; he states it clearly. Revelation 1:9 says, “I, John, your brother and a participant with you in affliction, in God’s sovereign rule, and in endurance, all of which we experience in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and my testimony of Jesus.” There you have it; John was in persecution and was writing to people in persecution.

So we need to realize that we can’t really understand the book of Revelation, unless we are going through true persecution. Revelation was not intended to satisfy our curiosity about the end of the era. Satisfying our curiosity is not a priority to God; encouraging His beleaguered saints is.

Consider this, if the purpose is to inform believers who will be alive as the curtain closes on this era of history, then it does not make any sense to anyone else, and it definitely did not make sense to John or the people of his day. That is not how God works. He would not include something in His word that means nothing to most people down through history. Also, if that were true, we would not know if it means anything to us until the events unfold in undeniable fashion. Those who were alive while Hitler was committing his atrocities thought they were beginning to see Revelation played out before their eyes, but they were wrong. Revelation had very little meaning for them if that method of interpretation is correct.

Also, if the purpose were to let us know what happens at the end, it does not seem to do a very good job of helping us out. Rather it seems to create confusion.

John’s response in Revelation chapter 22 shows us it was not irrelevant to him. He got the message, and it was a powerful and moving thing for him. That would not have been the case if it were intended to inform people who would live thousands of years after John died.

However, to see Revelation as encouragement for those facing opposition or persecution because of their faith gives this vision meaning for most believers of all times. You will notice that all the images fit perfectly into this method of interpretation, and the message of the book is clear and powerful. Seeing it as information about the end creates confusion; seeing it as encouragement brings clarity and power.

You may be asking: If Revelation was written to encourage those in persecution, why does Revelation itself say, “to show his bond-servants what must soon become reality” (1:1)? Americans usually think that means to help us figure out each piece of the puzzle, but believers under persecution would have been happy simply to know how it would end for them personally. They were asking, “will we be able to hang on and remain true?” The answer was a resounding “Yes!” In Rev. 1:1 “soon” referred to each individual and his struggles. Yes, Jesus will be victorious in the end in the big picture of things, but he will also be victorious in each life. He will give strength for each trial. They needed strength to hang on a little longer, and that is exactly what this vision provides. The words “…to show his bond-servants what must soon become reality” fit perfectly with the emphasis on encouragement for those being persecuted. This was seen as a personal message from Jesus to each person facing persecution. That is how John took it, and that was how he wanted other readers to take it too.

To summarize, Revelation fits the pattern of apocalyptic literature in Scripture because it was written by someone in persecution, for others in persecution. It was written to encourage them in their individual trials. Revelation is not information about the future, it encouragement during times of hardship. That does not mean frustrating things that come up during our day because “life happens;” persecution and strong opposition refer to hardships that come out way specifically because we are taking a stand for Jesus.

The next lesson is: KEY # 4 Use Biblical Terminology Properly