The Book of Revelation is a book of consolation, not so much a book of prophecy The book is a book of consolation for those who, in every age, are faithful to God and suffer because of it. One can say that the number “666” can be made to stand numerically for the name the Roman Emperors Caligula and Nero, Attila the Hun” (in the 5th century), Ivan the Terrible in the 1500’s, Hitler and Stalin in the last century. People in every age have sought to understand the phenomenon of evil. Some used Revelation to try to say that the number of the Beast corresponded with the name of a particular historical person.
The Book seeks to say there will be evil in every age yet God and the Lamb (Christ) always triumph in the end. The battle has already been won. We just have to be faithful to receive the triumph.
Various events seem to point to the present or even the future. But in reality, they can also point to events in the past.
One of the seven plagues in the Book tells of “pestilence”, an old word for "pandemic”.
Did this pestilence specifically refer to the Plague of Emperor Justinian (541–542 AD) or the Bubonic Plague of the 1300’s, or the Spanish Flu epidemic in 1918? Does it refer to the Covid-19? Or does it refer to all of these pandemics. It refers to all pandemics. It is about God’s healing of pestilence.
World War I was called, in its time as, “The War to End All Wars.” Yet in a few years World War II was bigger and more violent. Does the book refer to these wars and all the wars where people took up arms usually for money, more land or power? Yes. Will the Book refer to future wars and can we seek things in the Book to say, “This is Armageddon.” Yes.
Does the plague of black locusts really refer to the black ops helicopters? Some people believe this…they want to give meaning to a specific event. So for them, the black ops helicopters became the black locust in the book. Rubbish.
Some say that the “mark of the beast” (Rev. 3: 18) is a “bar code” that will be implanted, tattooed or indelibly fixed on human bodies. Those who choose to worship the “antichrist” will be marked with this sign of the beast. Many people believe that the antichrist is one who is in opposition to Christ. This is incorrect. The antichrist is one who tries to stand in the place of Christ.
Some protestants, even to this day believe that the seven heads refer to the seven hills in the city of Rome mentioned in the book (Rev 17:9) and the whore of Babylon is the Catholic Church.
Most things mentioned in the Book of Revelation have happened repeatedly and regularly down through history. They are happening now and will happen in the future.
The book was given to us by God to comfort, encourage and assist the People of God in every age. It is not about specific events that have happened, are happening and will happen. It is not a book of prophecy of things to come. To try to tie in events of the past, present and future is futile. To read the book and see how God acts, how he loves and how he sustains his people is a good, right and profitable toward our salvation in Christ, the Lamb once slain who now lives forever.
The book is a reminder that the Lord could come at any time and faithful Christians are called to be prepared. When Christians forget that the Lord is coming and he will call all to account. It reminds us to remain faithful and ever vigilant. No one knows the day or the hour.
Many protestants will disagree with this view of the book. That is their choice. But the above is what was held and is held by the Church of Jesus Christ which still exists today in the Catholic Orthodox Churches.
The Book of Revelation is a liturgical book
Tradition holds that the book records the ecstasy that John experienced during the Sunday celebration of the Eucharistic liturgy among the colony of persecuted Christians on the island of Patmos. St. John says he was “in the spirit on the Lord’s day” (Rev 1:10) This refers to being in the congregation for the Sunday celebration of the Eucharist.
The worship of God in heaven is “mirrored” in the worship of God on earth. The earthly liturgy of the Mass or Divine Liturgy has signs of the pattern of worship mentioned in the book. There is an altar, under the altar are those who suffered for Christ. There are candles and candlesticks. There is a holy book, beautifully bound and adorned (the Book of the Gospels). There is burning incense, symbolizing the prayers of the saints rising to heaven. Christ is seen as the priest, the victim and the lamb of sacrifice. The term “maran’atha” (meaning, “Lord, come.”) was an acclamation used in early Christian worship. There are hymns embedded in the book that were and are sung in the Services of the Church
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!”
To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!” (Rev. 5: 12-13)
The worship of the Church has traditionally, quite consciously, been patterned after the divine and eternal realities revealed in this book. The prayer of the Church and its mystical celebration are one with the worship of God in heaven.
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! (Rev. 22.17, 20)
