Main Thought
When we hear the word “apocalypse,” we often think of disaster movies or end-of-the-world events. In Greek, apokalypsis means unveiling: pulling back the curtain so we can see reality clearly. It is a revealing - and that’s how we get the Book of Revelation. For the early church, Revelation was never meant to stir fear. It was meant to inspire confidence and hope. The center of the vision isn’t chaos but Christ.
The Book of Revelation begins with a spoiler: Jesus wins! His victory has been revealed, secured, and shared with His people. Because of this, we don’t struggle with uncertainty toward victory but we live from victory. Our present struggles - in our lives and in our world - cannot undo His finished work. Hardship and confusion will not have the last word. The Alpha and Omega has already spoken, and His word is victory.
Main Passages
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. 4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth…
- Revelation 1:1-5a, ESV
…To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail[b] on account of him. Even so. Amen. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
- Revelation 1:5b-8 ESV
He humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names.
- Philippians 2:8–9, NLT
Discussion Questions
When you think about the word “Revelation,” do you usually connect it with hope or with fear? How does this passage challenge or reshape your perspective?
Jesus is called the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of kings. Which of these titles gives you the most encouragement right now?
The spoiler of the gospel is that Jesus already wins. How would your response to today’s challenges change if you lived more fully in that reality?