What do the following have in common: Jonah, Daniel, Isaiah, and Elijah? I could easily add more names, but you probably already know the answer. They were all Old Testament prophets.
Some prophets predicted the future. Some performed miracles. But all the biblical prophets claimed to have received a divine word from God that they were accountable to deliver accurately.
Jesus was the greatest of the prophets. His was the most clear and complete word from the Lord ever given. He also performed incredible miracles and made numerous statements regarding the future.
The Apostle John was not a prophet. He only passed on to readers like us the prophetic visions shown him by Christ.
Revelation 1:3 reads: “Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy…” So Revelation falls into the category of prophetic books.
History doesn’t just continue on indefinitely. Scripture makes it clear that we are heading toward a showdown battle between the forces of good and evil, light and darkness, God and Satan. Revelation gives us the eventual outcome of that conflict.
As is the case with all real wars, there are also many casualties. The number is large of those who suffer and/or die. Revelation predicts a long and costly encounter.
Let me add that this book aims more at the heart than it does at the head. As a prophecy, it is not so much one of charts and timetables as it is of personal encouragement and comfort. It says to those whose lives are in danger because they are on the front lines:
“Play the man, exercise patient endurance and faithfulness, and know that Jesus is with you even in the darkest of times. Trust Him. You could not have a better commander-in-chief.”
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