More than a year ago I developed an interest in eschatology. I have been raised with a certain end times stance, but I only knew some very basics. I started running into people with more complicated viewpoints and got into many debates which were quite exciting and interesting. The problem was that whether talking with a dispensational or a postmillennial I found myself incapable of giving a genuine defense against either stance (I’ve been raised Amillennial if you’re curious to know…).
During one particular debate I poured out my problems to my mom and later, this book appeared on my desk. (back then, it had a cover).
Eager for answers on how to understand this mysterious book and confounding subject, I embarked on a quest to read it front to back. It was long and hard with many slow parts and multiple different times I almost decided to set it aside entirely. There were technical parts that I found difficult to comprehend and explanations that went over my head. It was the very first commentary that I had ever read and, though the writing probably wasn’t as hard as many others, I still struggled. I pressed on and over time it grew easier to read and I found it full of many gleaming gems and clarifying insights. I ended up enjoying it immensely partly because it was a little like a fantasy story. A combination of fantasy and sound biblical theology? Definitely something I enjoy!
Over a year later I completed it and am extremely glad I did.
The focus of the book was not on which eschatological stance was right and which was wrong, but more on the main message of the whole book (though the author did have an opinion on that of course). Dennis E. Johnson focuses on how the different truths and symbols in the book can be an exhortation and blessing to the church in this day and age. He focuses on Christ, the Bride and the Enemies of the Lamb. I didn’t think when I first started that there would be so much encouragement and gospel-centeredness. In this post I want to talk about a few things I took away from the book. I won’t be talking specifically about Eschatology. Maybe for fun I will someday do a random rambling eschatology post, but it probably wouldn’t make much sense and I might be the only one remotely interested in it so haha probably not.
First and foremost, the glory of Christ was displayed vividly throughout the pages of the commentary. Johnson brings out how Revelation portrays Christ. We need to see Christ as the Lamb slain for our sins, come meek a lowly for a sacrifice; able to sympathize with our weaknesses. But we also need to see him as a great king clothed in splendor and majesty; a king whose subjects fall down on their faces at the very sight of him. A king whose face blazes brighter than the sun. A king whom angels surround crying “holy holy holy”. A king who deserves all glory and honor. A king returning to exact vengeance on all who continue in rebellion against him. This is Christ, our king who is the first and the last, the beginning and the end, who reigns over all of history. Nothing in all this world can compare to his sheer majesty and greatness. Do we daily see Christ this way?
(Revelation 1:13-16)
and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest.
The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire,
his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters.
In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.
We desperately need to see Jesus how he is portrayed in Revelation and live in light of it. His love and sacrifice are so much more astounding when we consider just how much greater he is.
Another thing that stuck out was how Revelation speaks of the Bride of Christ.
“The hallmark of the true bride, in contrast to the harlot, is that she worships no one but God and waits for no bridegroom but the Lamb. This church, composed of John and his fellow servants who hold to the testimony of Jesus and cling to the faithful words of God, now appears to be a small minority, defenseless in the face of the aggression of hostile government, the deception of pseudo-religion, and the seduction of euthanizing affluence. In fact, however, she is the king’s beloved; and he is driving history to the consummation of their marriage, when her every enemy is vanquished and the Lamb’s glory floods her life with light.” - Dennis E. Johnson
It's easy to get discouraged by the many problems in what is called the church. So much heresy, so much confusion and so much false confession seems strung out through what is seen as the church. And on top of that there is so much persecution all over the word on true believers. America itself seems to tilting ever downward and it’s easy to wonder how the true church could endure to the end.
But Christ’s one true church, comprised of every person he has redeemed and clothed in his righteousness will emerge triumphant is the end. Christ loves his bride and will keep her safe and pure until the great wedding feast. And we, as a part of that bride, should see her as he does and love her as he does. This doesn't mean looking at the false prophets and calling them the bride. It means identifying those who truly worship God and seeing them as Christ sees them. We are a part of the radiant bride of Christ who is zealously loved and protected by her great and awesome Bridegroom. To be clear, we are not individually the bride of Christ; we are a part of the Bride.
(Revelation 21:9-11)
Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.”
And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God,
having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.
“The Book of Revelation wages war on the reductionism that chokes awe.”
The longing for great and glorious things which so often is comes up as we watch awesome movies (or, for many, play video games with amazing graphics), points to the fact that we want to see and experience splendor and power. But every longing for such can only be satisfied in Christ. We may not see him now, but we will see him as he is one day. For now, Revelation reminds us that these things are reality; we walk by faith and not by sight. We need to see Christ and His church as more glorious. Our Hero has already crushed the dragon’s head and he is coming to take His bride home. On a very real level we are living in a fantasy story full of more wonder than any ever written by human hands and more glorious than we could imagine. Regardless of eschatological position we can rejoice in this reality.
Jesus is coming!