John

A Vision Of Hope

READ Revelation 1

Charles Dickens’s classic novel A Christmas Carol has been made into countless films and parodies, many of which are rebroadcast every Christmas season. The story centers on a curmudgeonly miser named Ebenezer Scrooge, a wealthy man without an ounce of generosity or love. Scrooge is visited by three spirits: the Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present, and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. The final spirit reveals to Scrooge that his selfish life is headed for a sad, lonely, and fatal end. Seeing the reality of the future, Ebenezer Scrooge disavows himself of his unloving ways to become a person of generosity and compassion. Having seen the future, Scrooge changes his behavior in the present.

The book of Revelation is similar. God gave John this revelation from Jesus Christ “to show his servants what must soon take place” (1:1). God pulled back the curtain to show his people the future, and John’s vision of the future victory of Christ encourages and strengthens believers to live faithful lives today.

John was one of Jesus’ closest disciples. When Jesus split off from the larger group, he often brought John with him, along with Peter and James. When Jesus was hanging on the cross, he entrusted his mother into the care of John (John 19:27). John is credited with writing the gospel that bears his name, three eponymous epistles, and the book of Revelation.

By the time John wrote Revelation, he was an old man. John knew suffering and patient endurance all too well, and so did many of the other Christians. Some were certainly beginning to lose heart: When would Jesus return? Why hadn’t he returned already? How could God allow the persecution of his followers under Roman emperors such as Nero and Domitian? John addressed this problem by showing them the future: a glorious vision graciously given to him by God.

At Christ’s command, John wrote down his vision of the present and the future for the seven churches (Revelation 1:19). This vision is not for those churches alone, however; it is for all believers since to read and find encouragement through. While the book of Revelation has been subject to endless debate and interpretive disagreements throughout church history, the broad contours are clear. Christ will be victorious in the end. He will return and establish a new heaven and a new earth. He will reign with his people in a glorious kingdom in which there will be no more death or pain. God’s faithful children can rejoice in the sure promise of this glorious future, guaranteed by the precious blood of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Most of us are not facing the same kind of persecution today. Nevertheless, we feel these same questions nagging at our minds. Why hasn’t Jesus returned yet? Why does God allow such suffering and strife to continue? John understood the weariness of waiting. He had seen or heard about many other Christians—even his fellow apostles—being martyred for their faith. Yet John maintained his zeal and passion for Christ to the end. John showed us what a long and faithful obedience looks like.

In these moments, the book of Revelation is a comfort. We can remind ourselves that God’s patience is a facet of his grace, giving time for the gospel to spread and for more people to come to life in Christ. When we feel the weight of a hurting world around us and wonder why God lets it go on, we can look to John’s vision as deeply moving and comforting. Beyond the chaos of today and beyond the chaos to come, Christ will prevail as Lord over the universe.

Seeing and believing this future gives us strength to face the moments and days before us, difficult as they may be. Those who are growing old and may be weary in their faith can look to this vision and be renewed. As the prophet Habakkuk also saw, “The revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay” (2:3).

The same is true of John’s God-given vision of the future. We wait for it to arrive. Our hope in the coming Lord carries us through the chaos and uncertainty of today. Like John, may each of us remain faithful as we await the day when “every eye will see him” (Revelation 1:7). As our Lord promises, “Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll” (22:7).

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus—and find us faithful to the end!