Introduction

Many well-meaning people get so caught up in the "end times," particularly the Book of Revelation, that they miss the simplicity of life in Christ. They delve neck-deep into topics like the rapture, the millennium, and preterist versus futurist viewpoints (with all the variants in between) that they never find the precious freedom that is found in Jesus. They debate theories of annihilation versus eternal torment or even ultimate restoration, and who or what is the beast, antichrist, and apocalyptic tribulation (including the pre-trib, mid-trib, or post-trib scenarios).

All this is further dramatized by high-profile contemporary novels and movies on the end times such as… well, on second thought, let’s not promote them! Oftentimes, histrionic attempts at proselytizing can have the opposite effect of the intention…

At the other end of the spectrum, some people become so settled on their "personal salvation" that they miss the bigger picture of Jesus' Kingdom. They hold to the one occasion (or multiple times) they raised their hand in church during the brief “salvation call” and then stake claim to God’s promise of eternal life — not truly caring enough to seek after Jesus and study scriptures that will bring them into their God-given purpose.

Thankfully, the dear brother-in-the-Lord who once told us, “I gave my heart to Jesus so many times growing up that I felt like an organ donor,” later learned what it truly means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. He also discovered what Jesus wants all Christians to realize and embrace — that his personal salvation isn’t just for him, but also for others’ sakes as he continues to walk in the light, love, and authority of Jesus upon this Earth. 

Having said all that, it’s good to have a foundational understanding of Revelation. Despite its complexity, the basic subject of this Biblical book is relatively simple, and much of its imagery is connected with other prophetic scriptures in the Old and New Testaments.