Chapter 31 Revelation
The End of Time

The Apocalypse!
 
“Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven. And everyone will see him— even those who pierced him. And all the nations of the world will mourn for him. Yes! Amen! 8 'I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,' says the Lord God. 'I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.'
 
I, John, am your brother and your partner in suffering and in God’s Kingdom and in the patient endurance to which Jesus calls us. I was exiled to the island of Patmos for preaching the word of God and for my testimony about Jesus. 10 It was the Lord’s Day, and I was worshiping in the Spirit.
 
Suddenly, I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet blast. 11 It said, 'Write in a book everything you see, and send it to the seven churches in the cities of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.'
 
When I turned to see who was speaking to me, I saw seven gold lampstands. 13 And standing in the middle of the lampstands was someone like the Son of Man. He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest." Revelation 1:7-13(NLT)
    
Apocalypse is a word from the Greek language meaning to reveal something, thus the translation “Revelation” (not Revelations).  

There is nothing in Revelation that is not in the Old Testament. In Verse 7 John is alluding to the imagery of Daniel 7:13. I think it is a huge mistake to reduce images like clouds to literalism. Daniel and John were describing visions far greater than mere images can describe. Those reading this letter would understand it in the light of their scriptures. In a sense the language of Revelation became a kind of “code language” that only Jews would understand. Romans who intercepted this letter, for example, probably would not have noticed that it clearly describes the overthrow of the Roman Empire.  

In verse 12 the lampstands are the churches (see Zech 4) and the stars in verse 14 are the pastors of the churches. John sees the action of God in the world taking place through the churches, which are the Body of Jesus Christ. In the middle of the action, right in the midst of all the activity of the churches, stands the risen Jesus. John sees him at the center of all things. And he now reveals himself to John so that John can pass on this message to believers across the Roman empire who are suffering persecution.
 
The Message? Jesus is on his Throne and regardless of the challenges you are facing, all suffering is temporary. Hang on. Jesus has overcome the world.
 
Prayer
 
“Lord, when all around me is dark and overwhelming I am grateful for the reminder that you are on your Throne, competently reigning over the entire universe, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent, even to me. Unbelievable. I accept what is before me believing that you are in it and through it you will have victory. Amen."