The Book of Revelations, also known as the Apocalypse of John, is the final canonical book comprising the New Testament of the Holy Bible. It was written by John the Apostle while he was exiled on Patmos (Holy Bible, 1978).
The Book of Revelations is a symbolic record of the entire range of world history in the past as well as a prophecy of the future eventually leading to the end of the world. There are a large number of visions outlined that usually begin with the prefix “I saw” that appear more than 40 times in the book (Holy Bible, 1980). The visions should not be forced into allegory wherein each detail has some significance; very frequently, the meaning rests in the total vision and its consequence rather than each detail. It is significant that the first vision is directed at the Seven Churches of Asia whom Jesus authoritatively addresses with “a great voice, as of a trumpet” (Holy Bible, 1978). All the Seven Churches were located in what is now modern-day Turkey; they have been dismantled since long as that country turned predominantly Muslim while the Christians in those Churches have spread far and wide all over the world. From this viewpoint, Jesus’ message is directed at a wider audience of Christians spread all over the world.
In my opinion, the most important series of visions are the Seven Seals that comprise the Judgement on Sin (Holy Bible, 1979). It is a concept that declares that when the end of the world is near, Seven Seals will be uncovered by The Lamb . The first six of the Seven Seals comprise symbols that signify World Wars, Famine, Earthquakes, Death, Martyrdom, and the Antichrist. The significance of the Seven Seals vision is apparent from the fact that most of the prophesized events have occurred in the past ever since Christ’s first coming, while some have the potential to occur in the future before Christ’s second coming that would signify the end of the world. The world has already been embroiled in two massive World Wars, and it is widely felt that if and when the Third World War takes place, given the increasingly widespread presence of nuclear weapons in the hands of several sane as well as rogue nations, the scale of Death and destruction will be unimaginable. Several devastating Famines have occurred, such as the Great Irish Famine, the Skull Famine in India, the Great Chinese Famine, and the Famine in Sudan . Many massive Earthquakes have struck in different parts of the world, such as the Great Neapolitan Earthquake , San Francisco Earthquake and Kashmir Earthquake . The World Wars, Famines, and Earthquakes have resulted in Death on a massive scale. Since Christ’s coming, there have been a large number of Christians who have embraced Martyrdom rather than go against their faith, such as Joan of Arc , St. John Fisher , Magdalene of Nagasaki , Luis Jayme , Maria Goretti and Tiffany Johnson . The Antichrist means one who denies the existence of God the Father and Jesus Christ. While there were many such individuals in history who can be called by this name due to their fierce suppression and killing of Christians, it is felt by many that the real Antichrist is yet to come, and he will bring about Death and destruction on an unimaginable scale; many think this individual is Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden who has vowed to destroy the U.S., Israel and all infidels . Osama has already shown what he can do in 9/11. Given the widespread proliferation of nuclear weapons and materials, there is no limit in Death and destruction, which he cannot reach.
The Seventh Seal contains the Seven Trumpets that compromise God’s calls for repentance (Holy Bible, 1993). The Seven Trumpets declare what will happen during the process of the end of the world. Man will be subject to Christ’s Last Judgement; Sea will change into blood, Plagues will rampantly set in, People’s skins will be infected by sores, internal Water bodies will turn to blood and Soil will not bear crops. The Seventh Trumpet declares that the Seven Vials (Holy Bible, 1979) will be introduced, each vial being the sea, mankind, water, animals, ships, plants, and earth surrounded by an infinite chasm.
In conclusion, the Book of Revelations should be regarded as a good of hope as well as a book of warning. It provides hope to all Christians who suffer persecution in some form or the other, promising them that their pain and misery will not go unrewarded. It provides a warning to non-Christians of the impending approaching end of the world and what will occur at that time.
Reference
“Holy Bible King James Version.” USA: Thomas Nelson. 1993.