Sometimes, when I read the Book of Revelation, I try to imagine John’s face as he records these visions from Jesus. Most scholars today think that the Book of Revelation was written around the year A.D. 95 and during the reign of the Roman Emperor Domitian, when many early Christians were persecuted for their beliefs. In fact John plainly describes being exiled on the island of Patmos “on account of the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus” (Revelation 1: 9-11) when he receives these visions.

At that time, Jesus has been gone for roughly six decades. We can imagine how much John misses his beloved friend and teacher. Perhaps there are days when John wonders, Jesus, where are you? Why is it taking so long to restore the Kingdom of God? Will I see you return in my lifetime?

And then the Risen Jesus appears to John, asking him first to share some prophetic messages with the seven churches of Asia Minor; and then sharing a series of visions that further reveal to John — and to all of us — the present and future circumstances of God’s people.

I imagine the awe and wonder on John’s face as he works to record these visions and messages from Jesus. I imagine John writes around the clock, while the details of what he has seen and heard are still fresh in his mind and heart. Whether he is addressing the seven churches in Asia, describing the beasts and plagues, or observing the endless worship of the holy beings and spirits that surround the throne of God, John writes with great conviction and love.

In Chapter 4, John describes seeing “in heaven, an open door!” (Revelation 4: 1) John is invited into heaven; and in Chapter 5, John describes seeing “in the right hand of Him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals.” (Revelation 5: 1) When an angel asks who is worthy of opening the seal, John describes himself weeping when he observes that “no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or look into it.” (Revelation 5: 2-4) At this moment, John realizes how far humanity has fallen from God’s original plan for us.

But then Jesus, the Lion of Judah, appears as a Lamb, standing as though it had been slain, and opens the ancient and timeless scroll and seals of God the Father. (Revelation Chapters 5 and 6). I like to think again about John’s face when he recognizes his Savior and friend in heaven. Jesus is still here … His promises are real.

I also like to imagine the great joy and love that Jesus experiences in revealing to John the new heaven and earth. Jesus loves us so much. The battle of good and evil has been fought, and The Good Shepherd has won the battle. Love always wins.

In Chapters 21 and 22 of Revelation, Jesus, through John, reveals a glimpse of eternal life with God, bringing the Old Testament prophecies full circle and confirming God’s desire to dwell with us for eternity, as per God’s original plan revealed at the start of the Bible — We are made in God’s image (Genesis 1: 26-27), which John himself assures us is Love. (1 John 4: 16) We are made in love to love one another (Genesis 2: 18-25); and we are made to love and to be with God. (Genesis 3: 8-9)

No matter how many times I read these verses in Genesis Chapter 3, I am always stunned to realize that Adam and Eve knew the sound of God’s footsteps in the garden. They knew the sound of His Voice and that God enjoyed walking in the cool of the day.

God is with us. ♥️

All is not lost. ♥️

Let the wonder of all this settle on your heart as you read John’s description of the new heaven and earth:

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband; and I heard a great voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling of God is with men. He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be with them; He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21: 1-4

I imagine John’s eyes filling with tears and his fingers trembling as he writes. He goes on to recount:

“And He who sat upon the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ Also He said, ‘Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.’ And He said to me, ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water without price from the fountain of the water of life. He who conquers shall have this heritage, and I will be His God and he shall be my son.” Revelation 21: 5-6

In Chapter 21, John also describes the exquisite beauty of the new holy city of Jerusalem, revealed to him by one of the seven angels introduced at the start of Revelation. The new Jerusalem is built with pure gold and adorned with the earth’s most precious jewels. Reiterating again God’s plan to dwell with us, John writes this:

“And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine upon it, for the glory of God is its Light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light, the nations walk; and the kings of the earth shall bring their glory into it, and its gates shall never be shut by day — and there shall be no night there; they shall bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations.” Revelation 21: 22-26

John continues:

“Then he [the angel] showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the Tree of Life, with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” Revelation 22: 1-2

The enormity of these visions are revealed through John’s words near the end of Revelation:

“I John am he who heard and saw these things. And when I heard them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me; but he said to me, ‘You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brethren the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.’ And he said to me, ‘Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.'” Revelation 22: 8-11

I imagine John, filled with deep humility and gratitude, at the feet of the angel. And I imagine John, at the angel’s instruction, jumping up and not wasting a minute in recording what he has seen and heard! The ego and complacency that Jesus warns the churches of so sternly at the start of Revelation are nowhere to be found within John’s response.

When recording these visions, John likely has no way of knowing that the Book of Revelation will become the final book of the Bible. We know that every word of the Bible and the placement of every Book is there for a reason. Through Revelation, perhaps Jesus is trying to remind us, one last time, not to get lost in trying to figure out all the mysteries of this life, and of the life with Him to come. Perhaps Jesus is asking us one last time to accept the fact that there are questions for which there will be no answers.

Perhaps Jesus is asking us to consider, one last time, the importance of our choices made here on earth.

And perhaps Jesus is assuring us that if we desire to share eternal life with Him, all we have to do is trust in and listen for and follow Him.

At the end of Revelation, Jesus says these words:

“‘I Jesus have sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright morning star.'” Revelation 22: 16

Carry this image of Jesus with you always — “the bright morning star,” leading you to a peace and love like no other.

♥️