The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John" Revelation 1:1
When people see or hear the word apocalypse they think of destruction and devastation. They think of modern distorted definitions that barely resemble the original definition. Today we’ll learn what apocalypse means and why we should rejoice in it. First, let’s look at definitions.
Modern definition according to Bing
Apocalypse – the complete final destruction of the world, as described in the biblical book of Revelation. See also Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. The book of Revelation. An event involving destruction or damage on an awesome or catastrophic scale. [1]
Original meaning according to Webster’s Dictionary 1828
Apocalypse – Revelation; discovery; disclosure. The name of a book of the New Testament, containing many discoveries or predictions respecting the future state of Christianity, written by St. John, in Patmos, near the close of the first century. [2]
As you can see the word apocalypse or apokalypsis in Greek, means revelation. So, the book of Revelation is the book of discovery, disclosure and prophesy. It shares the current state of our society and revels coming events. It is Gods glimpse of future events and a reminder to avoid the pitfalls and apostacy of the churches listed in the revelation God showed John.
Many of these events will be horrible, but many will also be wonderful – The rapture of the church, the marriage supper of the lamb, new and perfect bodies for every saint of God. Revelation is a complex book that requires a great deal of study and leadership from the Holy Spirit. One thing it is not, is just a book of destruction and catastrophe. It is so much more. It is a glimpse of heaven, the new earth and the new Jerusalem. It is a presentation of God’s enduring mercy and grace for all those that accept Christ as Lord and Savior. If studied and used properly, it can encourage people to win souls for Jesus Christ before it is eternally too late.
I thank God for revealing this prophesy and disclosures to John, and I thank John for writing this revelation down so that we can draw wisdom from God’s precious Revelation within His precious Word. Amen!
References
[1] "apocalypse meaning - Bing," n.d.
[2] "Webster's Dictionary 1828 - Apocalypse," Websters Dictionary 1828, accessed September 1, 2018, http://webstersdictionary1828.com/Dictionary/Apocalypse.