I write this in the midst of the COVID–19 pandemic. As vaccines for COVID–19 become more widely available, some have used the book of Revelation to denounce these vaccines as “the mark of the beast” from Revelation 13:17.¹ Regardless of what you think about COVID–19 or vaccines, this certainly seems like a strange way to use the book of Revelation.
How does the Bible teach us to use Revelation?
A Biblical Model for Using Revelation Rightly
Revelation is a strange book to many modern Christians. Some are so acquainted with its misuse that they have abandoned using this book altogether! But the book itself promises great blessing for all who would read, hear, and obey its words (Rev 1:3). Thankfully, God teaches us how to interpret and use Revelation rightly, especially in the book’s opening verses.
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.
—Revelation 1:1–3
The Right use of Revelation
The Bible teaches us to use the book of Revelation as a trustworthy revelation from Christ that reveals Christ to encourage and warn the church.
Trustworthy Revelation from Christ
This book begins by describing itself simply as “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants the things that must soon take place.” Verse 1 clarifies that Jesus himself reveals God’s plan for the future through this book. In the seven letters to the churches, Jesus speaks as the covenant Lord who reveals both the present and the future to his churches. Revelation 5 identifies Jesus as the only one who is worthy to open, to read, and to enact God’s saving plan. Ultimately, Jesus is “the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets” (Rev 22:6), and his words about the future are “trustworthy and true.” (Rev 22:6; see also Rev 21:5) Thus, we ought to use this book as a trustworthy revelation from Jesus about reality—past, present, and future.
Reveals Christ
Yet this book does not merely contain revelation from Christ. This book reveals Christ. Indeed, we might retranslate the first phrase of Revelation 1:1 as “the revelation from and about Jesus Christ.” Through OT images and apocalyptic symbols, this book reveals Jesus in all his glory as our Prophet, Priest, and King as well as our covenant Lord. He is “the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.” (Rev 1:5 NIV) He is "the First and the Last," and "the Living One," who died and now lives forever, reigning over death itself (Rev 1:17–18). He walks among the churches as their covenant Lord to save and to judge (Rev 2–3). He receives worship and praise as the slain Lamb and the Lion of Judah. He is the only One who is worthy to bring God’s purposes to pass.
This book rips away the dark clouds of this rebel world to reveal the glorious hope that is our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns to bring about all God’s very good promises for his suffering church. We ought to use this book to remind ourselves and others about the greatness and glory of our Lord Jesus Christ as well as the true and trustworthy nature of his words.
Encourages and Warns the Church
This revelation from and about Jesus Christ is for the church (“his servants” in v.1). In a world filled with danger, deceit, and death, Revelation encourages the church to “follow the Lamb wherever he goes” (Rev 14:4 NIV), strengthens the church to endure persecution and suffering, and steels the church to fight and overcome the evil one “by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” (Rev 12:11) At the same time, this book warns the church and the world that judgment is coming, indeed that it has already come.
Thus, we ought to use this book to encourage the church, especially churches and Christians undergoing intense suffering. Likewise, we should use this book to warn faithless churches, false teachers, and the world.
And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.
And behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book!”
Revelation 22:6–7
A Modern Model for Using Revelation Rightly
Consider how Pastor George Robertson preaches Christ from Revelation to encourage his church in this 8 minute clip: