Revelation 1 - Introduction

Tomlinson's Comments
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION

We are beginning the study of the final book of the Bible. It is, as it were, the climax of all the other books of the Holy Scriptures. So many other foolish vagaries and extravagant fancies have been published that many intelligent students of the Scriptures have turned away from the book of Revelation as a deep mystery that can not be understood. The book is not intended to be a puzzle, or an enigma which no one could solve. The writer expected his message to be understood by those who would spiritually discern its uncoverings.
Its very name signifies it can be understood; though all who approach its study must commit himself to a deeper delving into its truths, than any other book of the sacred volume requires. Here as in all other books, but in a greater degree, it is necessary that men shall have hearing ear and the understanding heart.
This book is called a Revelation of Jesus Christ of the things that must shortly come to pass. The Greek word for the book is Apocalypse, which means uncovering. John used the word in the opening verse with the meaning that the covering is rolled off the future so that we may understand. So Revelation is not a sealed book, but the uncovering is done by the means of graphic symbolism. Doubtless, Christ resorted to symbolism to protect the book from destruction at the hands of the wicked institutions portrayed herein. Had such adversaries been called by their actual names they would have either destroyed the book, or declared the book of a later composition, because it named powers, religious and political, by names unknown until later centuries.

Again, symbolism was used that the true followers of Christ might know its mysteries, otherwise hidden to the worldling. Christ used this principle in speaking his parables. Upon one occasion as recorded in (Matthew 13:10-17) his disciples came asking Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but to them it is not given.

Why Men Have Blundered

There are several reasons why men have made grave mistakes in their attempts to understand the apocalypse.

First: Thy have stumbled at the symbolism. Indeed it is preeminently a book of symbols. There passed before John's eyes, like a panoramic picture, a great painting of scenes, made to move past the onlooker.

As Daniel by the river Ulai, and Ezekiel by the river Chebar, saw series of visions in which were caused to pass before their minds a series of pictures portraying events of the future, so the apostle John on the Isle of Patmos, as the New Testament Prophet, beheld a panorama of the things shortly to come to pass as the future was unfolded to John by symbols which fitly represented the things signified, so his visions are filled with symbols.
As in all Old Testament prophecy it is necessary for us to interpret symbols according to the laws of symbolism, so we find the same need in the apocalypse.
These symbols aptly represent events that are to take place in the political and religious arenas of history, particularly as they affect the fortunes of the true church of Christ.
John simply records what he saw. A prophet is a fore-seer. John saw upon the sky, or upon the waters of the sea, or on the sands of Patmos, the exact events he describes symbolically. It is our province to examine the symbols and determine their meaning, by a careful comparison with history.

Second: The apocalypse has been misunderstood because we have failed to study it in the light of history. These events were future history to John when he wrote, but most of them have become history now. It is well to hold this book of prophecy in one hand and the books of history in the other. Who could ever understand Nebuchadnezzar's vision of the man with the head of gold, the breast and arms of silver, the belly and thighs of brass, the legs of iron with feet of part iron and part clay without studying the history of the kingdoms of Babylon, Media-Persia, Greece and Rome.

He who would approach the study of Revelation, must be versed in the history of the church, with her attendant perils from political and spiritual adversaries. Such a student will discover to his unending delight that secular history has unwittingly fortified the book of Revelation.