What Is Christ Doing In The Book Of Revelation?

The English word "apocalypse" is derived from the Greek word, pronounced apokalypsis (see also Translation Of Translations). Although it's frequently used to describe a great devastation or time of trouble, apocalypse actually means revealing - hence the reason that the words revelation and apocalypse are both used for the last book of the Holy Bible (we know that it's the last book of the Bible because Christ warned not to add anything more i.e. "^22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book" Revelation 22:18 KJV).

The book of Revelation was written by the apostle John (see The Old Man's Letter), from the words spoken to him by Jesus Christ. While many people call the book the "revelation of John," the Holy Bible itself calls it "The Revelation of Jesus Christ."

"^1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: ^1:2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw." (Revelation 1:1-2 KJV)

"The Revelation of Jesus Christ"

The book of Revelation is about Jesus Christ, from His arrival before the Throne of God after His ascension, to all that He has been doing from then to now, to the events of His return and His establishment of the Kingdom of God (see The Gospel of The Kingdom of God and The Coming World Dictator). What is Christ doing in the book of Revelation? Practically everything.

The arrival of The Messiah before the Throne of God:

"^5:1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals [see The Seven Seals]. ^5:2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? ^5:3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. ^5:4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. ^5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

^5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. ^5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. ^5:9 And they sung a new song, saying,

Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood [see Why Blood?] out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; ^5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth [see Are We In Heaven Now?]." (Revelation 5:1-10 KJV)

Prior to His return, it will be Christ Who triggers the series of end-time events, beginning with the "four horsemen of the apocalypse" (see Chariots And Horsemen Of The Apocalypse):

"^6:1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder [see The Coming Of Thunder], one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. ^6:2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

^6:3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. ^6:4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.

^6:5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. ^6:6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.

^6:7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. ^6:8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him [see also Through The Gates Of Hell]. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth." (Revelation 6:1-8 KJV)

The return of Jesus Christ will follow, thereby beginning the Kingdom of God on earth.

"^19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. ^19:12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. ^19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. ^19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. ^19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. ^19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

^19:17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; ^19:18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.

^19:19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army [see War With The Lamb]. ^19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast [see The Mark On The Hand Or Forehead], and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. ^19:21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh." (Revelation 19:11-21 KJV)

When Christ has accomplished all that God has sent Him to do, the Son will welcome the Father to earth, where they will rule from the New Jerusalem.

"^21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. ^21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ^21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God [see The Throne Of God, From Heaven To Earth]. ^21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death [see Death's Obituary], neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." (Revelation 21:1-4 KJV)

"^21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. ^21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. ^21:24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. ^21:25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. ^21:26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. ^21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life." (Revelation 21:22-27 KJV)

Fact Finder: Why are Christ's garments described as "white as snow"?
See Why Are Christ's Garments White As Snow?

This Day In History, January 15

69: Servius Sulpicius Galba, the Roman Emperor who succeeded Nero (see Did Nero Really Fiddle While Rome Burned?), was assassinated by the Praetorian guard in the Roman Forum (see New Testament Roman Emperors).

1077: German emperor Henry IV stood barefoot in the snow for three days at Canossa, Italy, pleading for a reversal of excommunication by Pope Gregory VII. (see Emperors and Popes and The Holy Roman Empire).

1519: Spanish explorer Vasco Nunez de Balboa died at age 44. He was the head of the first stable settlement on the South American continent (1511), and the first known European to sight the Pacific Ocean (September 25 1513). His last years were troubled by conflicts with his superior, who had him seized on unfounded charges of rebellion and treason from which Balboa was condemned to death and beheaded.

1535: After his split with the papacy, King Henry VIII became Supreme Head of the Church of England under the Act of Supremacy.

1552: The Treaty of Chambord was signed by Henry II of France and several German princes including Maurice of Saxony who ceded Metz, Toul and Verdun to France.

1559: Elizabeth Tudor, daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn was crowned at Westminster Abbey as Queen Elizabeth I.

1582: The Peace of Jam-Zapolski was signed between Russia and Poland, ceding Livonia and Estonia to Poland.

1697: The citizens of Massachusetts spent a day of fasting and repentance for their roles in the 1692 Salem Witch Trials. Judge Samuel Sewall, who had presided over many of the 20 capital judgments, published a written confession acknowledging his own "blame and shame."

1759: The British Museum opened at Montague House in London.

1906: Britain relinquished its naval bases at Halifax, Nova Scotia and Esquimault, British Columbia to Canada.

1919: Karl Liebknecht, 48, and Rosa Luxemburg, 49, founders of the Spartacus League which in 1919 became the German communist party, were killed in Berlin by soldiers who were taking them to prison.

1922: The Irish Free State was formed.

1965: Former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill suffered a severe stroke.

1970: Israeli archaeologists reported uncovering the first evidence supporting the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD by military forces of the Roman empire (see Fall of Jerusalem In 70 A.D. and Pella).

1970: Biafran forces surrendered, thereby ending Biafra as an independent territory of Nigeria.

1971: The Aswan Dam was officially dedicated by President Sadat of Egypt and President Podgorny of the Soviet Union.

1973: Golda Meir became the first Prime Minister of Israel to meet with a pope.