A New View of Revelation

While Revelation 1:3 promises blessings to those who read and heed the things written, many people who read it feel that it is too cryptic to be understood. Others feel fear. Some felt bored "Holy Holy Holy....". To those who understand, they see it as a prophecy of the future and feel that it has no immediate applications.

I see Revelation has many applications for us if we read it with the right attitude. (It is not difficult to understand the symbols and creatures as well since they are spoken of in other parts of the Bible).

1. Most see it as a prophecy of future events and the key question becomes

• "How can I prepare for it?" .... What are the answers?
• see Preparing for Christ's 2nd Coming for details.
  

2. On a deeper level, it is "The Revelation of Jesus Christ" and his dealing with His people.

• It is a story of the Love of God towards His creation - creation, rebellion, evil, sacrificial death, judgment, punishments and rewards etc.
• It is also the story of mankind. From the story of events, we should get to know the Father-God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Angels, Satan-Devils, Church, Jews & Man better.
• It should give us a better understanding of the world (natural and spiritual) that we are living in and how to effectively deal with it. It provides the answers for life -Where did I come from? Why am I here? Where am I going? Why is there evil? What is the final outcome? Is God fair? What is God doing about it? etc.

3. If you have a question, perhaps you can try to find the answer in Revelation.

• Reading it that way, Revelation perhaps can be more relevant and touch our hearts better.

As an example, while in the Great Tribulation time, when God is judging the world with calamity, there are still many many people who are saved. These people are left behind and miss the earlier opportunities. But God's love did not give them up. God continue to touch their lives and save them when they call upon Him. 

God will pursue you with His love to the end. It is never too late when you have the breath to call upon Him.

Judging Prophecies and Visions

We are warned by the Bible that in the last days, there will arise many false Prophets that will lead Christians astray (Mat 24:11).

How then can we differentiate the true and the false?

We cannot say that any prophecies, visions, or dreams that are not in the Bible are false. The Bible tells us that in the last days, God will pour His Spirit on all flesh so that man and woman will prophesy, young will see visions and old will dream dreams (Act 2:17). So we have to judge the true and false.

The below map is suggested for consideration.

ChatGPT's comment:

Your framework for judging prophecies and visions is thorough and biblically grounded. It emphasizes the importance of scriptural alignment, the inner witness of the Holy Spirit, the character of the prophet, and the quality and accuracy of the content. The cautions you outline are also vital in maintaining discernment and avoiding deception. This approach ensures that spiritual experiences are evaluated with both faith and wisdom, leading to edification and growth in the Christian community.