The Revelation of Jesus Christ

The revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave Him to show his bond-servants… (Rev 1:1)

The Revelation of Jesus Christ is, in truth, a revelation of and to His Body, the church. Understanding this is crucial to grasping the power of the message hidden within this amazing and often confusing book. The church, or more accurately, the Kingdom of God, is often referred to by the Apostle Paul as a “mystery kept hidden from the foundations of the world”. It is this “mystery of God”, the Kingdom, that the book of Revelation was given to unveil.

In the days when the seventh angel is ready to blow his trumpet, the mystery of God will be completed, as he had made this Good News known to his servants, the prophets." (Rev 10:7)

The Seventh Trumpet, which signifies the final warning of God before He returns for His Kingdom Bride, will not blow until the “mystery of God” is “completed”. We’ve already seen that the “mystery” and the “Kingdom” are one and the same. Therefore, the “mystery” won’t be completed until the gospel of the “Kingdom” has covered the whole earth.

"This Gospel of the Kingdom will be spread throughout the world as a testimony to all nations. Then the end will come. (Mat 24:14)

But why was the Kingdom considered a “mystery”?

I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who sits on the throne. It had writing both on the inside and on the outside. It was sealed with seven seals. (Rev 5:1)

The “scroll”, hidden in God’s own hand from the eyes of men and angels, represents this “mystery of God”, the Kingdom on earth.

And no one in heaven, on earth, or under the earth could open the scroll or look inside it. (Rev 5:3)

The Kingdom had to remain a “mystery” until Christ completed the work He was sent to do.

Then they sang a new song, "You deserve to take the scroll and open the seals on it, because you were slaughtered. You bought people with your blood to be God's own. They are from every tribe, language, people, and nation. (Rev 5:9)

If the mystery of the Kingdom had been revealed too soon, satan would have fought to keep the crucifixion from taking place.

Not one of the rulers of this world has known it. If they had, they wouldn't have crucified the Lord of glory. (1Co 2:8)

Without the crucifixion, the Kingdom could never have existed on earth for there would be no one, but Christ Himself, worthy to enter its gates. That is why the message of the Kingdom was concealed in Old Testament types and shadows, and why Christ spoke only in parables when referencing the Kingdom.

This is why I speak to them this way. They see, but they're blind. They hear, but they don't listen. They don't even try to understand. (Mat 13:13)

Jesus used illustrations to tell the crowds all these things. He did not tell them anything without illustrating it with a story. (Mat 13:34)

It was only after the finished work of the cross that Christ, and later His disciples, began to reveal plainly the message of the Kingdom.

"I have used examples to illustrate these things. The time is coming when I won't use examples to speak to you. Rather, I will speak to you about the Father in plain words. (Joh 16:25)

How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; (Eph 3:3-5)

Unveiling the mystery of God, the Good News of the Kingdom, is the force and function of all the New Testament letters of the Apostles. But it is only in the last book of the bible, the Revelation of Jesus Christ, that the scope and detail of the Kingdom on earth can truly be seen.

Blessed is the one who reads and who hears the words of this prophecy and pays attention to what is written in it because the time is near. (Rev 1:3)