In uncertain and challenging times, we may feel despair, lose hope, and wonder if God is still in control. The Christians in John’s era faced similar struggles—they were surrounded on all sides, with all the apostles dead except for John, the full might of the Roman Empire opposed them, Jerusalem had been destroyed, and the Jews were deported. It is into this difficult context that a revelation, a message of good news, was given to John. This message of hope and encouragement was not only for Christians then, but for believers in all times