Decades ago, Harvard University purchased a copy of the Magna Carta for $27.50 and put it in storage. The Magna Carta is a historic document from 1215 that helped establish human rights and the rule of law, both of which are foundational to democracy. Last year, Harvard unexpectedly discovered that their copy was one of six rare copies from 1300. How did they know it was genuine? They examined the handwriting, the document’s dimensions, the paper, and other features to verify the discovery.

How would John’s readers know his book was genuinely from the Lord and not just the product of an overheated imagination? An angel told John, “These words are trustworthy and true” (v. 6; Rev. 21:5). God Himself had sent the angel to show John and his readers what “must soon take place.” God is the One who inspired the prophets and indeed all Scripture (2 Tim. 3:16). He’s also the One who inspired this apocalypse. No matter how extreme the narrative may sound, everything in this book is as true and trustworthy as the rest of the Bible.

The key theme of Revelation is the imminent return of Christ (v. 7). “Imminent” means that nothing else needs to happen before the rapture of the church. The blessing for obedient readers is also repeated from the start of the book (Rev. 1:3). John validates that the content of the book is indeed what he saw and heard in the visions from God (vv. 8–9). He mentions again how he tried to worship the angelic messenger but was rebuked and told to worship God alone.

This prophecy should not be sealed up (as in Daniel 12:4) but widely proclaimed (vv. 10–11). Why? Because the “time is near.” John lived two thousand years ago, but time is not the same to God as it is to us (2 Peter 3:8–9).

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