Reading Revelation

I read the book of Revelation, like the Old Testament, through a three-agent lens.

John does not fully reveal it, but the book of Revelation is a spiritual battle, between the Holy Spirit with his holy angels and the spiritual powers of evil. The latter are working through political empires on earth. God does not approve some of the stuff that takes place, but it happens because humans gave the spiritual powers of evil authority to work on earth, and they have to be driven out and forced to surrender to their defeat by the cross.

So when the letters to the churches describe the consequences, they are explaining what the spiritual powers of evil will do if they are given an opportunity. The latter will take every opportunity to do harm to followers of Jesus who go the wrong way.

Likewise toward the end of Revelation, John is describing the final defeat of the spiritual powers of evil. They are nasty and vengeful, so they will turn against the political and economic entities they have used to do their dirty work on earth when they have no further use for them. They will delight in wrecking them, even though they brought them to power, and used them to accomplish their own purposes. It will be rather ugly, but their true character will be revealed. In contrast, the rider on the white horse has only one weapon, the word of God. He does not use a political sword to accomplish his purposes.

For the holy angels, the final battle is a tough one. If will feel to them at times like it is touch and go, although God knows he will be victorious, so they will rejoice greatly when the enemies of God are finally defeated. I think we can give them that privilege, because their celebration will focus on the greatness of Jesus.

More in Times and Seasons.