This is your friendly reminder that the last book of the Bible is called Revelation (singular) not Revelations (plural). Here’s why it matters:
Revelation Emphasizes Unity of Content
The name Revelation emphasizes the unity of the content of the book. John is on Patmos then Jesus shows up full of light and tells John to write down what he has seen, what is now and what must take place later. Jesus told him to write it all down together as one collective whole. This reminds us as readers to read and pay attention to the book as a collective whole.
Too often Christians shuffle Revelation up and deal it out like cards to those who are hunting for End Times proof texts. To get a better understanding of Revelation, and to see its unity, I challenge you to read it or listen to it in one sitting. According to this chart, it will only take 1 hour and 15 minutes to read the whole thing. Reading it in one sitting will help you see each passage in its context and understand it in the flow of the whole book.
Revelation Points Us to Jesus
I have also heard the book referred to as the Revelation of John. I even have a commentary entitled The Revelation of John. However, the Bible book is more accurately referred to as The Revelation of Jesus Christ because these are the first few words of the book in the Greek.
Jesus is the one doing the revealing and He is the one being revealed. Having this reminder right in the beginning of the book focuses our attention on Jesus Christ. In Revelation, Jesus is referred to as the Lamb of God, the Light, the One who is riding the white horse. As you read Revelation, focus on Jesus and look for the many descriptions of Him and what He does.
Revelation is the Grand Finale
As the last book of the Bible, Jesus’s last message to us before He returns, Revelation is the description of the culmination of the remaining prophesies in Scripture and how they will be fulfilled. These prophesies are intertwined as is all of God’s complex story of creation and redemption. Yet these last words before the end aren’t a footnote or a short grocery list of revelations. The book is a fireworks display of grandeur and the grand finale before we see Jesus face to face. How exciting!
If you are ready to read Revelation and take it to heart, order Take It to Heart: 30 Days through Revelation, a Devotional Workbook.
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Congrats Rachel for listening to the Lord’s voice to write this devotional ! I love the way you just wrote about it in this letter. I am definitely going to listen to Revelation in one sitting this afternoon.
In awe of our Creator and Redeemer !
Suzanne Shera
Thank you, Suzanne, for being so encouraging. You know that it has been years since God laid this devotional idea on my heart and I’m thankful how He brought it through to publication.
You sent me an email stating it is a “friendly reminder” that the the Book of Revelation is not spelled with an s. Since I cannot recall ever spelling it that way, I wonder why you felt the need to send me such a reminder. Do you presume some level of intellectual superiority to others? It’s just odd to recieve a communication assuming ignorance on the reader’s part.
Brother, I think that if you will read the entire text associated with the TITLE you will see that the “friendly reminder” was not calling you out, but rather speaking to one’s who mistakenly refer to the Book in plural and to those of us who would wish to have a LOVING response to them . I have heard it called Revelations ( Plural) many times in my 68 years. This short teaching was indeed FRIENDLY. I pray you will no longer see it as someone “presum (ing) some sort of intellectual superiority to others” and will see it in the context of which it is written….with much brotherly love.
Peace to you, Brother.
Hi Dan, Thanks for commenting. The email you are referring to went out to all the people on my email list. It was meant to be a general comment, not a specific personal reminder to you in particular.
I have often heard the book referred to incorrectly as Revelations. This is a good reminder, not some type of insult.