Question:

The Revelation is a book about basically what happens in the Book of Life and how the unsaved will be judged. Why then do the believers need to study Revelation if we are not going to be there?  Aren’t we going to be with the Lord?  Why then do we need to study it?  All this does is confuse the young believer and discourage them. How do we deal with this? Why do we need to study it?

Answer:

Revelation is the only book that promises to bless us for reading and keeping it. Revelation 1:3: “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.”  We will be there in part of Revelation. The history of the church is shown in the second and third chapters. Chapter four starts with the ‘rapture’ of the saints of God. Revelation 4:1: “After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter.”

We find in 2 Timothy 3:16: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” We benefit when we read ALL of God’s Word. It is all for us to read and profit thereby.

[Paul Canner offers three more reasons why we believers need to study Revelation, in addition to the excellent ones above:

1. Sprinkled throughout the book are words of encouragement for those who remain faithful. In this regard, the Book of Revelation could provide much practical benefit to those who are currently experiencing deep tribulation and/or persecution for their faith.

2. When we are discouraged and depressed by the moral darkness and decay in the world around us, this book shows that God will have the final word and will set everything straight through the destruction of evil and the reign of the Son of Man over the earth.

  3. This book helps to give balance to people’s thoughts about the character of the Lord Jesus. That “meek and mild” baby lying in the manger who is only concerned about love and tolerance is presented in a quite different light in the Book of Revelation. Sometimes we need to ask our friends who present this unbalanced view of Jesus to read the Book of Revelation.]