“Revelation Now” – Introduction

Why Study the End Times?

What do we know about the rapture? What do we think about the antichrist? What do we believe about the tribulation; and what might we have learned regarding the second coming? What should we know? How much time should be devoted to searching the Bible for God’s revelations to us that concern the end times? How much do we already know? How much is there still yet to learn? And, perhaps more importantly, as God opens His Word to us, what do we do with what He shows us? How do we apply His revelation now?

I would like to invite you to embark with me on a quest. It is a quest that begins with a question; takes us through God’s Word; and, as God so allows, will ultimately place us at His feet to hear from Him what it is He has to teach us concerning the last days. In Jeremiah 33:3, God declares, “Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come” (NLT). Perhaps God is ready to reveal to us remarkable secrets. Perhaps all we need do is ask.

It seems to me that a lot of end times study (or eschatology, for those who prefer theological terms) is driven by curiosity; such curiosity is not something I, myself, have shared. Until somewhere around 2006, my study of biblical apocalyptic literature was much the same as my approach to most other Scripture. I have a heart for Christian discipleship, and as such, I generally approach Scripture looking for the insights and practical applications for daily Christian living. Simply stated, I look for what the Bible says about how to be followers of Christ each day. It seems reasonable to conclude that if we live our lives for Christ today, that we will be prepared for whatever may come tomorrow. Reasonable as that may be, it did not permit me to let that be all that I looked for within God’s end times revelations. So, although I was not compelled by curiosity with regard to end times Scriptures, I was compelled by the Spirit to dig more deeply.

When approaching end times Scriptures, as with any Scripture, it is important to first ask that God make His truth known. We carry a lot of excess baggage into our Bible study that can easily cloud His message to us. It would be best if we could leave some of our understanding at the door as we realize that much of our own understanding is often sketchy at best. Our biases, preconceived ideas, and traditional viewpoints may bring a certain amount of aid to us as we seek God’s truth; but, rest assured, such things more often bring a certain amount of confusion.

Within this series, which I am calling, “Revelation Now,” I would like to share some of my thoughts about the end times, the rapture, the antichrist, and more. As I have opened the Scriptures, I have done so with two questions on my mind: 1) what does the Bible itself say about such things? And 2) how did people derive particular doctrines from these Scriptures? The fact that the word “antichrist” is found nowhere in the book of Revelation filled my mind with questions. The fact that the word rapture is found nowhere in the Bible, fueled my curiosity to determine how, and from where, such theologies were derived.

Now, I don’t want to give away the ending; but, I will tell you that as I further studied, one question always seemed to enter my mind—how does what God teach us about the end times translate into a message for His people today? After all, there is a reason He draws us to study such things; and, it is not simply to satisfy our curiosity.

As I conclude this introduction, I would like to make sure you understand my objective. I am not trying to unwrap the mysteries of what will be. I am trying to approach this topic asking God to lead, and asking God to show us the relevance of His revelation for us today. What is it in the apocalyptic Scriptures that show us something of tomorrow, that will change the way we live for Christ today? I hope you will join with me in this quest for greater understanding of His revelation now.