The Divine Disclaimer

There’s been a certain hesitation regarding the reading of Revelation that many Christians struggle with. The book can be confusing, so many shy away from reading it because they fear they won’t understand it. Most of us have encountered this sort of roadblock when we’ve heard sermons preached on Revelation or when we’ve tried to study it on our own.

If you’ve tried to read this book but found it difficult to understand— that’s okay. Part of the reason why it is difficult to comprehend is because it’s written in code. The book is very allegorical, meaning it uses symbols and metaphors to explain events. Why? Because the disciples had to protect the secrets of these prophesies should they fall into Rome’s hands.

Christ’s Revelation is also written in a way so that believers may understand the prophesy of the future through the knowledge of the Holy Spirit. Nonbelievers do not carry the spirit of God and therefore cannot glean from it what we as believers can. But even as much as we can know about Revelation through the teaching and revealing of the Holy Spirit, we still will not understand the prophesy in its entirety until it’s fulfilled. The Word says, “For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears” (1 Corinthians 13:9-10). When this time is finished, our questions will be answered, and our joy will be complete.

Jesus says to His disciples, “In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name” (John 16:23). So, we know that we as Christians, by the power of the Holy Spirit, can understand what is available for us to know regarding the Revelation of Christ. The rest is reserved for the latter time.

The word ‘Revelation’ quite literally means ‘Apocalypse’, or ‘unveiling.’ This uncovering by the Holy Spirit of God is also our upper hand against the enemy. We often think that Satan is capable of more than he is. But Satan does not know what he does not know. He’s been told that in the end, he will be crushed (Genesis 3:15), but he does not know the details of his downfall. Therefore, we can have a great encouragement because we do know the details. We still see in part, but we have the advantage because God has revealed the end.

At the beginning of the book of Revelation, there’s a divine disclaimer. It says that those who read the words of this book aloud are blessed, and those who hear it and take it to heart are blessed.

We don’t have to understand every piece of the puzzle right now—all He says is that we are blessed if we read, meditate, and take to heart this prophesy. We are not looking to be in some exclusive holy club that understands the secrets of the universe.

The Divine’s disclaimer is that we are blessed when we dwell in these words.

Let’s not hesitate—He’s given us every gift to understand His prophesy if we listen.