The Apocalypse – Age Without End … Living Beyond the Time of the End

Apocalypse – now there’s a word that has taken on a life of its own! What thoughts come to mind when you see it? Turmoil…destruction…vengeance…wrath…etc.?

In this word, we once again see the impact of transliterating a word (i.e. giving an English spelling to a foreign word). The Greek word is apokalupsis which has at its root the idea of taking off the cover (i.e. disclosing or revealing), hence “revelation” in the last book of the biblical canon as we have it.

While Christ’s revelation to the Apostle John indicated that there would be upheaval like the world had never known, the significance is what would be revealed through those calamities.

In Luke’s account we read Christ’s description of the what lies ahead, “Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.” (Luke 17:28-30) This gives us the first idea of what Revelation is really about: it is first and foremost the revelation Christ as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. It is His vindication.

Paul calls our attention to two aspects of revelation in the opening Chapter of Romans, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.” (Romans 1:16-25) Sorry for the long quote, but it takes this much to get the thought in context.

Paul observes that the righteousness of God is revealed by salvation in Christ for both Jew and Greek. He also points out that God’s wrath is revealed against those “who hold the truth in unrighteousness” (now there’s a topic for discussion!), because knowing Who He is, they do not glorify Him. It is revealed in the fact that He “gave them up” to their perversions.

In Romans 8:18-19, Paul addresses their present distress saying, “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.” Here we see the second aspect of coming revelation at the end of the age. Those early believers were maligned and maltreated by the Jewish leaders because they claimed Christ to be the Messiah. Christ’s coming at the end of the age would forever dispel any notion about who the sons of God were. Their vindication came in A.D. 70 with the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Old Covenant world.

Peter encourages his readers with these words, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:3-5) Can’t you hear the expectancy in these words? They are under severe distress but Peter spurs them onward by telling them their faith will keep (be their sentry) until their salvation is revealed in the last time. If their salvation was not revealed then they have no assurance of it and neither do we. The revelation was coming – soon!

There is no question that the coming revelation would unmask the evil for who they were, but that was done in a positive manner by revealing Christ as the risen, living Messiah, and His disciples as the true sons of God. It was not a time to be feared by believers because they had been prepared. Only those who abandoned their faith and those who continued to worship a god of their own making would know the horror of God’s wrath.

Conclusion: Though apocalyptic language contains descriptions of wrath and judgment, its real focus is revelatory. The events were horrendous but the purpose of the judgment of the unbelievers of the first century was to reveal the glory of God in the vindication of His only begotten Son and those who follow Him.