Even though the true Christian life is the hardest life we can live, it is also the best and the most fulfilling life we can live. It is hard, but it is worth it, with dividends that will last for eternity. The righteousness, peace, and joy that we find in His kingdom are worth much more than any earthly treasure.

      It is this life that this study of The Revelation of Jesus Christ makes clear to us. This is about the ultimate battle between light and darkness that has been waged over mankind and planet earth for ages....

      The Father chose the name Jesus for His Son because Jesus means Joshua in Hebrew. Jesus is a warrior leader like the biblical Joshua, who led Israel into the promised land. Jesus is now leading all who follow Him into our promised land. This is not just for eternity, but for the present as well. Just as Israel took on a warrior demeanor during the time of Joshua, Jesus’ disciples also took on His warrior nature—not for physical war but for spiritual war. As we read in 2 Corinthians 10:4, “The weapons of our warfare are not of the...

      Why is so much in the book of Revelation about the antichrist, the beasts, the false prophet, the great harlot, and all the primary enemies of the Son of God? Because we see in this vision how these enemies of God are overcome by the revelation of Jesus Christ, and by the power and authority of those who follow Him.

      The spiritual enemies of God are defined in Scripture as various levels of demons, assigned to buffet individuals. Above them are principalities, which are assigned to fight God and His Christ on regional levels. Next are world rulers,...

       “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near” (Revelation 1:1-3).

      This vision is first a revelation of Jesus. This should always be foremost in...

      This week, we return to our study of the book of Revelation with a short review, starting with the first sentence: “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bondservants, the things which must shortly take place …” (see Revelation 1:1). This revelation is about Jesus Christ. We must see all that is written in Revelation as being not only about Him, but also having been given through Him. Only in this way can it be understood as intended.

      Jesus is the beginning and the end—the Alpha and the Omega—of the purpose of...