The dilemma of so many misinterpretations of the Book of Revelation has inspired the Rev. Joseph Manchester of Emmanuel Methodist Church in Southampton to prepare a series of sermons on the last book in the Bible, the first of which, an introduction to the Revelation to John, will be delivered during morning worship tomorrow.

“During the months of July and August it is my intention to reflect on the first three chapters of the Revelation to John, focusing in particular on the theme of ‘Christ Speaking to the Seven Churches’,” Mr. Manchester said. “Part of the dilemma is that there are many misinterpretations of the Book of Revelation, and persons are saying we live in the end of times, in which they think God is going to destroy the world, but the Book of Revelation ends on the note, ‘There will be a new heaven and a new earth, that all the things that have wearied us in this life will pass away and even death will be destroyed’.”

Using as his text, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants what must soon take place; He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John (Revelation chapter one verse one),” Mr. Manchester said the last book in the Bible (also known as the Christian Apocalypse) was perhaps “one of the least read of the books of Holy Scripture” and one whose descriptive passages he seeks to clarify.

Citing symbolic descriptions as an example, the clergyman said these were “not to be taken as literal descriptions, nor is the symbolism capable of being pictured realistically”.

“For example, it is difficult to visualise a lamb with seven horns and seven eyes; yet Christ our Lord is described in precisely such words (Revelation 5:6). (Instead) the author uses such images to suggest Christ’s universal power (seven horns) and knowledge (seven eyes).”

Explaining that the Book of Revelation, like the Book of Daniel, was composed as “ ‘resistance literature’ to meet a crisis”, Mr. Manchester said, “the Book itself suggests that it was the ruthless persecution of the Early Church by the Roman authorities — the harlot Babylon symbolises pagan Rome, the city on seven hills (Rev. 17:9)”.

“Thus the Book of Revelation is one of encouragement, and a warning to the Christian to stand firm in the faith, and to avoid compromise with paganism, despite the threat of adversity and and martyrdom. The Christian is encouraged to wait patiently for the fulfilment of God’s mighty promises,” he said. “The triumph of God is a mystery, to be accepted in faith and longed-for hope. It is a mystery which unfolded in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, and continues to unfold in the lives of the faithful, individual Christians who follow in the way of the Cross, even if it leads to a martyr’s death.”

Noting that it is ‘The Book of Revelation’ and not ‘Revelations’ Revelation’ and not ‘Revelations’ (plural), Rev. Manchester said the reason is is “it is the singular Revelation of Jesus Christ”.

“The book points to the presence of the Risen Christ in the midst of a troubled and threatened Community of Faith, and even though the Book is not addressed to us we will find faithful words to urge us on, and to comfort us in our life of faith”.

Regarding the Book’s account of visions in symbolic and allegorical language, borrowed mainly from the Old Testament, the Methodist minister pointed out that in its 404 verses there were “more than 500 allusions to the Old Testament”.

“The Old Testament texts used are mainly from Ezekiel, Zachariah and Daniel. What is new is not the content of the Book of Revelation but a new way of saying it. Or, in the words of scholar M. Eugene Booing, ‘The God who speaks here is not a different God from the One heard in the words of the Biblical prophets’.”

Each week Rev. Manchester will preach on the seven churches listed in the Book of Revelation, chapters two and three, in the order in which they appear in the Bible, and the title of his first sermon is, ‘The Church that Lost its First Love’.

Emmanuel Methodist Church is on Middle Road, Southampton. Morning worship is at 11 a.m., and all are invited to share in this interesting series.

Exploring Revelation