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The Revelation of Jesus Christ
Weekly Devotional for 2007

            The book begins with the phrase “the revelation of Jesus Christ.” That is something that God gave to Him. Verse one goes on to report that the revelation is signified and in verse two becomes the testimony of Jesus, something that John can see. So John testifies concerning two things; the “word of God” and the “testimony of Jesus.” The word of God is likely a reference to John’s Scriptures, the body of literature that we know as the Old Testament.
            The Book of Revelation never quotes the Old Testament, yet it alludes to it hundreds of times, with a word here, a phrase there, a name somewhere else. The places of the Old Testament are recalled; Babylon, Egypt and Jerusalem. The people of the Old Testament are recalled; David, Jezebel, and Balaam. But the Old Testament is rarely on the surface of Revelation. It is like a current flowing under the surface, yet affecting everything it touches.
            A few years ago I visited Russia with my oldest daughter to teach a couple of classes. At the time it wasn’t certain if Communism was gone or would make a comeback. So one of the “must sees” on my to-do list was Red Square, Lenin’sTomb and the Kremlin in the capital city of Moscow. Tammy, on the other hand, was more interested in shopping for a nesting doll. So after we did the tourist stuff we headed for Moscow’s street market where you could bargain for local handicrafts.
            Nesting dolls are a Russian specialty. Usually made of wood, they are a series of hollow dolls that are beautifully decorated on the outside and can be opened to reveal successively smaller versions of the outer doll. After some searching we found a black doll in seven layers with a beautiful, multi-colored scene on each one, emphasizing the color red. Tammy was pleased with the doll and negotiated with enthusiasm, bringing the price down to seven dollars (a good deal at the time).
            In its use of the Old Testament the Book of Revelation is like a nesting doll. You could read the book without reference to the Old Testament and think you have picked up the whole picture. But when you discover the text behind the surface the deeper truths that were placed in the book are revealed to the reader. The Book of Revelation is like the finale of the biblical symphony, drawing all of the Bible’s themes together in a thrilling conclusion.

Lord, thank you for the deep things of your Word. It keeps me coming back to the Bible over and over again, helping me grow spiritually as I continue to study. May I never be satisfied with a surface understanding.