Conclusion

This lesson is the final lesson in our series. (If you would like to begin with the first lesson, here it is: What is Revelation? )

During our introductory classes I pointed to Revelation 6:10 and said that it is a key verse in this book. In Revelation 6:9-10, we read:

I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

The cry from the martyrs in verse 10 is what prompted these judgments, and God’s repeated answer to their question “How long?” was “Soon!”

The martyrs in verses 9-10 play a central role in this book. Who were they? Most of them are unknown to us by name — but not all of them.

We know the names of some of those martyrs, and there are two in particular I think of when I read those verses. Tradition tells us that the Apostle Paul was beheaded by the emperor Nero in A.D. 64 or 65. Tradition also tells us that Peter was crucified in Rome around that same time. Paul was most likely saved from that fate by his Roman citizenship.

Revelation 17:6 — “I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.” That is Paul’s blood. That is Peter’s blood. Revelation 6:9 — “When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.” Peter and Paul were under that altar. Peter and Paul were asking the question “How long?” in verse 10. Revelation 18:20 — “Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her!” That’s addressed to the apostle Paul and the apostle Peter. Revelation 21:14 — “Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” That’s Paul’s name and Peter’s name.

This vivid book becomes even more vivid when we put a face on those martyrs. Yes, Jesus loves his church more than we can ever know or understand, and we can read this book as Jesus’ response to Rome’s attack against the church. But this was also Jesus’ response to Rome’s murder of Paul. This was Jesus’ response to Rome’s murder of Peter.

What was Paul thinking about as he was led to the executioner’s block? I am certain it included what he told Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:6-8 —

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

But I am also certain it included something he wrote to the very Christians who would suffer with him at the hands of Nero. Something that other Christian martyrs no doubt also recalled as they were being put to death by Rome. Something that is a beautiful summary of the entire book of Revelation. Something that we will use to end our class. Romans 8:31-39 —

What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, will he not also give us all things with him? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies; who is to condemn? Is it Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, “For thy sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

In those 9 verses is the entire book of Revelation. We are more than conquerors through him who loved us! That is the theme of Revelation.

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