To Show

 Revelation 1:1: “To show unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass.” (KJV) “To show to his servants what must soon take place.” (RSV)

             The purpose of the book is not to hide, but “to show.”  It is not to propound a mystery, but to reveal it.

Revelation 10:7: But that in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh angel, the mystery of God, as he announced to his servants the prophets, should be fulfilled. (RSV)

            The very nature of the apocalyptic genre of writing was to reveal secrets to the elect, while concealing them from the unwise.[1]  Many of the non-Biblical apocalyptic writings claimed to be based upon “secret books,” hidden away for long ages, or ancient traditions, or mysterious “heavenly tablets.”  Unlike these non-canonical apocalypses, the book of Revelation was based squarely upon the written Word of God which was available and open to any who would seek after it.

            The book of Revelation had the immediate purpose of calling out the Christian community which resided in Jerusalem in the time immediately preceding its destruction.  The purpose “To show to His servants things which must shortly come to pass” was not a mere academic, intellectual exercise, but a life and death necessity.  They had to know that it was time to flee the City.

            The tone of the book is urgent: “must shortly come to pass,” (1:1); “the time is at hand“, (1:3); “there shall be no more delay“, (10:6 RSV); “behold I am coming soon“, (22:20); “must shortly be done” (22:6).