In Mogadishu, Somalia, on March 21, 1994, a young man was bicycling to work. He was considered the most outstanding Christian in his very small, struggling, isolated Christian community. He had taken seminary courses through correspondence, and he was investing his life in discipling other young believers as he sought to build up the church in Somalia. The church had high hopes for growth and national impact under his enthusiastic, gifted, Spirit-filled leadership.
But early on that March morning, two men drove by him on a motorcycle, and with one blast of a machine gun, blew this young Christian into eternity.
His brutal, senseless murder left behind a young wife and a one-year-old baby who now faced potential devastation. He himself had led his wife to the Lord. When she professed her faith in Christ, her family and tribe disowned her. Upon her husband's death, she was all alone with no means of support. Not only his family but the church and the entire Christian movement in his nation were rocked to very foundation of faith.
Is there any hope for the future of this young wife and baby? Is there any hope for the future of the church in Somalia? As this Somalian family and church struggle to put the pieces of their lives back together, what about you? Have you faced a devastating tragedy in your life? Has your life taken an unexpected turn? Is there any hope for your future?
When life seems too hard to bear...
When bad things happen to good people...
When evil triumphs over good...
When Satan seems to have the upper hand...
When all hell breaks loose...
When death still stings and the grave seems to have the victory...
Is there any hope for the future at all?
The book of Revelation answers with a resounding yes! YES! YES!
When stars fall from the sky...
When mountains fall into the sea...
When demons invade the earth...
When the blood of those massacred rises to the height of a horse's bridle...
Even when the worst conceivable nightmares become reality...
...there is one splendid, shining, sure hope for the future-and His name is Jesus!
The book of Revelation was originally written to give hope to the early church when Christians were being fed to lions, nailed to crosses, burned at the stake, and boiled in tar. It was written by a Christian who himself was suffering "because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus" (Revelation 1:9). It was written specifically to a generation of Christians yet to come who will experience what Jesus described as "great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now-and never to be equaled again" (Matthew 24:21).
Many readers have missed the blessing awaiting them in the book of Revelation because they have been intimidated by its numerical symbolism or overwhelmed by its awesome imagery. They read of mysterious lampstands and sacred seals, worldwide earthquakes and trumpeting angels, monstrous beasts and miracle-working dragons-and quickly turn instead to the soothing poetry of the Psalms or the simple promises of the Beatitudes.
I hope you'll resist that urge and stay with me for a brief journey through what I believe is one of the most thrilling and fascinating books in all of Scripture. Revelation is, above all, a book of hope, and the blessing to be found in its magnificent imagery has been, for me, a continuous, awesome experience of worship as it has led me to a fresh, personal encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ. The Vision of His Glory is my humble attempt to share with you how this richness of worship, this wealth of hope, this vision of His glory, is intended for all of us. Indeed, the book of Revelation was written for you, confirming God's promise through Jeremiah's prophecy: "For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to give you hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29:11).
If you have never read Revelation, I invite you to experience this most wonderful of adventures. If, sometime in the past, you started to read Revelation but somehow lost your way or became confused or just grew weary of the symbolism, I invite you to try again. I gladly share my journey with you. Take heart, and remember the challenge of Isaiah: "Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, 'Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance with divine retribution he will come to save you" (Isaiah 35:3-4).
Lift up your head! Open your eyes to the person of Jesus Christ!
Pilate, the Roman governor who presided over the trial of Jesus, challenged the rioting mob that shouted for His crucifixion with these words: "Behold the man!" (John 19:5).
That same challenge has been heard down through the centuries: "Behold the Man." But the vision the mob beheld has changed from that of a bloodied, tortured, mangled prisoner on His way to execution to a vision of the same Man bathed in glory!
The crown of thorns has become a dazzling, bejeweled crown of gold...
The seamless robe gambled for by His executioners has become a robe of light, flashing like lightning in its brilliance...
The hands that were bound now hold the book by which every person who has ever lived will be judged.
The crowds gathered in the courtyard of the judgment hall early that Friday morning, jeering, "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!" give way to multitudes of thou- sands upon ten thousands who fill the universe with shouts of praise to the One who alone is worthy of all honor and glory and wisdom and thanks and power and
strength!
The vision has caused the martyr in the flames of death to smile.
It has given strength to the weak, faith to the doubting, courage to the timid, peace to the fearful, victory to the defeated, hope to the hopeless!
Behold the Man! The vision is glorious!
1Lotz, Anne Graham. The Vision of His Glory. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2009.