Revelation.  There is one revelation, the word is not plural. It is a revelation from God through Jesus Christ to His Church.

The Horizon study has many positive aspects. It is my intent to help those leaders who are not  totally comfortable with the study by offering some additional thoughts and emphases.

Dr. Rossing’s introduction is helpful. I would emphasize her message that Revelation is of book of hope. Keep this message active and in the forefront at each and every meeting of your group. We need have no fear, God is sovereign in every way. Evil is real but the victory over evil has already been won in the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. God has chosen to reveal this to His Church through this last book in scripture. It is a very strange book for 21^st century Christians, However, it has much to say to us.

The book is full of symbolism. It is not meant to be read literally. It is not a timeline for the End Times. The most satisfactory answer to this idea, if it arises, is to refer to Jesus’ words in Mark 13:32.

Numbers are very important in Revelation as they are throughout scripture. Significant numbers and their meanings that are necessary to be aware of are:

                Seven means wholeness; sometimes unity, harmony The foundation for this meaning is in the creation story where God created all things in seven days.

                Three is a number for God.

                Twelve is the number for the Church; God’s people. Its background is the twelve tribes of Israel, Jesus’ twelve disciples.

                Thousand means a long time.

                Ten means a limited time, or short time.