Revelation’s primary purpose is to encourage Christians to remain uncompromising and faithful to Jesus in the midst of growing suffering and persecution.

Revelation is not about the antichrist, but about the living Christ. It is not about a rapture out of this world but about faithful discipleship in this world… Revelation is intended to reveal, not conceal. At the same time, like biblical prophecy, “its goal is not speculative foresight, but theological insight.”
Michael Gorman, Reading Revelation Responsibly

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Hebrews 13:8 NIV

Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
Revelation 1:4-5 NIV

“Jesus is Lord” is an irreducibly political statement.

“We who used to value the acquisition of wealth and possessions more than anything else now bring what we have into a common fund and share it with anyone who needs it. We used to hate and destroy one another and refused to associate with people of another race or country. Now, because of Christ, we live together with such people and pray for our enemies.”
Justin Martyr, Early Church Father

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. “Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Revelation 1:6-8 NIV

His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.
Revelation 19:12-13 NIV

Apocalypse means “revealing.”

God reveals in order to heal.

The book of Revelation is often a scary subject to a lot of Christians. What has been your experience with Revelation (along with things like “the end times,” the Rapture, the Second Coming, etc.)? Positive? Negative? Weird? 

We grow to the degree that we bring more and more of our life under the Lordship of Jesus. In the message, Justin shared about a variety of “identities” that often clamor for our allegiance (political, social, financial, national, vocational, etc.). If you examine your heart, what part of your identity still needs to be surrendered?