This is perhaps the weirdest book of the Bible. It includes some vivid imagery, seemingly crazy prophecies, and some fairly doomed pictures of upcoming events. The book was written by disciple John while he was imprisoned on the island of Patmos. To the believers at that time, the message of this book was so important, because they needed some hope, or something to look forward to especially with the rampant persecution coming from Emperor Nero (or Domitian, the book isn't clear on the date of writing).
John attempts to paint a picture of what God is looking for, what is going to be happening, and what we can expect in eternity. Revelation starts with a letter to seven major churches in Asia, that provide an amazing encompassing picture of the future and state of the church. These letters are vivid, extreme warnings to all time periods of churches to not fall away, but dedicate yourself to Christ as a body of believers. The book then describes the earthly and heavenly events that will signal the lead up to the end of time. There will be terrible pain and suffering, unlike what we have ever experienced before, as the war between Satan and God rages on in the battlefield of people's hearts. Natural disasters, human evil, sickness, and poverty are only a few things that will be heightened near the end times. But we as Christians have some to look forward to during all of this; heaven. Revelation describes the end result of this war, a victorious God who restores His original creation with a new heaven and a new earth. Constant worship will surround us everyday as we enjoy eternal internal peace, and uninhibited fellowship with our Lord.
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