Revelation 21:1-6a

A Revelation and a Prophecy

The Revelation of Jesus Christ can be overwhelming to read and difficult to understand due to its heavy use of imagery and symbolism. However, the opening chapter introduces us to the main themes of the book which guide us in reading, interpreting, and applying it to our world and to our lives. First, it is a revelation (1:1). The Greek apokalupsis means an unveiling or uncovering. It is a “pulling back of the curtain” to reveal ultimate and spiritual realities of what is happening in heaven and what is really going on in the world from God’s perspective and in terms of what God is doing.

It does this through images and symbols which convey an overall message and are not intended to be overly analyzed in…