The Book of Revelation—Uncovering or not?

If you followed this blog during the past several years I've been writing it you know that I write primarily to you readers who, with me, accept the reality and Lordship of Jesus, who is both the son of Mary and the resurrected and ascended Son of God. I'm also deeply concerned about learning what to expect as we await His return, as the Angel said to His disciples shortly after He disappeared in a cloud,

This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven." - Act 1:11 ESV

From this I assume that He will come back in visible form. Meanwhile I know with great certainty that He is still with us as we wait for that day. In the meantime I want to listen to Him and talk with Him about what He is saying and planning. That seems very important to us all. And I have received many, many requests for help in understanding what God is saying to us in His Word as we await Christ's return. So for a time now I'm going to open my heart to listen, particularly to that wondrous book known to all of us as The Revelation. You're invited to listen in.

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The opening Greek word apocalypse, means "a laying bare or uncovering". However, much of what we find in the book seems to be the opposite, more like a book of hiddenness, confusion and obscurity. Many passages strike the casual reader as bizarre, bewildering, and sometimes frightening. That, however, may be because we of the 21st century are so disconnected from the world of the first century. After all, books need to be understood in their historical context. Bruce Metzger's short 1993 book, Breaking The Code, has proven to be helpful in that regard. Speaking of John's series of visions, Metzger writes of John's visionary experiences,

They invite the reader or listener to enter into the experience being recounted and to participate in it, triggering mental images of that which is described. (p.13)

Metzger goes on to help us understand John's frequent use of symbolic language. Sometimes John explains the symbols. At other times they are obvious and need no explanation, seven  for instance. We all know there are seven days in a week; then another week begins. So seven means completion or perfection.

Other symbols in Revelation can be understood in the light of the symbolism used in the Hebrew Scriptures, particularly the books of Ezekiel, Daniel and Zechariah. It is clear that John had studied the Old Testament thoroughly. Of the 404 verses that comprise the 22 chapters of the book of Revelation, 278 verses contain one or more allusions to an Old Testament passage . . . Therefore, in attempting to understand John's symbolism, we must consider not only the book itself, but also his use of the Old Testament. 

That said, I want to say a couple words about what is called the perspicuity  of the Bible. We who are descendants of the Protestant Reformation have always insisted that the Bible is the supreme authority in matters of faith and practice. And when it comes to its central message about salvation in Jesus Christ it is abundantly clear. Any literate person can comprehend the gospel. Of course that does not mean that all of Scripture is equally understandable. There is plenty of room for responsible scholarship and interpretation. Laity can read and understand the Bible. And I believe that to be true of much of the book of Revelation. It is not as obscure as it first seems to be.

Let us see if that is so in the days ahead. It is, after all, called the Revelation, the uncovering. Maybe with a little help, this part of Scripture will uncover some rather remarkable things for us all.