Book Of Revelation: The Decoder of End-Time Prophecy | Jonathan Cahn Sermon

The Bible starts in a wilderness and ends in another type of wilderness. God often speaks to His people in such places, which shows that He wants to connect with us deeply when we are in a state of desolation or solitude. To understand more, let’s explore the name of the book itself. Revelation 1 opens with the word “Revelation,” from which the book gets its title. The original Greek word, “Apocalypto” or “Apocalypsis,” comes from two parts: “apo,” meaning “to take away” or “remove,” and “kalypto,” meaning “veil” or “covering”—essentially, to remove the covering. In English, we translate this as “revelation” or “to reveal.”

In our culture today, the word “apocalypse” often brings to mind calamity and the end of all things. But at its core, the word simply means to “reveal” or “uncover.” However, because of the intense and prophetic nature of Revelation, we tend to associate “apocalyptic” with disaster rather than disclosure.

Revelation is introduced as the “Revelation of Jesus Christ” (Yeshua, the Messiah), which God gave to Him to show His servants what must soon occur. He sent His angel to communicate these events to His servant John, who testifies to God’s word and Jesus’ message, sharing everything he saw. Here, we read about things that “must soon take place.” This expression can be puzzling. However, in biblical context, time is perceived differently; with God, a day can be like a thousand years. The original Greek word implies not just that it will happen soon, but that it will happen suddenly and swiftly when the time arrives.

The book of Revelation is believed to have been written around 96 AD, shortly after the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. This fulfilled Jesus’ prophecy about the Temple’s destruction and the dispersion of the Jewish people. John, traditionally understood as John the Apostle—also known as Yochanan (or Yanan in Hebrew)—penned these visions amidst this period of turmoil. Yet, there is some debate about whether this John is the Apostle or another follower of Jesus. What is clear is that this was a Jewish believer in the Messiah, experiencing visions and revelations while in exile.

John’s exile took place on the island of Patmos, a small Greek island near Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). The book says he was there “because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.” Some interpret this to mean he was there preaching; however, Patmos was sparsely populated, so it’s more likely he was exiled there as a punishment. The Roman Emperor Domitian, following Nero, persecuted Christians, often executing them or sending them into exile. Thus, it’s probable that John was exiled for spreading the message of Jesus, given his advanced age and the historical context.

On Patmos, John encountered God’s revelation—one of profound visions that would shape the understanding of faith, endurance, and prophecy for generations to come.