In light of current events, it is often times difficult to believe that Jesus is, in fact, in control. The mobilization of militant Islam, the quagmire of American politics and international relations, unending wars and threats of wars, the sexualization of culture and secularization and consumerism agenda of corporate-owned media, the concentration of power and wealth among a small percentage of the world’s population, ongoing destitute poverty for millions of people, corruption, avarice, inequality, depravation of human rights…all of these issues temp us to ask, “Jesus, are you really the master of history and great orchestrator of events?”
We’re not alone in our temptation to doubt. This is a question that members of the early church also asked. Believe it or not, things were much worse for the first generation of Christians than they are now. In fact, the church experienced such harsh persecution during the years immediately after its birth that most of the literature that we find in the New Testament is written to comfort those who are being persecuted because of their faith. Interesting isn’t it, that words that were written because of persecution have given life to millions of people throughout history. The early church’s persecution was for the benefit of countless others. This is evidence that God’s purposes extend far beyond the present.
The book of Revelation attests to Jesus sovereignty in the midst of very difficult times. The central message of the book of Revelation (not “Revelations”) is that Jesus is King and he will have the final word in human history. What I want to focus on here, however, is the name of the book. The title of the book is derived from the first verse which says, “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place” (ESV, emphasis added). That is, the content of the book has been revealed.
This word “revealed” can mean a couple of different things, but here, it has a specific meaning, and that is to uncover. Inherent here is the idea that Jesus is allowing John (the author of the book) to see something that was otherwise invisible. In other words, Jesus is pulling back the curtain for John to see what’s going on in the background of human history and what will happen in the future.
The point to be made is that Jesus is in control, even if we can’t see it in the moment. Even though it may seem as if he is absent, he is very much present and working diligently to direct the events of human history to ultimately complete his plan to redeem the entire creation. Even though things seem like a mess, and very well may be a mess, he is in control, redeeming every element of human history.
This is the nature of faith; believing in things that one cannot see. We believe, even though. We affirm that even though it may not seem like it at times, Christ is King.
