Many people stay away from the Book of Revelation because they find the symbolism frightening or confusing, or both! But the Book of Revelation was meant to be a book of comfort to those caught up in the persecution at the end of the first century.
Christians in Rome had been blamed by Nero for the first that destroyed much of the city. They were often called "cannibals" because of their Eucharistic celebrations where they shared the "body and blood of Christ."
Domitian was another emperor who persecuted the Christians at the end of the century; and was most likely the emperor who earned the designation"666." You notice the number seven very often in this book; a number that symbolizes completion and when in three's, God. Domitian was considered to be Satan, who claimed to be God, and fell short.
For the Christian, the greater danger was the loss of eternal life in heaven, not the earthly death. And so, this book was written to give them courage and hope.
I cannot imagine facing some of the tortures inflicted upon the early Christians. But then, I don't get violence against another human being.
I am also relieved that I do not face the violence that Christians in other parts of the world have to face. Considering that the three major religions worship the same God, I don't understand the hatred that seems to exist between radicals of all three.
The Romans were not Christian, nor Jew, and had a different idea of a god; they had claimed that the emperor himself was a god and therefore needed to be worshipped and that he could do anything he wanted to do.
I pray for all those who are in difficult situations where living one's faith puts one in danger. May all of you who are reading this stay safe, and keep vigilant so as to not suffer at the hands of another the earthly death, and to not suffer the second death because of being unfaithful to God.
