The final section of the Book of Revelation serves as an epilogue. These final words accomplish a great deal in a short amount of space. There are three main themes to be found in the epilogue: (1) the truthfulness of the entire book, (2) the immanence of Christ’s return, and (3) the promise of blessing for those who obey this prophecy. The epilogue also has a number of similarities to chapter one, the prologue of the book. Indeed, there are so many repetitions that it is clear that the prologue and epilogue were written as thematic bookends for the entire book. Adding to all this are the multiple speakers. John, an angel, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the bride, and those who hear all have lines in the script.

Here at the end of Revelation, as at the beginning, we are called to keep the words of this book. In doing so we will have a rock on which to stand in the midst of the satanic persecution and various calamities that come our way. The words of John’s prophecy are the very words of God and thus, like all of Scripture, are utterly reliable and trustworthy.

Like the tracks of a central train station all of the promises in Scripture and all the hopes of generations past converge in the Book of Revelation. This is especially true of the last two chapters in which is depicted the final ingathering of the redeemed into the blessed presence of God. Revelation “draws together all the hopes and aspirations of the people of God from the long history of his dealings with his people – and in doing so, all the hopes and aspirations of humanity itself. It is a fitting end to the canon of Scripture” (Ian Paul, 371).