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[His motive] is simply to fulfill his charge to faithfully record the vision he had been privileged to see. However, this same verse provides us with a clue to the divine purpose in the book, for it was, firstly, to provide a divine assessment of the condition of the churches which it addresses (the things which are), and then, secondly, to record 'the things which shall take place after these things.' This last purpose is prophetic, as is clearly stated in Rev. [[1:3|bible.87.1.3]]+; and this provides a clue as to the major purpose of the book. [emphasis added]3
Where these anti-supernatural interpreters would have us envision John pondering for some number of months over the potential letter which he planned to write, carefully considering various purposes and ideas which he hoped to frame in his message, the biblical reality is miles apart. "John was writing as fast as he could to record the visions he was seeing."4 Peter had this to say concerning "John's motive:"And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. (2Pe. [[1:19-21|bible.82.1.19-82.1.21]]) [emphasis added]
Notes
1 Isbon T. Beckwith, The Apocalypse of John (Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2001), 156.
2 Alan F. Johnson, Revelation: The Expositor's Bible Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1966), 4.
3 Monty S. Mills, Revelations: An Exegetical Study of the Revelation to John (Dallas, TX: 3E Ministries, 1987), s.v. "Introduction."
4 Edward Hindson, Revelation: Unlocking the Future (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2002), 4.
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