Maybe some people study prophecy for the thrill of the sensational, like adrenaline addicts chasing the next sky-dive rush. Certainly, promises given hundreds or thousands of years before their fulfillments are remarkable. However, sensationalism is not the intended purpose.

And some people may think that prophecy is an ancillary, nonessential part of theology. But the premise of this book is that God-given prophecy has a far more profound purpose than sensationalism and plays an essential, inseparable part in the gospel message. Now if faith in Christ is all that is necessary for salvation, why is prophecy essential?

The angel messenger who gave the Revelation to John answered that question. The angel told John, "These are the true sayings of God." Then John fell at the feet of the angel to worship him. The angel responded, "See you do it not, for I am your fellow servant and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God, for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy" (Rev. 19:10). The angel explained that all prophecy connects to Jesus. Intrinsic to Jesus is prophecy, as is all scripture. That which predicts or speaks of His divine and human nature, His life and miracles, His death and resurrection, and His earthly and heavenly kingdom are all interconnected--they are all a part of His story, His testimony, His person.

Therefore, Christ is the unspoken basis for this specific blessing given to readers of the Revelation: "Blessed are they that read and hear the words of this prophecy and keep those things which are written in it, for the time is at hand" (Rev. 1:3). Though there is rich reward in every book of the Bible, no other gives the aforementioned promise of blessing.