Claiming God's Promises In Revelation

Revelation, meaning "an uncovering" or "a bringing to light of that which had been previously hidden," refers to God's supernatural disclosure of himself and his purposes ^[1]. The book of Revelation, specifically, is titled "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place" ^[3]. This revelation was communicated through an angel to John, who then testified to God's word and the testimony of Jesus Christ ^{[3, 5]}.

The concept of "claiming God's promises" involves an active reception of the truths God has revealed. The Scriptures are not merely a record of revelation but are the revelation itself in written form, preserved for the accurate propagation of truth ^[1]. God's promises are found throughout the Bible, made to individuals like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David, as well as to the Israelites and "all who are called of God" ^[2]. These promises are confirmed by an oath and established upon a covenant, with God being faithful to remember and fulfill them ^[2].

In the context of Revelation, the book itself contains seven specific promises of blessing for those who listen and obey ^[7]. These blessings are found in Revelation 1:3, 14:13, 16:15, 19:9, 20:6, 22:7, and 22:14 ^[7]. Authentic hearing, in this sense, entails obedience ^[7]. The "full assurance of faith" is described as a complete faith in God that leaves no room for doubt, while the "full assurance of understanding" is an unwavering conviction in the truth of Scripture's declarations ^[4]. This assurance is rooted in the resurrection of Jesus, which serves as God's pledge that his revelation is true and worthy of acceptance ^[4].

The promises of God are made in Christ and are for all who love him ^[2]. John Calvin notes that "all the promises of God in him are yea and amen," meaning they are realized in the person of the Son ^[8]. Charles Hodge further explains that faith in a promise is central, citing Abraham, who "staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that what He had promised He was able also to perform" ^[12]. God's promises are not meant to slacken prayer but to quicken it, as seen in Daniel's confession and prayer for the restoration of Israel, which God had already determined to grant ^{[9, 13]}.

The "Lord Almighty," a title found in Revelation, emphasizes the greatness of the Promiser, which in turn enhances the greatness of the promises ^[11]. This includes promises of a father-child relationship with God, as referenced in 2 Corinthians 6:18 and Revelation 21:3, 21:7 ^[11]. Access to God, which is by Christ and the Holy Spirit, is obtained through faith and allows believers to approach God with confidence to obtain mercy and grace ^[6]. The Catechism of the Catholic Church affirms that trusting God's promises is not contrary to human dignity or freedom, but rather an authentically human act of yielding intellect and will to God ^[10].

Sources

Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Revelation — An uncovering, a bringing to light of that which had been previously wholly hidden or only obscurely seen. God has been pleased in various ways and at different times (Heb. 1:1) to make a supernatural revelation of himself and his purposes and plans, which, under the guidance of his Spirit, has been committed to writing. (See WORD OF [532]GOD.) The Scriptures are not merely the "record" of revelation; they are the revelation itself in a written form, in order to the accurate presevation and propagation of the truth. Revelation and inspiration differ. Rev”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Promises of God, The — Contained in the Scriptures -- Ro 1:2. Made in Christ -- Eph 3:6; 2Ti 1:1. Made to Christ. -- Ga 3:16,19. Abraham. -- Ge 12:3,7; Ga 3:16. Isaac. -- Ge 26:3,4. Jacob. -- Ge 28:14. David. -- 2Sa 7:12; Ps 89:3,4,35,36. The Israelites. -- Ro 9:4. The Fathers. -- Ac 13:32; 26:6,7. All who are called of God. -- Ac 2:39. Those who love him. -- Jas 1:12; 2:5. Confirmed by an oath -- Ps 89:3,4; Heb 8:6. Covenant established upon -- Heb 8:6. God is faithful to -- Tit 1:2; Heb 10:23. God remembers -- Ps 105:42; Lu 1:54,55. Are Good. -- 1Ki 8:56. Holy. -- ”
Revelation “Revelation 1:1 (NASB) — The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John,”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Assurance — The resurrection of Jesus (Acts 17:31) is the "assurance" (Gr. pistis, generally rendered "faith") or pledge God has given that his revelation is true and worthy of acceptance. The "full assurance [Gr. plerophoria, full bearing'] of faith" (Heb. 10:22) is a fulness of faith in God which leaves no room for doubt. The "full assurance of understanding" (Col. 2:2) is an entire unwavering conviction of the truth of the declarations of Scripture, a joyful steadfastness on the part of any one of conviction that he has grasped the very truth. The "full assurance ”
Revelation “who testified to God’s word, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, about everything that he saw. -- Revelation 1:2”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Access to God — Is of God -- Ps 65:4. Is by Christ -- Joh 10:7, 9; 14:6; Ro 5:2; Eph 2:13; 3:12; Heb 7:9, 25; 10:19; 1Pe 3:18. Is by the Holy Spirit -- Eph 2:18. Obtained through faith -- Ac 14:27; Ro 5:2; Eph 3:12; Heb 11:6. Follows upon reconciliation to God -- Col 1:21,22. In Prayer -- See Prayer. De 4:7; Mt 6:6; 1Pe 1:17. In his temple -- Ps 15:1; 27:4; 43:3; 65:4. To obtain mercy and grace -- Heb 4:16. A privilege of saints -- De 4:7; Ps 15:1; 23:6; 24:3,4. Saints have, with confidence -- Eph 3:12; Heb 4:16; 10:19,20. Vouchsafed to repenting sinners -- See Repen”
Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 1:3: 1:3 God blesses: Revelation contains seven promises of blessing (1:3; 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7, 14). • listen . . . and obey: Authentic hearing entails obedience.”
CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 45: light through the Gospel,” ( 2 Tim. 1:10 ). Paul does not mean by these words that the Fathers were plunged in the darkness of death before the Son of God became incarnate; but he claims for the Gospel the honourable distinction of being a new and extraordinary kind of embassy, by which God fulfilled what he had promised, these promises being realised in the person of the Son. For though believers have at all times experienced the truth of Paul’s declaration, that “all the promises of God in him are yea and amen,” inasmuch as these”
Daniel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Daniel 9:4: my confession--according to God's promises in Lev 26:39-42, that if Israel in exile for sin should repent and confess, God would remember for them His covenant with Abraham (compare Deu 30:1-5; Jer 29:12-14; Jam 4:10). God's promise was absolute, but prayer also was ordained as about to precede its fulfilment, this too being the work of God in His people, as much as the external restoration which was to follow. So it shall be at Israel's final restoration (Psa 102:13-17). Daniel takes his countrymen's place of confession of sin, identifying himself with”
Catechism of the Catholic Church (Catholic) “Catechism of the Catholic Church, CHAPTER THREE (part 4): that believing is an authentically human act. Trusting in God and cleaving to the truths he has revealed is contrary neither to human freedom nor to human reason. Even in human relations it is not contrary to our dignity to believe what other persons tell us about themselves and their intentions, or to trust their promises (for example, when a man and a woman marry) to share a communion of life with one another. If this is so, still less is it contrary to our dignity to "yield by faith the full submission of... intellect and will to God”
2 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Corinthians 6:18: Translate, "I will be to you in the relation of a Father, and ye shall be to me in the relation of sons and daughters." This is a still more endearing relation than (Co2 6:16), "I will be their God, and they . . . My people." Compare the promise to Solomon (Ch1 28:6; Isa 43:6; Rev 21:3, Rev 21:7; Jer 31:1, Jer 31:9). Lord Almighty--The Lord the Universal Ruler: nowhere else found but in Revelation. The greatness of the Promiser enhances the greatness of the promises. Next: 2 Corinthians Chapter 7”
CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 74: argues from the case of Abraham, who, according to the express declaration of the Scriptures, was justified by faith; and he quotes from the old prophets the great principle, true then as now, that the “just shall live by faith.” (2.) In the second place, he proves that the faith intended was faith in a promise and not merely general piety or confidence toward God. Abraham, he says, “staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that what He had promised He wa”
Jeremiah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Jeremiah 33:3: Call . . . I will answer-- (Jer 29:12; Psa 91:15). Jeremiah, as the representative of the people of God, is urged by God to pray for that which God has determined to grant; namely, the restoration. God's promises are not to slacken, but to quicken the prayers of His people (Psa 132:13, Psa 132:17; Isa 62:6-7). mighty things--Hebrew, "inaccessible things," that is, incredible, hard to man's understanding [MAURER], namely, the restoration of the Jews, an event despaired of. "Hidden," or "recondite" [PISCATOR]. thou knowest not--Yet God had revealed”

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