Locusts and lions and dragons, Oh My!  Such would be a great opening statement from one about to enter into a study on Revelation.  To say it is a book filled with adventure and action would be an understatement.  And yet, Revelation is a book that doesn’t get visited that much.  Many stay away from it; believing it needs to be avoided because it is too difficult and confusing to understand.  Others dive in head first and dismantle the simple truth that lies within it.  They restructure it to support some fantasy idea of prophecy that they want to promote.  Regardless of where you and I might stand in relation to the message from Revelation, there is a very specific truth that God tells us concerning the need to study the book.  Revelation 1:3 says, “Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near”.  There is indeed a blessing to be experienced for all who read the book of Revelation.  It is one of the most powerful books that reveals the awesome power of the living God in the most dramatic ways.  It also contains some of the most descriptive images that reveal the struggle between good and evil.  Ultimately the most incredible message that overflows from the pages of this book is that of VICTORY!  Victory for God’s people and victory of good over evil.  One can’t help but imagine standing with all of heaven in Revelation 5:13 and singing with all our might, “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” Revelation is not a book to be afraid of.  At the same time it is not a book to approach with the idea that we will have the answer to every image being portrayed.  Revelation is a book that needs to be studied for the purpose of once again seeing our most wonderful God at work in the most amazing ways.  We will begin that adventure this coming Wednesday night as we start our study of the book of Revelation.  Everyone is invited!