Unlock Revelation in 31 Days
No more fear. No more confusion. Only Jesus.
Read all of Revelation in 31 days — guided by a daily email that makes the symbols, the numbers, and the visions come alive.
Start the Revelation Challenge — $25Lying in bed, I turned the pages of the illustrated Youth Bible to the last chapter: Revelation. The book I understood least, yet the one that gripped me most. The page that showed a blood-red moon stopped me in my tracks. The author said: “This happened in such and such a year.” Was he right? Had it begun? If the sign of the red moon was behind us, which sign would come next? And when?
A few years later, I learned about the rapture. Jesus would come to take His followers — suddenly, without warning. One question kept nagging at me: would I be taken?
The last book of the Bible made me anxious and unsure. Powerless, even. So many questions… When would the two witnesses appear? Would we watch Jesus’ return live on television, as some books said?
So yes, I went looking for answers. Not in church. My church conveniently ignored Revelation. I read books and listened to Bible teachers. But they never told the same story.
The rapture comes before the tribulation — no, after it — no, there is no rapture. The beast is a world leader, a computer system, an empire long gone, the UN, the EU… So many experts, so many voices, so much confusion.
And I’m not the only one who’s felt this way. Listen to what other Bible readers say about Revelation:
“You know there’s a deeper meaning behind it all. You just don’t know what it is.”
“The first time I read Revelation: terrifying.”
“I wish I could experience this book as liberating.”
That last one says it all.
Of the nearly 500 Bible readers I surveyed, more than 4 in 10 admitted they had started Revelation and never made it through — or had never even dared to open it. Committed, Bible-reading Christians. And the final book of the Bible remains a closed book to them.
If that’s where it ends, we might as well tear Revelation out of our Bibles. Why did God give us a book that leads to so many interpretations and even causes anxiety?
Read Revelation like its first readers did
Fast forward to today. Revelation is no longer a puzzling book to me. Not because I finally found the one expert with the right end-times chart. But because I learned how to read it.
That discovery didn’t come overnight. I love digging into a subject, and that’s what I did: I went looking for the right sources — and tested them. Not the sensational voices, but real experts. Scholars who don’t start with today’s headlines, but with the first-century context. Who explain what the numbers and symbols meant back then. Who see the parallels between Revelation’s scenes and Roman culture, and the connections with the Old Testament.
Follow that trail, and you arrive at four keys that open up Revelation:
Key 1: The audience
Revelation is a letter, sent to seven real churches in real cities. Persecuted Christians, worldly Christians, divided Christians. They read it first — and each would understand the text slightly differently.
Key 2: The genre
Revelation is three genres in one. It’s a letter, written by a real person to real people in a certain context. Revelation is also a prophecy. A prophecy views reality through God’s eyes. Finally, Revelation is an apocalypse, a genre we’ve lost. It describes the world in known symbols and images.
Key 3: The structure
Revelation isn’t a timeline running from chapter 1 to 22. It tells the same story in cycles, each one zooming in further and growing in intensity. Once you see that structure, the chaos becomes composition.
Key 4: The references
Revelation is packed with references — hundreds of them — to the Old Testament, and to the Roman and Jewish world of the first century. The blood-red moon, the beast, 666: none of it was code to John’s readers. They could place every image.
Here’s the promise of this challenge. I’m not going to teach you to read Revelation the way we naturally do — as 21st-century people raised on Hollywood blockbusters, breaking news, and viral end-times theories. I’m going to help you read it the way it was meant to be read: through the eyes of the first century.
Because the Christians of the seven churches didn’t put the scroll down feeling anxious and confused. They heard it read aloud and were comforted, corrected, and strengthened. They learned how to overcome the world and persevere in the faith.
That experience is available to you too.
Hi, I’m John
I teach the Bible to people who are passionate about God’s Word. For over 20 years, I worked for Open Doors, an organization serving persecuted Christians worldwide. There I met believers who risked everything for their faith — and I discovered something that changed the course of my life. After a church bombing, I spoke with survivors who barely knew the Jesus they were suffering for. My team helped them, but I asked myself: what about us in the West? How well do we know Jesus and His Word?
That’s when my mission took shape: helping Christians read, understand, and believe the Bible.
Since then, I’ve guided thousands of Bible readers through Scripture — through reading plans, courses, and daily emails. I’ve become known for making difficult books accessible without watering them down. No shortcuts, no hype: just the Bible, read carefully in its own context.
And Revelation? That book and I go way back, as you’ve read. The anxious teenager with the Youth Bible became a guide who loves nothing more than taking people on a journey through the Word.
Will you join me on the next one?
The Revelation Challenge: through the entire book in 31 days
The Revelation Challenge is a guided reading journey through the last book of the Bible. For 31 days, you’ll read Revelation — the whole book, from the first verse to the last. Here’s how it works:
Open your inbox
Every morning, a fresh email from me tells you which passage to read — with the symbols, numbers, and historical background explained.
Read your Bible
10–15 minutes a day, at your own pace, in your own Bible, wherever you are.
See it come alive
What did the first readers see? What does it show us about Jesus? And what does it mean for your life today?
2 orientation emails + 31 daily devotionals + 1 closing email = 34 guided emails
Stuck or curious? Just hit reply — I read every response personally. And before day 1, two orientation emails get you started: how we’re going to read Revelation, and the big picture of the whole book. Plus a bonus lesson on the questions everyone asks: what about the rapture and Armageddon?
One thing you won’t find in this challenge: conspiracy theories. No date-setting, no decoding of current world leaders, no fear. Revelation’s original title is “the Revelation of Jesus Christ” — and that’s exactly who takes center stage. Thirty-one days from now, you won’t just have read Revelation. You’ll have met the Lamb who wins by dying.
What readers say
“I always experienced so much anxiety when I tried to read Revelation. But now I see how comforting the message of this book really is.”— Margaret
“I no longer dread reading Revelation. The images and symbols are finally clear to me, and I see how this ancient scroll connects to the Old Testament in particular.”— Eric
“John’s courses are so helpful to understand the Bible. I read the Word with more confidence.”— Vernasia
What you’ll discover in 31 days
- What the big picture of Revelation is — the most encouraging message you’ll find in the Bible.
- What 666 meant to readers who knew Greek and Hebrew — no computer chips or barcodes involved. The first readers could simply calculate who was meant. And no, that doesn’t make the number a thing of the past.
- Who the 144,000 really are — and why what John hears is different from what he sees.
- What Scripture actually says about the rapture — a fair look at the strongest arguments, whatever position you hold.
- How Revelation is about today — but not only about today — the final book retells the story of the entire Bible, from the garden to the city.
- How the seals, trumpets, and bowls fit together — not as a timeline of disasters, but as the same story told three times, each round more intense.
- What the heart of Revelation is — it’s hidden right at the center of the book, and it’s not a disaster. It’s a way of overcoming.
Bringing Revelation to life with the 4D method
Did you know you can read the Bible in 4D? It’s a method I developed to make Bible reading more interesting and engaging. The four keys I mentioned earlier are integrated in this 4-dimensional reading.
Because in every devotional, we’ll look at the text through four dimensions:
The historical dimension
What do we know about the historical context?
The literary dimension
What is the Holy Spirit trying to communicate through John? Which Old Testament references do we see?
The Jesus dimension
What does this passage teach us about Jesus?
The life application dimension
How do we apply the text to our own lives?
Let me give you a simple example. In chapter 1, John sees Jesus, who holds seven stars in His right hand. A strange image? Not to the first readers. Roman coins depicted the emperor with stars, as ruler of the cosmos. But John describes the stars in Jesus’ hand (historical dimension). His message: not the emperor, but Jesus is the almighty God (literary and Jesus dimension). And that teaches us something too: we can put our trust in Jesus — more than in any earthly power (life application).
One image, four dimensions. And suddenly a strange vision becomes a message you can build your life on. That’s what we’ll do for 31 days straight.
Don’t worry: this is not an academic course. You don’t need a theology degree — just your Bible and 10 to 15 minutes a day.
Want to see for yourself? Here’s a complete devotional from the challenge:
Sample devotional: Day 10 — “Who are those people dressed in white?”
Reading: Revelation 7
Let’s not sugarcoat it: what John is shown of the world is horrifying. False peace, war, famine, and death — those were the first four seals.
The fifth seal shows martyrs: people murdered for following Jesus. They asked God a question: “How long, oh Sovereign Lord?” (Revelation 6:10)
God gave them white clothing as a sign of purity and victory. The people at the foot of the altar are also told they must be patient a while longer. Then came the sixth seal: cosmic disasters, and people fleeing in panic from the God who is coming.
Now, keep in mind that although Revelation was written as a letter, most people in the first century couldn’t read or write. The letter was read aloud to them. I imagine them counting the seals out loud as they listened.
They must have thought: We’ve had six seals now. We’ve asked the Lord how long it will take. Now comes the seventh seal. What terrible thing is about to happen?
And that’s the moment the writer of Revelation hits the pause button. First we watched the events on earth; now we’re taken back to heaven.
Now read Revelation 7 in your own Bible.
The people receive a seal
Everyone who realizes they live in a broken world where evil is present longs for the end of that evil — for the time when everything will be restored and there is only love. Then God will live among us again.
Everything we’ve read so far, about all the suffering in the world and death claiming victim after victim, only deepens that longing. We want Jesus to come back now. But we must be patient a little longer.
To underline this, Revelation inserts a pause after (or during) the breaking of the sixth seal. Suddenly we see what God is doing while evil rages on earth.
The angels are sent to the corners of the earth to hold back the winds. They have been given the power to harm the earth and the sea. But they must wait until another angel has first placed a seal on the foreheads of the believers.
This recalls Jesus’ parable in which farmhands ask their master whether they should pull up the weeds growing among the wheat. The owner forbids it, because in their zeal to destroy the weeds, they might accidentally pull up good wheat. (Matthew 13)
The image in Revelation 7 means that God postpones the final judgment because He wants to give that seal to as many people as possible. If you carry God’s seal, you belong to God. You are saved. You are His child, and nothing and no one has the power to disinherit you.
Do you see how remarkable this is? The vision began with seals being broken, and now seals are being placed.
From 144,000 to countless
How many people receive the seal? 144,000, John is told. 12,000 from every tribe of Israel.
The Bible speaks of Israel’s twelve tribes, but strictly speaking there were thirteen. Jacob had twelve sons, each of whom fathered a tribe. But from Jacob’s eleventh son, Joseph, came two tribes: Ephraim and Manasseh.
Twelve, however, is a number symbolizing the fullness or completeness of God’s people. That’s why the Bible always counts twelve tribes. Usually the tribe of Levi is left out of the list, because this priestly tribe had no territory of its own but lived among the other tribes.
Here in Revelation, Levi is included, but the tribe of Dan is missing. We can’t say for certain why, but probably because Dan — more than the other tribes — was steeped in idolatry. In this list, the tribe of Ephraim is called the tribe of “Joseph,” and that isn’t really explained either.
What matters is that 12 x 1,000 people from every tribe receive a seal. Twelve is the number of fullness; a thousand stands for a vast multitude. It’s not hard to guess that 12 x 12,000 takes this even further.
I have to admit that the number 144,000 used to frighten me. That seems like such a small number when you consider that billions upon billions of people have lived. What if you’re not among them? And I’m not even a descendant of one of these tribes…
Fortunately, the book of Revelation isn’t a math book full of formulas. It’s… revelation. Disclosure. We’re let in on the secret. What the number symbolism teaches us is that the number of people who receive a seal is not limited — it is complete.
And that message is reinforced by what John sees. Just as he was told about a Lion but saw a Lamb, John now sees something different from what he hears. He hears that 144,000 people receive a seal, but when he looks up, he sees a crowd so large it cannot be counted.
And these people don’t come from Israel alone — they come from every nation. Jews and non-Jews. They are all the people who sincerely follow Jesus. They wear white clothing (priestly clothing) and carry palm branches in their hands (a sign of victory and worship). They honor God and Jesus for bringing salvation.
“Who are these people in white?”
Then someone asks John a question: “These in white robes — who are they, and where did they come from?” (Revelation 7:13)
John doesn’t know. He is told that these people have come through the great tribulation and have washed their clothes white in the blood of the Lamb. In other words: they have overcome the world.
Are these people who die in the end times, during the great tribulation, when Christians face persecution on every side? Many theologians believe so, but it may well be that these are children of Jesus from every era. The Old Testament prophets were oppressed, so were Jesus and the apostles, and so were countless Christians after them.
The world always brings tribulation, and our commission is to overcome the world — we’ve seen that already. That message is underlined here.
In this vision, Jesus takes us from earthly brokenness to heavenly perfection. We see how evil is restrained and how God, in His grace, postpones the judgment so that as many people as possible can receive His seal.
That means they are protected. Not from suffering in this world, but from God’s judgment. There is no reason left to be afraid. As Paul says in his letter to the Philippians: “To live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21)
Jesus reveals to us that He is in complete control of everything. We don’t need to fear the mark of the beast, because we carry Jesus’ seal. We belong to Him.
The previous chapter ended with people praying to nature in panic, begging for protection. “Who can protect us?”
Revelation 7 answers the question: Jesus. The people who carry Jesus’ seal will withstand that day.
Blessings!
John
Ready to open the book?
For less than a dollar a day, you’ll do what most Christians never dare: read Revelation from beginning to end — and understand what you’re reading.
Join the Revelation Challenge — $25Your first email arrives right after checkout. Day 1 starts tomorrow.
“But what if…”
“…I’m not a Bible expert?”
You don’t need to be. If you can read an email, you can do this challenge. Every symbol and number is explained along the way.
“…I don’t have much time?”
Each day takes 10 to 15 minutes: a short passage in your own Bible, plus my email. Miss a day? The next email simply waits in your inbox. You set the pace.
“…I hold a different view on the end times?”
You’re welcome here. This challenge isn’t about winning debates — where Christians disagree, I’ll show you the strongest arguments and respect your conclusions. On the heart of the book, we’ll stand side by side: Jesus wins.
“…Revelation scares me?”
I understand — it scared me too. That’s exactly why I built this challenge. Day by day, you’ll discover that Revelation wasn’t written to frighten you but to strengthen you.
What you get
- 34 guided emails: 2 orientation lessons, 31 daily devotionals, and a closing email
- The complete book of Revelation, read verse by verse in 31 days
- The 4D method applied to every chapter: history, literature, Jesus, and your life
- Bonus lesson: what about the rapture and Armageddon?
- Personal contact: hit reply on any email — I try to answer within a few days
- Start today: your first email arrives right after checkout
One-time payment, everything included.
Frequently asked questions
When does the challenge start?
Immediately. After checkout, you’ll receive the first orientation email right away. Day 1 follows the next morning.
How much time does it take per day?
About 10 to 15 minutes: you read a passage in your own Bible, then my email walks you through it.
Which Bible translation do I need?
Any translation works. I quote from the NIV, but you read in the Bible you already have.
What if I fall behind?
No problem. The emails arrive daily, but there’s no deadline — read them at your own pace. They’re yours to keep.
Do I need any prior knowledge?
No. The challenge starts from scratch: two orientation emails give you everything you need before day 1.
What if I disagree with an interpretation?
That’s allowed! On disputed questions I present the main views and explain where I land — and why you may land somewhere else. Just hit reply if you want to talk it through.
What if the challenge isn’t for me?
You get a 31-day money-back guarantee. Send me one email and you’ll get a full refund. No questions asked.
Take up the challenge
For years, Revelation has been the closed book at the end of your Bible. In 31 days, it can be the book that strengthens your faith the most.
You take no risk: if the challenge disappoints you, you’ll get your money back within 31 days. No questions asked.
Do you have a desire to unlock Revelation? Then take up this challenge.
Start the Revelation Challenge — $25