In the early 1990’s, I lived with my family in Nashville, Tennessee and was a part of The
Belmont Church. Our pastor, Don Finto, put together a team of narrators and musicians
to do a public reading of The Book of Revelation. There was to be no commentary or
interpretation offered before or after the reading. Just the Book!
I will never forget that life-changing evening. Eight Narrators were on stage
representing various characters found in the Book – the Apostle John, voices of God,
living creatures, angels and so forth. Michael W Smith and I were behind the stage area
with several keyboards set up for creating a musical texture in the background.
The reading took 72 minutes. At the end, I was astounded by the response of the people
in the audience. There was a strong Presence of the Lord. The simple reading of God’s
Word had a profound effect upon everyone present. Indeed, a deep sense of awe
prevailed. At first, the congregation just stood up in silent awe. After a while, applause
and shouting broke out.
I knew in that moment that someday I would need to do something to get the Book of
Revelation into a form where people could visualize the vivid images found within those
pages. Music greatly helps us visualize this book of prophecy. I was also very aware that
a magnificent blessing was promised: “Blessed is the person who reads (out-loud) and
those who hear the words of the prophecy and who heed and take to heart the things
that are written in it, for the time is near” (Revelation 1:3). I was eager for people to
receive this very specific blessing.
Three different presentations were made in the early 1990’s at The Belmont Church and
at the War Memorial Auditorium in downtown Nashville. The profound effect
continued to take place. The power of the Word of God was more than obvious.
“Give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching”
(I Timothy 4:13). This verse became a mandate from the Lord for me.
I began in the year 2000. Narration was recorded and I began creating the music. Over
the next several years I spent about 100-120 hours creating music for Chapter 1.
However, something I was doing was not quite right. Furthermore, I had to put the
project aside frequently because of a busy travel schedule and other projects that needed
my attention.
Carol and I moved to Kansas City in 2016. I felt compelled to take up the Revelation
project once again. My wife, along with a few daughters, indicated that the work I had
done on Chapter 1 was not feeling right to them. I agreed! I scrapped all that I had done
up to that point.
Work began afresh in May of 2018. To date, I have been working two-and-a half years.
My version is fully orchestrated and will end up lasting about 2 hours and 20 minutes. I
have added a number of musical interludes throughout. These musical pauses (selahs)
allow the listener to absorb the impact of the Word as it unfolds.
It might interest you to know that I have never experienced such a strong measure of
resistance from our enemy, the devil, as I have during these past 2 ½ years while
working on The Revelation Project. This opposition only confirms to me the urgency I
feel to get this project finished. Afterall, Satan does not like this book at all! It describes
in vivid detail his complete undoing, defeat and destruction.
The opening line of the Book gives us the clue: “The revelation of Jesus Christ. . .”
(Revelation 1:1). Most people think the Book is primarily about future events. There is
no doubt that the book is full of prophecy about the things that will take place on earth
and in the universe. However, the book of Revelation is first and foremost about a
Person – a great and magnificent Person – the Lord Jesus Himself. It is a REVELATION
of JESUS, the ruler of the kings of the earth, the beginning and the end, the Alpha and
the Omega, the Morningstar, the Almighty, the Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Lamb
of Who was slain. There are many other descriptions of Him from start to finish.
The Apostle John was over 90 years old when he received this overwhelming revelation.
He had known Jesus first-hand when he was a young man. John wrote about “what we
have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched
with our hands, concerning the Word of Life” (I John 1:1). John, the Beloved, had
walked with Jesus from the time he was a young man. He had about 60 years
experience of relationship with the Master when he received the Revelation. In other
words, if anybody knew Jesus Christ, John did. Yet, it appears that John did not
recognize Jesus when He appeared to in the fullness of His glory and splendor. When
John saw Him, the scene was so completely overwhelming that he fell to his feet as a
dead man (Revelation 1:17).
The word “revelation” means to reveal. It comes from the Greek word apocalypse. Jesus
revealed Himself to John. Part of this “revealing” included the fact that Jesus was the
complete Sovereign and Master of the entire universe. The splendor and beauty of the
Son of God was absolutely staggering!
Jesus revealed facts about the future, the triumph of His Kingdom over all evil, the
beauty of His judgments, the great wedding of the ages, His beautiful Bride, the saved
people He loves deeply. He slightly pulls back the curtain to give us a small glimpse of
the millennial Kingdom and the unfathomable new heavens and new earth in which the
government of Jesus will usher in an eternal reign of love, righteousness and peace.
This Book should be widely read, heard and contemplated by every member of the
human race. Do you agree? Pray for us and consider helping us finish the project and
get it “out there.”
This project has been created because of a sense of urgency that has been working in me
since 1990. I am personally convinced that we are in the final segment of human history.
The Bible calls this period of time “the last days.” Indeed, we are most likely in the Last
of the last days. Events are unfolding all around us that are preparing the way for the
return of Jesus, “the Ruler of the kings of the earth” (Rev 1:5). It is imperative that the
Book of Revelation become prominent in the hearts and minds of people everywhere,
every language, nation, tribe and ethnic group.
The Lord gave me a vivid dream in the summer of 2020 from which I concluded that
The Revelation Project should be given away, FREE OF CHARGE, to all people. As
missionaries, My wife and I look directly to the God Who Provides to stir people to
support us and this project financially.
The release of Part I of The Revelation Project is scheduled for December 12, 2020. Part
I consists of Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8:1. You can listen to each chapter individually
or the seamlessrendition of Chapters 1 – 8:1 (Part I). It will be produced in
both an AUDIO and VIDEO.
Chapter 8:1 is a fitting place to have a break before beginning Part II. It says “. . .and
there was silence in heaven for about half-an-hour.”
Currently, I am working on Part II which is Chapters 8:2 – 15. Hopefully, this can be
released February of 2021. Part III, Chapters 16-22. Should be available in the Spring of
2021.
Work is already underway to create a video in Chinese utilizing captions. Our vision is to
add other languages as the Lord leads, such as Korean, Spanish and Portuguese and so
forth.
The Revelation Project App is available at both the Apple App Store and at Google Play.
We are also planning on releasing foreign language App versions.
PLEASE PRAY and consider helping us financially to support this project. Your gift will
go to Worship Hymn Ministries (501 c 3) and is tax deductible. Each donor will receive a
year-end statement via email.