Revelation 1

 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” vv.10-11

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The book of revelation is probably one of the books of the bible most read by believers and non-believers.  I think probably because of the future prophesy that this whole book is, its mysticism and to have something to grasp as to what's next after this life, but also doesn't really call for us to change on our part today.  This may not be a book to know how to become more like Christ, but more so that we may know Him more.
Now Revelation is not the only place in the Bible that talks about future times, for starters read Daniel 7-12, Matthew 24, 1 Thessalonians 5 to name a few.  There may be a reason that it's the last book of the Bible too in that one ought to have an understanding of the rest of the bible to understand better this book, probably not the best place to start if you're just reading the Bible for the first time.  One thing we need to realize is that everything in this book takes place in the day of the Lord (or the Lord's Day) for we see in verse ten that John was in the Spirit on the Lord's day (whether in a vision or literally) and told to write everything he's about to see thus the this whole book of Revelation.  The Lord's Day isn't just Sunday, but is a period of time still to come.  We read about the day of the Lord in other parts of scripture and this can help us sort Bible prophesy of when things are to take place whether before or during the day of the Lord.   For example in Acts 2:16-21 we read of the Spirit pouring out on all flesh in the LAST DAYS before the day of the Lord.  This time of the last days is a different time period than the day of the Lord and this pouring out of the spirit is before all that we read in Revelation.  Yet so many people believe that Revelation is the next thing to happen but we haven't had the spirit poured out on all flesh yet.  Am I making any sense?  Well don't get to overwhelmed as we've just started this book.  John is the author of Revelation (through the Holy Spirit); notice that even though he was with Jesus on earth as His right hand guy, we see that John is still overwhelmed by being in Christ's presence (v.17).  For more articles about the timing of Revelation check out Bins for Bible Prophesy
What preconceptions do you have about the book of Revelation?  Do you have a hard time reading it? How so?  Are you, like John, close with Jesus yet still overwhelmed by His greatness (that's a good and right place and position to be in)? Or do you prefer to read it because you dont have to apply it to yourself today (not the reason we should approach it)?