Revelation Is Good Information for Right now, not a Recreation Plan for the Future

For a lot of my life, I handled the E-book of Revelation like foul-tasting drugs. I knew it was most likely good for me, however for those who gave me the possibility, I’d keep away from it.

That had so much to do with the way in which I used to be taught to learn Revelation. As an adolescent, my youth group watched a film that graphically pictured the horrors of being left behind on earth after true Christians escaped to heaven. It scared me. Later, I explored prophecy books that attempted to attach the dots between present occasions within the Center East and the Bible’s script for the top instances. They confused me. So I gave up attempting to grasp Revelation. In impact, it turned the appendix within the physique of my Bible. Usually, I might fortunately ignore it; but when it brought on an excessive amount of hassle, I might stay with out it.

Even after coaching for Christian ministry, I lacked the boldness to evangelise or train on Revelation. It was too mystifying, too violent, too bizarre. Its fantasy-like visions appeared to have little to say to the sensible problems with day by day Christian dwelling. At most, they warned, “You’d higher be prepared, as a result of the top might occur at any time!”

I wasn’t alone. Over time, I’ve heard solely small smatterings of preaching on Revelation, besides often on the “safer” components, like Christ’s messages to the church buildings in chapters 2 and three. Largely, Revelation’s life-giving message stays on mute for the church.

Correcting our lens

Like somebody attempting to put on the incorrect glasses, I had a lens drawback. My default setting concerned studying Revelation by means of a prediction lens. Like many Christians, I seen the Apocalypse primarily as a guide of forecasts about what was going to occur sooner or later. John’s visions …

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