Circuit Thoughts

When I first started as a pastor at my previous charge, I was approached by my congregation about a Bible Study. The desire of the group was to do an in-depth study of the book of “The Revelation to John.” I told them no, and even today I am hesitant to do a popular study of that particular book, and here is why.

Today we have so many things happening in the world. In fact, a normal day is just a little bit too interesting for most. With the Ukraine war, politics, Covid and many other things, people are looking to Revelations to give answers. But the answers they seek are not what the book was written for. For some, to study Revelation is to look into the future of the world and to prepare for the end times.

We are in the end times, which is true. But the end times have been upon us since Christ rose from the grave. Here we are almost two thousand years removed from that event, and we still seek the return of Christ. This is not a terrible thing, but the Revelation of John is not meant to be a play book for the final countdown.

We need to realize that John authored this book while on the island of Patmos. He wrote in a time when the church was being persecuted because of their love for Christ. The book was written as a book of hope, not an instruction guide to navigate the end of the world.

This book is the recollection of a vision, so some of it doesn’t make sense. Oh, we can interpret it the way we think it should sound, but it really doesn’t help much. Nor is the book the only apocalyptic book in the Bible. Ezekiel, Daniel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and others have similar writings.

So, how do we approach this book?

We approach with prayer and humbleness. We approach with awe and wonder. What we don’t do is stand around and wait for all of this to happen.

The book talks of multitudes singing God’s praises. It talks of the many whose garments are washed in the blood of Christ. It gives us Good News, that in the end, no matter what, God wins and something new will begin.

In fact, apocalypse is taken from the Greek word meaning to uncover or reveal. (Revelation = a revealing). This does not mean the end; it means something new is coming and will be revealed in its own time.

Meanwhile we have work to do. Followers of Christ are not meant to stand and watch as all is revealed. We are meant to make sure people are ready for that revelation. Our job: Share Christ, Offer Christ, be the hands and feet of Christ in this world. God is calling you and I to make sure no one is caught unaware when Christ comes in final victory.

I’m not saying to not read this book. What I am saying is read it for what it is, a message of hope for God’s people who are going through tough times.

See you in church.