In my journey through the Bible, I’ve come to the last book: Revelation. I don’t read the book of Revelation lightly. It always conjures for me memories of a lunchtime bible study in which I participated while attending a military school. In this study, we watched videos of some guys who were trying to predict the end times, often using modern-day newspaper headlines and equating them to prophesied events. Ironically, the course of study at the school was journalism, and we were learning to write headlines. I learned that headline semantics are usually driven more by space and layout than by the significance of the news contained beneath.
Someone very perceptively pointed out that predicting the signs attending to the end of the world and Christ’s second coming is most often an attempt to control events, or feel in control of events by dint of knowing what’s happening. While at first I reviled at this notion, I eventually came to embrace it. My current approach is that it’s best to be faithful in all I’m called to do, regardless of how near or far the end may be. If I’m faithful with the large and small things given by God for my governance, then the coming of the end tomorrow or next year shouldn’t change my actions.
So I approach the book of John’s Revelation very carefully. I strive to read it with the goal of knowing God more fully, understanding his character, and discovering the things that challenge popular assumtions about heaven, hell, and the nature of reality. I’m sure it’ll be meaningful reading, and I’ll let you in on a few thoughts as I go. Feel free to read along with me!
Enjoy,
AJS