We are beginning a sermon series in Revelation. This book while it begins innocuously, is mostly filled with wild, fantastical prophecy. The vivid imagery has drawn much speculation regarding current and future events. I grew up on end times teaching from books like Daniel and Revelation. Prophecy was tied to specific events such as the rise of the Soviet Union or the use of the bankcard. Many people loved this, pouring over verse detail, and matching it to world events.
For me, this saturation of focus wore out my enthusiasm for ‘end times’ prediction. I grew content to settle with ‘in the end our Lord Jesus will return to make all things right, the rest are details’. While I think there is nothing especially wrong with this, it is not what Revelation describes. There are details, there is incredible symbolism. There is much to make the imagination fire. Why? We live in an age that takes mystery and boils it down to its rationale principals. I wonder, can we do this with a work of art by Van Gogh, Caravaggio, or Rembrandt? Would we want to? We recognise art does more than accurately reproduce a scene.
It seeks to move the viewer mentally, emotionally, spiritually. As we work through this book, through its art of word and symbol, I wonder how Revelation how move you?
Enjoy,
Jason (Photo on http://www.pbclc.com/)