Revelation: Follow the Way of the Lamb
This week we kicked off our series on the book of Revelation, the last and most widely misunderstood book of the Bible. For some people, Revelation has inspired beautiful works of art and music and has catalyzed movements of justice throughout history. For many people, however, the book of Revelation brings to mind images and ideas of the end of the world, a rapture, war, an antichrist, and emotions like fear and confusion.
But what if we’ve been reading it wrong? What if the book of Revelation isn’t about speculation or escapism or militarism? What if fear isn’t the motivation behind Revelation, but rather faithfulness?
Over the next 7 weeks, we’ll be lifting the curtain to see the beauty of the vision of God’s ultimate purpose for the whole creation unfold. We will also learn to see the way in which powerful forces of evil have been and are being overthrown through the victory of Jesus, the Lamb who was slain, the one who is the risen and ruling King.
But first, we need to understand what we’re reading and why it was written. Revelation was clearly written to 7 churches in today’s western Turkey, most likely in the late first century. At this time, the Roman Empire was marked by violence, corruption, and oppression. As persecution of Christians spread, revolutionaries began to spring up, standing firm in their faith in opposition to the empire. A prophet named John (likely not the same person as the apostle John who wrote the fourth gospel), began speaking out against the way of the Roman Empire, so Roman officials shipped him off to the island of Patmos on the Aegean Sea to keep him quiet.
Except it didn’t. One day, John received a vision from the Lord, which he wrote down to encourage and challenge these 7 churches to continue to live as faithful followers of Christ, even amidst an empire racked by violence, power, exploitation, hatred, arrogance, and pride. And the heartbeat of his message was simple: follow the way of the Lamb.
Revelation is a hybrid genre, serving as 1) an apocalypse, 2) a prophecy, and 3) a letter. Apocalypse simply means “unveiling” or “revelation.” This was a common literary genre for the time, which engaged the imagination by telling deep truths through other-worldly images, poetry, and symbols. Apocalyptic literature was used to sustain and encourage the people of God, particularly in hard times. Revelation is also prophecy, not primarily about predicting the future, but speaking words of comfort and challenge, on behalf of God, to the people of God in their very real situation. The book of Revelation is a reminder to God’s people that one day, there will be an end to all evil and oppression, and everything will be made right and new. Finally, Revelation is also a letter, written from a caring pastor to these 7 congregations, reminding them to stay faithful and to keep their eyes on Jesus, the one who is worthy of all our worship.
So what does the book of Revelation mean for us today as followers of Jesus?
It points us to Jesus. He is the King of Kings. He loves you, and he wants you to know him.
It inspires us to worship. It is a call to live our whole lives in worship to Jesus, the Lamb who was slain and who rules and reigns today. It is easy to slip into the way of the “empire,” worshipping someone or something else. Jesus alone is Lord, and He is worthy, forever and ever.
It calls us to faithful discipleship. Even when things get hard, even when things are falling apart, there is hope and victory in Jesus. Remain as faithful followers of Jesus. Keep going. He will make all things new in the end.
It leads us to hope. The new heaven and earth are the culmination of God’s plan. All evil will one day be removed, every tear will be wiped away, there will be no more sorrow or pain.“‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Rev 1:8)
Or as one of my favorite movie quotes says, “Everything will be all right in the end. If it’s not all right, then it’s not yet the end.”
I look forward to following the way of the Lamb with you all over these next 7 weeks!
Pastor Jenn