Revelation
Less Decipherment, More Discipleship
A Feast and a Fight
July 30, 2023 • Trey Van Camp • Revelation 19:6–16
Revelation offers a paradoxical picture, where we witness both a joyful feast of reconciliation and the call to confront evil with determination. Communion represents this promise, while the contradictory battle against societal norms mirrors the war aspect. By embracing both, we can faithfully follow Jesus in the middle of Babylon.
New Creation
July 16, 2023 • Caleb Martinez • Revelation 21, Revelation 22
Everybody has a deep internal longing to know where we came from and where we’re going. The Christian faith should answer these questions, but our answer often falls short. Instead, Revelation offers us a better conclusion to the human story. Rather than being raptured up to a spiritual heaven, https://biblia.com/bible/csb/rev%2021-22 tells us that the world ends in renewal, not destruction. If God’s redemptive plan includes the redeeming of the created world, then we can take part in renewing creation today. We live in the new reality of renewed bodies, we work to renew relationships with each other, and we partner with God to bring about the Kingdom in the world today.
Seduced by Babylon
July 23, 2023 • Trey Van Camp • Revelation 19:1–2, Revelation 17, Revelation 18
In the 20th century, two books were written to predict our future: "A Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley in 1931 and "Nineteen Eighty-Four" by George Orwell in 1949. Both books had different ideas about how our future could be grim. Neil Postman compared these books in his work "Amusing Ourselves to Death," where he said Orwell feared the truth would be hidden and people would be controlled by pain, while Huxley feared the truth would be lost in irrelevance and people would be controlled by pleasure. In the book of Revelation, some people read it like "Nineteen Eighty-Four," seeing evil events happening through force and obvious tactics. Others read it like "A Brave New World," where evil systems and powers subtly deceive and seduce us away from Jesus. Revelation 17 talks about a Prostitute, representing a seductive force in the world. Babylon in the Bible is like a city without God, and it symbolizes any place that goes against God. The Prostitute in Revelation seduces people by making sin seem normal and by rewarding strategies that go against what Jesus taught. But we can choose not to be a part of Babylon's ways by turning towards Jesus and living a different way. We can be citizens of heaven, not of Babylon.
Team Dragon
July 9, 2023 • Trey Van Camp • Revelation 12:17, Revelation 13
People often get excited about predicting the future or trying to figure out when the world will end, but Revelation is more about understanding what is happening in our present time. The dragon in the story wants to harm people, and he uses two other creatures to carry out his plans. One of them uses the power of the government to intimidate and control people. This can be seen in history when leaders have used their authority to manipulate and oppress others. The other creature uses deception and propaganda to trick people into believing false information or ideas. It’s like when advertisements or media twist the truth to persuade us in certain ways. The message https://biblia.com/bible/csb/rev%2012-13 is that we need to be discerning and wise in our understanding of the world around us. We shouldn’t be easily swayed by false ideas or manipulated by those in power. Instead, we should seek truth, be critical thinkers, and strive to live according to what is right and good. So, rather than getting caught up in trying to predict the future or obsessing over sensationalized interpretations, we should focus on understanding the present, recognizing the forces that seek to harm and manipulate, and staying grounded in truth and wisdom.
Team Lamb
July 2, 2023 • Caleb Martinez • Revelation 14
Throughout Revelation, there are key interludes that interrupt the narrative and provide insights into true reality. In https://biblia.com/bible/we/rev%2014 encounter one such interlude that unveils a series of messages given by three angels. These messages serve as an encouragement for us to align ourselves with Team Lamb in the cosmic battle against Team Dragon. However, to fight like a Lamb requires us to resist Satan’s apathy and embrace a lifestyle reflective of Jesus. To do this, we practice witnessing, enduring, and suffering.
4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse
June 25, 2023 • Trey Van Camp • Revelation 6, Revelation 7, Revelation 8:1
The book of Revelation talks about judgments and the suffering of people. It reminds us not to feel superior and gives hope to persecuted Christians. The judgments are meant to soften our hearts and lead us to salvation. They come in groups of seven, like seals, trumpets, and bowls. The book also tells us about the four horsemen representing deception, tribalism, injustice, and sickness. But in the end, God will make things right and there will be no more suffering.
A New Vision & Version of Reality
June 18, 2023 • Trey Van Camp • Revelation 5, Revelation 4
Revelation is a book that shows us a different way of understanding the world. It tells us that things are not always what they seem. Jesus, who is both powerful like a lion and sacrificial like a lamb, is the one who can save the world. By focusing on Jesus and His sacrificial love, we can find hope, purpose, and power in our lives.
John: Theologian, Pastor, & Poet
June 4, 2023 • Trey Van Camp • Revelation 1
No other book has been twisted or tamed more than Revelation. It’s important to remember that: - As a theologian, St. John intends for us to read Revelation Christologically, not chronologically. - As a pastor, St. John intends for us to read Revelation with a focus on discipleship, not on decipherment. - As a poet, St. John intends for us to read Revelation literarily, not literally. We believe studying Revelation will awaken and deepen our discipleship and refocus our attention on Jesus.
The Church Jesus is Against
June 11, 2023 • Trey Van Camp • Revelation 2, Revelation 3
In chapters 2 and 3 of Revelation, John writes letters to seven different churches. He affirms them for what they are doing right and corrects them for what they are doing wrong. It’s like a teacher giving feedback to help them become all they were designed to be. For example, the church in Ephesus is commended for avoiding false teachings and enduring hardships, but they are told they have forgotten to love God and others. The church in Pergamum is praised for being courageous, but they are criticized for tolerating wrong behavior. And so on for the other churches. The main point for us today is that Jesus wants us to be a people of love who avoid false teachings and endure hardships. We need to love God and others, and not be swayed by wrong beliefs. It can be tough, but Jesus promises us a reward if we stay faithful.