Be Sure to Read 'Revelation' to the End

by

In both the Year One and Year Two readings found in the Daily Office Lectionary in 'The Book of Common Prayer,' we are led into a four-week exploration of the Book of Revelation. This year, in the Year One cycle, we began reading in Revelation on October 30th, and we end today, November 25th.

Every time I revisit the Book of Revelation, I recall how most of my life has been lived in its shadow. "The Bomb" made end-of-the-world thinking seem all the more reasonable, not to mention the war in Viet Nam abroad and the civil rights' movement violence here at home.

By the mid-1960's, all sorts of TV preachers began making it their stock and trade, both to fill their air time and to appeal for money. Hal Lindsey was the best-known of the bunch, and his 'Late Great Planet Earth' sold like hotcakes. A whole line of end-time products were available in Christian book stores, and even in some secular discount stores.

During this time, every church I pastored in Kentucky and Texas wanted me to teach Revelation at their Wednesday night Bible studies--as if I knew more about it than they did! In one of the places I served, a fellow pastor had the claim to fame of being an "expert" on the Book of Revelation. All over the nation, and even the world, John of Patmos was virtually the patron saint of the end times.

And so, I feel a shiver of hesitancy whenever I go back to the Book of Revelation, even when bidden to do so for a month each year in the Daily Office Lectionary. But now that I have finished reading the book, I have one overarching suggestion to make: when you set out to read the Book of Revelation, read all the way to the end!

Far from ending up as a "late, great planet," we find ourselves living on a new earth in a new heaven (Revelation 21-22). And a number of people too large to count are there, not just a "faithful few." People are there from every nation, tribe, people, and language (7:9). Every enemy is defeated, death is no more, and God is delighted. No wonder John looks forward to it, and exclaims at the end, "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!" (22:20).

To be sure, the Book of Revelation is a book which falls into the category called apocalyptic literature, along with some other Old Testament books. [1] It is filled with symbols I personally believe have more to do with helping the early Christians make it through Roman persecutions than with providing succeeding Christians an end-time theology, including codes for predicting the end of the world.

But precisely because the Book of Revelation is symbolic, the early Christians and every Christian from then until right now can share in one message given us by the book: God wins! Love prevails! A month each year is worth it if it enables us never to forget that.

Oh, yes!! Come, Lord Jesus!!

[1] Apocalyptic literature, because of its highly metaphorical and symbolic language, must be read carefully, and almost never literally or historically. 'The CEB Study Bible' has an excellent note on "Apocalypse as a Literary Form" (page 385 AP) for more insights about this kind of writing. The introduction to the Book of Revelation in 'The Life With God Bible' (pages 483-487 NT) is also helpful.

The Rev. Dr. Steve Harper is a retired United Methodist clergyman, seminary professor, author of several books, spiritual director and retreat leader along with his wife, Jeannie Waller Harper. This post and photo are republished with permission from his Facebook page.