Beyond Codes and End Times: Following Jesus into the New Creation with Joel Wildermuth, October 5th, 12th, 19th
Revelation appears only five times in the three-year lectionary cycle, and those readings cover less than ten percent of the book. We Protestants might be forgiven for our relative ignorance of Revelation—were it not for the fact that this book holds such a prominent place in popular culture. Its cryptic imagery, fantastical depictions of battles and beasts, and otherworldly visions have fascinated readers and fueled the imaginations of both faithful interpreters and theological grifters across the centuries.
Yet Revelation is more than codes or predictions about the end of the world. At its heart, it is an invitation to follow the Lamb—to follow Jesus—out of the cycles of violence, misery, and death that mark the present age, and into God’s peaceable kingdom, the new creation. That journey does not wait for the end of history; it begins now, in our own time and place, through our singing, our worship, our ministry, our community life, and our faithful participation in God’s redemptive work in the world.
In this three-week study, we will explore the basics of Revelation:
1, What kind of literature it is.
2. The historical context of Roman imperial power and propaganda.
3. How readers across time have interpreted its message.
4. How we can embrace Revelation as a blueprint for following Jesus, even when it sets us at odds with the powers of this world.
In the end, Revelation is not a text to be feared or dismissed—it is a gift that can expand our imagination and deepen our anticipation of God’s new creation.
