Old & New: Revelation - God's Persistent Promise (Week 2 - Apocalypse as Gift)

 When my son was younger, I remember a time when he wanted a new video game really bad. I couldn’t afford to buy it for him. So, I told him “No.” That he couldn’t have it. He was really mad. So mad that he said to me, “I hate you.”

Maybe that’s happened to you. I knew that he didn’t hate me. And I knew that was simply his way of striking back at me for something that didn’t feel fair to him. Where he felt like he had no say in the matter. That he had no power.

I lived through the Los Angeles riots in 1992. In their aftermath, there was much soul searching, trying to understand how this happened. Over time, our community, including myself, began to understand that this was, in a way, similar to the sense of powerlessness that my own son experienced. A way to strike back, particularly by those who were being oppressed. And who felt they had no power. 

The book of Revelation is a book about power. Perhaps, this is why it is often so misunderstood. It’s not an easy book. It confronts us with stark visions and challenging truths. It was written to a community facing severe pressure and oppression - a time when power was being abused. And people were suffering under systems that exploited them.

Revelation unveils the true nature of power in two ways. First, by revealing to us the supreme authority of God in our world. And secondly by unveiling the destructive, often hidden, forces of human oppression that exploit others, especially uncovering those forces that always seem to “get away with it.” 

Just as we might shy away from reading such an intense book, we also often avoid confronting these harsh realities of exploitation and injustice in our own world. Particularly, if we are not directly affected.

Our reading this morning is twofold. The first part is from chapter 1. The second is from near the end of the book, in chapter 21. We begin in chapter 1.

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place, and he made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.

Blessed is the one who reads the words of the prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.

John to the seven churches that are in Asia:

Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come and from the seven spirits who are before his throne.

Continuing in Chapter 21: Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,

“See, the home of God is among mortals.

He will dwell with them;

they will be his peoples,

and God himself will be with them and be their God;

he will wipe every tear from their eyes.

Death will be no more;

mourning and crying and pain will be no more,

for the first things have passed away.”

And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.” --Revelation 1:1-4; 21:1-5 (NRSVue)

Let’s begin with a group discussion.

• What do these passages unveil about God's power and authority?

• God is presented as the supreme and eternal sovereign: "him who is, and who was, and who is to come," and the "Alpha and the Omega," the "Almighty" (Revelation 1:4, 8).

• Jesus Christ is revealed as the "ruler of the kings of the earth" (Revelation 1:5), indicating God's authority transcends all earthly powers.

• God possesses the ultimate power to enact complete transformation, creating "a new heaven and a new earth" and declaring, "See, I am making everything new!" (Revelation 21:1, 5). This demonstrates God's ability to renew and redefine existence.

• How does the promise of God 'making everything new' relate to the challenges of power and exploitation we see in the world?

• The promise offers a vision of radical transformation and justice, asserting that the destructive consequences of power abuse and exploitation are not God's final will.

• The "new heaven and new earth" signifies the eradication of conditions that enable exploitation and suffering, including the systems of power that perpetuate them ("no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away" - Revelation 21:4).

• Notice that God is not making “new things” but making existing things new. This is about renewal. 

• God's dwelling "among the people" (Revelation 21:3) implies the establishment of a just and renewed world where God's presence directly addresses and overcomes all forms of oppression and the pain caused by injustice.

This book insists that God’s ultimate authority means that all forms of oppression and abuse of power will ultimately be confronted and overcome by God's justice. Which leads to a third question that I invite you to sit with for just a moment.

What uncomfortable truths might this passage unveil for us about our responsibility concerning power dynamics in our own world?"

The message of Revelation, while confronting, is ultimately one of profound hope: God is making all things new, and God invites us to be part of that work. 

For those of us who live in comfort or privilege, this invitation often means a significant 'shift.' It requires us to change how we perceive the world, how we utilize our resources, and how we engage with systems that might perpetuate injustice. This includes acknowledging the cost to the whole community when power is abused and when exploitation is allowed to continue, even if we are not the direct perpetrators of it. We are called to look beyond our individual comfort.

The challenging, yet profoundly hopeful, Book of Revelation calls us to truly see. To recognize the pain of oppression. And to make a profound shift. It culminates - not in an escape from this world to some distant heaven, but in a radical promise for this very Earth.

Remember this powerful vision we heard from John, near the end of this book? “Then I saw 'a new heaven and a new earth'... I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God... And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.' 

And then from God’s throne, this declaration: 'See, I am making everything new!' 

This is a vision of the renewal of the world, where God's just and loving presence descends to be fully among us, to transform our realities. 

May we be brave enough to unveil the hidden injustices, to confront the abuse of power, and to join God in the magnificent work of making all things truly new – for every person, for the entire community, locally and globally, right here on Earth. Amen.

Old & New: Revelation - God's Persistent Promise (Week 1 - Revealing God's Faithfulness)

Siblings in Christ and fellow travelers on this journey of faith, today we are embarking on an exploration of one of the most misunderstood and often feared books of the Bible - the book of Revelation. I must confess that I have never read this book in its entirety. I’ve read bits and pieces of it, especially around All Saints Sunday. But, never the entire book. Are any of you like me?

When we hear “Revelation,” many of us conjure up images of fire and brimstone, cataclysmic events, or even that it’s some complex code to be deciphered. But, what if I told you that Revelation, according to its author, John of Patmos, is not really about unlocking secrets? Or predicting a terrifying future? What if it is, in fact, a letter of hope? A prophecy of faithfulness? An apocalypse (We’ll learn about that word in just a moment.) - an apocalypse that reveals God’s persistent love in the midst of challenging circumstances?

To accompany us in this exploration, it’s important that we read scripture. But, it’s also important that we carry with us a few guidebooks. I don’t know about you, but when I embark on a new travel adventure, I have a guidebook in hand. Usually one from Rick Steves. So, as we dig into Revelation, we’ll be using three commentaries, because it is important to understand how Revelation has historically been understood in the church. 

Two are specific to Revelation - one by Matthew Ian Fleming, a young theologian and graduate of Luther Seminary. A second is by Craig Koester, a long-time New Testament professor, also at Luther.  The third is a book on apocalyptic texts, jointly written by a former colleague of mine in Kentucky, Leah Schade, and her colleague at Lexington Theological Seminary, Jerry Sumney. Scripture and these three guides will accompany our journey through Revelation.

We begin our reading at the beginning, in chapter 1. 

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place; he made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of the prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it; for the time is near. John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne. --Rev. 1:1-4 (NRSVue)

The very first word, revelation, comes from the Greek word apokalupsis. It’s where we get the English word, apocalypse. When you think of apocalypse, what comes to mind? What are a few words or images that come to mind? What informs your understanding? In the Greek, apokalupsis means to unveil. Or to uncover. It’s about revealing what has always been around us, but perhaps gone unnoticed. Not about some hidden knowledge for an elite few. But a message intended for “his servants” - the text tells us. For all of us.

Many of our ideas about Revelation come to us from non-Biblical sources. Like John Milton’s Paradise Lost, Dante’s Inferno. Or in our own day, The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown or the entire Left Behind series. These sources often treat Revelation as a code to be cracked. To unlock secrets, wealth, or some kind of historical meaning. 

But, at the beginning of the letter, it’s author John of Patmos tells us it is a letter. A prophecy. An apocalypse.

For many of us, our early experiences with theological concepts like “hell” were shaped by vivid images - images intended to instill in us a sense of fear. “Don’t do that, or you’re going to hell!” I can’t tell you how many times I said that to my brother growing up. Any of you have a similar experience? Were you taught about hell and the devil? Or maybe you grew up with a preacher - what we call a “hell and damnation” preacher? Did it intrigue you, scare you, keep you up at night, or motivate you to do right? 

These first impressions, innocent as they may be, often highlight an underlying assumption - a fear - about eternal punishment. It’s no wonder then that we often associate the book of Revelation with fear, terror, and a desire to scare people into good behavior. 

But a deeper reading of Revelation reveals something far different. It reveals God’s persistent promise through terror, and a revelation of the world’s beauty, awe, wonder, terror, oppression, and fear. God’s voice in Revelation is one of open doors. Of welcome for all. And of a promise to sustain creation. To truly unlock this vision of John, perhaps we can turn to the Psalms. Specifically, Psalm 139: 

7 Where can I go from your spirit?

Or where can I flee from your presence?

8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there;

if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.

9 If I take the wings of the morning

and settle at the farthest limits of the sea,

10 even there your hand shall lead me,

and your right hand shall hold me fast.

This psalm helps us understand the promise of Revelation - that God is present even in the midst of frightening and terrifying visions. It reminds us that God is always with us, even when we don’t see or hear it. Even when we don’t feel it.

Revelation is also a prophecy. We’ve talked about what prophecy means - not a prediction of the future, but a call to God’s people to return to faithfulness. In the Hebrew scriptures, prophets confront existing powers. They paint a vision of a new and different future. They call people back to God’s love and relationship. Think about apocalypic literature in our modern world - The Hunger Games or Mad Max: Fury Road, if you’ve seen them. These stories, while they are fiction, reveal truths about our present moment - about politics, about communities, or about a lack of care for creation. In the same Revelation reveals our priorities, the brokenness in our systems, the world, and in ourselves. It begins with our own self-reflection. Our own awareness of the things that distract us. Our own blind spots.

Think back to the killing of George Floyd. Think back to it before it became so deeply politicized. As, during the pandemic, we watched the recording over and over. Hearing him cry out for his mother. I’ve had many friends who are people of color. They often mentioned “driving while black” or “driving while brown.” I heard them talk about it. But, it wasn’t until I saw that movie and heard him cry out for his mother, that I began to understand my own blind spots on this issue. And, for the first time, really heard what my friends had been saying. 

Our own context - our own experiences - influence what we hear from stories, from scripture, from this book. As we read it, it will be important for us to consider our own backgrounds and perspectives. Learning about the context in which it was written - the Roman Empire and the persecution of the early church - this will help us understand how the text speaks to our moment. It will help to reveal the challenges of our world, but, ultimately, the promise of God’s sustaining love, healing, and preservation of all creation.

Jesus says, I am the Alpha and the Omega - the beginning and the end. This tells us that all is held in God’s arms - not as some predetermined plan - but as God preserving us with love and lifting up all of creation. It is a love that preserves us through difficulties, that brings us together, and that sustains all that God has created. Revelation will reveal ways that we’ve participated in brokenness, too. Yet, it will also unveil how we can be formed into a people who love all of God’s creation. 

Think back to a time when you felt lost or scared. A time you felt far from home. When you look back now in hindsight, can you sense God’s presence and promise? Revelation is not mean to scare us into submission, but to awaken us to the profound and persistent presence of God’s love. It’s a call to faithfulness. Ultimately, it is a revealing of God’s unwavering commitment to us and to all of creation. And a reminder that even in the depths of Sheol, God is there. Guiding us. Holding us fast. Forever. Amen.