revelation of Jesus, pt 1

(or An Introduction to why Revelation is more about Jesus than it is about Obama, McCain, the pope, Russia, Iran, helicopters, credit cards, or Kirk Cameron)

I have had a number of questions about the book of Revelation recently. I think that this can largely be attributed to the election craze and the throwing around of words and phrases like “signs of the times,” “he might be the antichrist,” and “the end of the age.”

As a result, I thought it would be an appropriate time to look at the book of Revelation. It would seem that there are a lot of questions about this book. Admittedly, I stayed away from it for a time. A professor I had last year, Thomas Schreiner, opened the book up to me and helped me realize that Revelation is meant to encourage and grow me in the Lord in the same way that the rest of the Scriptures are meant to give us hope. From him I learned that Revelation is much more mainstream and normal than it is generally perceived to be. It is not eccentric and outside of mainstream Christian theology as it is often treated. It is not astrology, it’s theology. This is a lesson that was in large part learned through reading Schreiner’s New Testament Theology.

There are various approaches to interpreting the book of Revelation. It is not my intention to discuss the different views. Rather, I am going to attempt to primarily emphasize aspects that we can all agree upon. After all, the book was written to be useful and meaningful (Revelation 1:3). It is my sincere hope that at this series of posts will motivate my friends and family to dig into the Word.

Inevitably, my view of interpretation will come out at points. When that happens I will try to note it.

***For those who wonder, I tend to see recapitulationism (also called iterism or idealism) as doing the most justice to the Book of Revelation. Don't worry Brent, I still hold to Newtonism... Recommended reading: Augustine’s On Christian Doctrine, Book III and Dennis E. Johnson’s Triumph of the Lamb.