Today’s author is Interim Pastor Walter Still.
The study of the Book of Revelation has been quite an adventure! From our opening discussion about the abuse of the book of some theories based upon a puzzle of Biblical quotations, we have delved into the prophecy of John of Patmos by reading Revelation with helpful tools developed by Dr Criag Koester at Luther Seminary. We have moved beyond our fears of digging into this Book to gain a fascination with John’s writing. We have learned that the book is not a secret code predicting the future but deals with seven congregations, some wondering how to interact with neighbors, some complacent and others who have faced persecution. John uses some key stories from the Hebrew Scriptures—the plagues, the Exodus, the Babylonian Captivity, the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, and parts of Ezekiel and Daniel—to connect his readers with the history of salvation that surrounds all in the battle with evil as the kingdom of God.
In many ways I see the placement of Genesis (ancient tribal stories remembered in writing for future generations during the Babylonian Captivity of the 6th century BCE) as the first book of the holy library—”the Bible”—and Revelation (gathered with other stories of Jesus and the Church in the fourth century CE) as the final book as significant. With the beginning of God’s work in Genesis Revelation offers the perspective that Christ and the faithful continue to battle evil through the power of the cross and resurrection, the Alpha and the Omega. Our ministry and mission in Jesus’ name continue the story of God’s work as a celebration of the great stories of scripture and God’s ongoing gift of grace in our world today. The Book of Revelation offers an invitation to the grace and love of Jesus for our hurting world.
It was a joy to sing the refrain form the “Canticle of the Turning” before the reading from Revelation:
My heart shall sing of the day you bring, Let the first of your justice burn. Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near, and the world is about to turn. (ELW, Hymn 723)
Let us pray for God’s Word as the world is changed through our brave witness to the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ!
Pr Walter