Revelation: A Guide for Hopeful Living Today
Summary
### Summary
Today, we embarked on a journey to rediscover the book of Revelation, often misunderstood as a cryptic roadmap to future events. Many treat it like an escape room, filled with secret codes and mysteries to unlock. However, Revelation is not meant for speculative predictions but as a guide for living as followers of Jesus in the present. This book, written by John during his exile on Patmos, was intended to provide encouragement and guidance to early Christians living under the oppressive Roman Empire. John was a dissident, a person of hope who envisioned a better world and began to embody that vision, calling others to do the same.
Revelation was written for dissidents, not for speculation. It calls us to stand against the corrupting influences of our time, just as John called out the creeping influence of Rome in the early churches. The book is filled with vivid, imaginative imagery that requires us to engage our imagination to understand its deeper meanings. This imaginative approach helps us see beyond our immediate reality and grasp a more profound, divine reality.
The book of Revelation has inspired countless individuals throughout history to stand against injustice, oppression, and exploitation. It serves as a guidebook for living differently in a world that often seems unchangeable. By engaging our imagination, we can see and live out God's plan for a better world, embodying hope and transformation in our daily lives.
### Key Takeaways
1. Revelation as a Guide for the Present: Revelation is not a cryptic roadmap for future events but a guide for living as followers of Jesus in the present. It provides timely and insightful guidelines on how to navigate the complexities of our world today, encouraging us to live out our faith in practical ways. [35:33]
2. The Role of Dissidents: John, the author of Revelation, was a dissident who envisioned a better world and began to embody that vision. He called others to join him in standing against the corrupting influences of their time. This call to be dissidents is still relevant today, urging us to stand against injustice, oppression, and exploitation. [46:48]
3. Imagination in Understanding Revelation: The vivid imagery in Revelation requires us to engage our imagination to grasp its deeper meanings. This imaginative approach helps us see beyond our immediate reality and understand a more profound, divine reality. Imagination is crucial for understanding and living out the teachings of Revelation. [52:40]
4. Revelation as a Source of Hope: Throughout history, Revelation has inspired countless individuals to stand against injustice and oppression. It serves as a source of hope and encouragement, reminding us that a better world is possible and that we can play a role in bringing it about. [57:29]
5. Living Out God's Vision: Revelation challenges us to envision and embody God's plan for a better world. It calls us to live differently, to be people of hope who see a different reality and begin to embody that now. This transformative vision can guide us in our daily lives, helping us to live out our faith in meaningful ways. [59:43]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[31:29] - Introduction to Escape Rooms
[32:20] - Revelation: A Misunderstood Book
[33:12] - Reading Revelation
[34:51] - The Story We've Been Told
[35:33] - Revelation for the Present
[36:14] - Characters and Stories in Revelation
[36:55] - Revelation's Practical Insights
[37:38] - Speculative Reading of Revelation
[38:12] - Consequences of Speculation
[39:14] - Side Effects of Speculation
[40:52] - Escapism and Revelation
[41:27] - Living in the Present
[42:02] - John's Vision on Patmos
[43:10] - The Geography of Patmos
[44:26] - John as a Dissident
[45:19] - Revelation for Dissidents
[46:48] - Definition of a Dissident
[47:23] - Biblical and Historical Dissidents
[48:47] - John's Critique of Rome and the Church
[50:14] - Imaginative Imagery in Revelation
[52:40] - The Role of Imagination
[55:44] - Imagination and Reality
[57:29] - Revelation as a Source of Hope
[59:43] - Revelation as a Handbook for Dissidents
[01:01:19] - Following Jesus in the Present
[01:01:49] - Closing Prayer
[01:02:52] - Announcements and Opportunities
[01:08:17] - Final Prayer and Dismissal
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Revelation 1:1-3
2. Revelation 1:9-11
3. Revelation 1:12-20
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Revelation 1:1-3 say about the purpose of the book of Revelation?
2. According to Revelation 1:9-11, why was John on the island of Patmos, and what was he instructed to do?
3. Describe the imagery John uses in Revelation 1:12-20. What are some of the key symbols he mentions?
4. How does the sermon describe the common misunderstanding of the book of Revelation? [32:20]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does it mean that Revelation is a guide for living as followers of Jesus in the present rather than a cryptic roadmap for the future? [35:33]
2. How does the role of dissidents, as described in the sermon, apply to the early Christians and to us today? [46:48]
3. Why is imagination important in understanding the book of Revelation, according to the sermon? [52:40]
4. How has the book of Revelation historically inspired individuals to stand against injustice and oppression? [57:29]
#### Application Questions
1. Revelation challenges us to live differently in the present. What are some practical ways you can live out your faith in your daily life? [35:33]
2. John was a dissident who envisioned a better world and began to embody that vision. How can you embody hope and stand against the corrupting influences of our time? [46:48]
3. The sermon emphasizes the importance of imagination in understanding Revelation. How can you engage your imagination to see and live out God's plan for a better world? [52:40]
4. Revelation has been a source of hope for many throughout history. How can you draw hope from this book in your current circumstances? [57:29]
5. The sermon calls us to envision and embody God's plan for a better world. What specific steps can you take this week to begin embodying this transformative vision in your community? [59:43]
6. Reflect on a time when you felt overwhelmed by the injustices and corruption in the world. How can the teachings of Revelation help you find hope and motivation to make a difference? [58:31]
7. How can you encourage others in your small group or community to live as dissidents, standing against injustice and embodying hope? [46:48]
Devotional
### Day 1: Revelation as a Present Guide
Revelation is not a cryptic roadmap for future events but a guide for living as followers of Jesus in the present. It provides timely and insightful guidelines on how to navigate the complexities of our world today, encouraging us to live out our faith in practical ways. The book of Revelation was written by John during his exile on Patmos to provide encouragement and guidance to early Christians living under the oppressive Roman Empire. John envisioned a better world and began to embody that vision, calling others to do the same.
Revelation calls us to stand against the corrupting influences of our time, just as John called out the creeping influence of Rome in the early churches. By engaging with the vivid, imaginative imagery in Revelation, we can see beyond our immediate reality and grasp a more profound, divine reality. This imaginative approach helps us understand how to live out God's plan for a better world in our daily lives. [35:33]
Bible Passage: "But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." (Matthew 24:13-14, ESV)
Reflection: How can you apply the teachings of Revelation to stand against the corrupting influences in your life today?
### Day 2: The Role of Dissidents
John, the author of Revelation, was a dissident who envisioned a better world and began to embody that vision. He called others to join him in standing against the corrupting influences of their time. This call to be dissidents is still relevant today, urging us to stand against injustice, oppression, and exploitation. John’s vision on Patmos was not just a critique of the Roman Empire but a call to action for all believers to live out their faith courageously.
Being a dissident means envisioning a better world and taking steps to bring that vision to life. It involves standing up against the injustices and corruptions of our time, just as John did. This role is not just for the past but is a continuous call for all believers to embody hope and transformation in their daily lives. [46:48]
Bible Passage: "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you act as a dissident in your community to stand against injustice and corruption?
### Day 3: Imagination in Understanding Revelation
The vivid imagery in Revelation requires us to engage our imagination to grasp its deeper meanings. This imaginative approach helps us see beyond our immediate reality and understand a more profound, divine reality. Imagination is crucial for understanding and living out the teachings of Revelation. By using our imagination, we can see and live out God's plan for a better world, embodying hope and transformation in our daily lives.
Engaging our imagination allows us to see the world through a divine lens, helping us to understand the deeper spiritual truths conveyed in Revelation. This imaginative approach is not just about interpreting the text but about transforming our perspective and actions to align with God's vision for the world. [52:40]
Bible Passage: "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen." (Ephesians 3:20-21, ESV)
Reflection: How can you use your imagination to see and live out God's plan for a better world today?
### Day 4: Revelation as a Source of Hope
Throughout history, Revelation has inspired countless individuals to stand against injustice and oppression. It serves as a source of hope and encouragement, reminding us that a better world is possible and that we can play a role in bringing it about. The book of Revelation provides a vision of a world transformed by God's justice and love, encouraging believers to live out this vision in their daily lives.
Revelation's message of hope is not just for the future but for the present. It calls us to embody the hope and transformation that God envisions for the world. By living out this hope, we can inspire others and contribute to the creation of a more just and loving world. [57:29]
Bible Passage: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11, ESV)
Reflection: How can you embody the hope and transformation that Revelation calls for in your daily life?
### Day 5: Living Out God's Vision
Revelation challenges us to envision and embody God's plan for a better world. It calls us to live differently, to be people of hope who see a different reality and begin to embody that now. This transformative vision can guide us in our daily lives, helping us to live out our faith in meaningful ways. By embracing this vision, we can become agents of change in our communities and the world.
Living out God's vision involves practical steps and actions that reflect the hope and transformation described in Revelation. It means being proactive in creating a better world, inspired by the divine reality that Revelation reveals. [59:43]
Bible Passage: "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith." (Galatians 6:9-10, ESV)
Reflection: What practical steps can you take today to live out God's vision for a better world?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Escape rooms are this curious thing going on, a fad that's been going on for several years in our country where you and a group of your friends get locked in a room. I know the claustrophobic people are like, not me, it's not going to happen. You get locked in a room, and you have to figure out how to get out. There are clues and mysteries and keys and kind of mysterious, bizarre connections that you have to make. And if you can get them all right before the time runs out, then the door swings open and you win, right?" [31:29]
2. "The story that many of us have been told is that this odd, bizarro book is intended to give us the inside scoop on the events that have not yet happened, but soon will. That's the story that many of us have been told, which, by the way, has led many of us to believe and many people to say, you know what? I'm not buying it. I'm just avoiding that. I don't know what to make out of that book. And when I read the Bible, that's one of the ones I just skip over." [34:51]
3. "What if this book was not given to help us predict the future? But what if it was given instead to help us know how to live in the present, in 2024? I believe that it was. I believe that's the way it is. I believe that's part of what we've been missing. The story that we've been missing. And so we want to explore that." [41:27]
4. "A dissident is a person of hope who imagines a better future world and then begins to embody that world. A dissident is someone who sees a better reality, a better world, and begins to live that out. And they're saying, you know what? In the midst of what I am, there's a better way to live, and I'm going to proclaim that with my words. With my words and with my actions." [47:23]
5. "Imagination is at the core of how we engage with the world around us. And imagination is required for us to understand this revelation that John has written. One author puts it this way. Imagination does to revelation what music does to words. Think about that for a moment. Think about how music takes words and it gives them a whole new way of you understanding them." [55:44]
### Quotes for Members
1. "But there's the story that we've been told, and then there's the story that we've been missing. And I want to explore the story that we've been missing. Today, we're launching, on a journey of discovery of the story we've been missing. Because I believe this odd little book actually has not only been seriously misunderstood by many of us, but we've missed out on some of the most helpful and timely and insightful guidelines on how to live as followers of Jesus now in 2024." [35:33]
2. "Revelation was not written for speculation. It was written for dissidence. One of the most reliable and interesting, insightful resources that I've come across about this book is a book called Revelation for the Rest of Us. I have a copy of it up here. And if you are interested in finding a little bit more about it, you can just text the word resources to that number. And there's a link there on that webpage that will take you, if you have an interest and you want to find out a little bit more, fascinating." [46:10]
3. "John was speaking out against Rome. But he was also speaking out against the creeping influence of Rome in the churches of Jesus Christ. He lists seven churches and he calls each of them to account for ways in which they are not. In which they have also begun to absorb the culture around them that was in conflict with the call of following Jesus. He was calling them to be dissidents in the midst of their own people. Come to think of it, those same powers of corruption and exploitation and injustice that John saw in the Roman Empire and that he saw creeping into us, those same powers are still present." [48:47]
4. "John saw a vision and he tried to capture what he saw in words that he could put on paper. John was using the lexicon, the vocabulary that he was familiar with as someone steeped in the Jewish tradition and all of the prophecies in the Old Testament. These were the images that he was pulling from to try and put words to what he was seeing. He saw something in his vision that had not been seen previously. A vision of God's plan for his creation." [52:40]
5. "The story we've been told is that Revelation is for speculation. But the story we've been missing is that Revelation is a handbook for dissidents living in this world. It's intended to inform Jesus' thoughts. His followers. His church. And how to discern this world. How to discern the corruption and the injustice, whether they're in the church or whether they're in the world. And how to embody a different kind of world." [59:43]
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