You might have heard that the world will end…tomorrow. October 21st is the second date that has been predicted by groups that like to do so for the return of Christ/end of the world, etc. Unfortunately the first 
prediction of May 21 didn’t seem to help much on the credibility front. Scripture does speak of Christ’s return and final judgment when all will be put right and every tear will be wiped away. It also speaks of not knowing the hour, so for all I know October 21 could be that day.
I’m actually more concerned about something else – Revelation being taken away from the majority of Christians. Of course I don’t mean actually taken away – we can all read it whenever we want- but taken away in the sense that it doesn’t have anything to say to us. It’s the book of Hollywood horror and post apocalyptic action flicks. It’s the book of never fulfilled predictions that the world is going to end tomorrow…maybe… in a spiritual way that no one will ever be able to see.
Closer to my heart still are the deduced implications for following Jesus. Recent news affirms the long history of sincere yet tragic response of those who have sought to be faithful the message of Revelation – they quit their jobs to spread the message of coming wrath and gave away their savings for the sake of the mission. It’s always a minority to be sure yet sadly illustrative of a wider disengagement either from what the book actually has to say about following Jesus or misinterpretation that leads to disengagement of society. In both cases – discipleship stunted.
This week Ron Herms helped unpack was is for sure a daunting chapter in part because it’s packed with so much OT imagery. At the end of the day it’s about the witness of God’s people the church in the world, which is really about the church’s mission in the world which is about giving evidence to the world that Jesus is Lord, the Kingdom is at hand and his love is the truest thing we can know.
Ron broke all that was packed into chapter 11 into 4 basic things that we are told about our calling as followers of Jesus as it relates to witness:
1. It’s about representing God
2. It’s always effective
3. We will at times suffer hostility
4. The message of the gospel will be vindicated.
Witness isn’t something for someone else to do, it’s something for all of us because there isn’t a single corner of the world where God’s message of restoration isn’t needed.
My prayer is that Revelation becomes your book because what ever anyone else does with it – it’s calling you and I to being people who fearlessly walk in hope.
Peace :: Jon
