Revelation 1-7
After the dramatization of the readings, I had been anxiously awaiting Revelation. After hearing Voldemort (as Savannah described the tempter in Matthew) I just knew that this book would be just full!
And so far I have not been disappointed! It has various voices, a new soundtrack, even new songs! It is like listening to a Broadway show!
Which may very well be the intent of the entire book. I have always been leery of those who see in this book a roadmap to the future, finding in every character, every lamp stand, every angel a "Ghost of Churches to Come." I remember James Blevins, one of my profs in seminary, suggesting that Revelation should be read as a Greek play to be staged. Always felt he was right, but hearing it read convinced me of it!
That is not to say that there are not words that we need to hear. This was obviously meant for people under persecution and meant as both warning and comfort. Perhaps that is why the angel of the churches keeps saying, "I have seen your works, but..." The warnings are something that we need to hear today--items like loosing the love and passion of our beginning; causing people to stumble; sexual immorality (there really was a lot of that going on in the early church!) living off their reputation.
The warning that hit me the hardest is the warning to the church at Laodicea. 16"I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of my mouth. " I must confess that I think of these verses every time I hear that we are "moderate Baptists." GAG! Isn't that like saying we are neither hot nor cold? Can't we find another word--progressive, intellectual, compassionate, even 'Spirit-fired and salvation intent Baptists?" I would be fine with flaming liberal Baptists, but that starts to sound like an oxymoron these days!
Letting go of the past, letting go of the literal hearing of this book really does open up possibilities! I might just make it through it after all!
1 comment:
Um, it may be like a really bad Broadway musical, Don! I found the theatricality (especially the musical numbers) over the top and distracting at times. I get that Revelation is a big, mysterious book and a lot of people have interpreted it in some crazy ways. This particular interpretation just didn't work for me. That has bothered me about some other passages we've heard as well, how the producers of the CD imposed their own interpretation by the music they chose or the kind of actor they had play a certain part, etc. But then again, we all do the same thing when we read, I suppose. Our own preconceived interpretations get in the way.
I can certainly see how a lot of these words would provide comfort to churches under persecution. And I wonder if part of the violent imagery of Revelation isn't something similar to the vengeance psalms about bashing the heads of their enemies children against rocks and such. It was a way for them to cope, like we would use much harsher language than normal because we "just need to vent."
Another thing that stands out to me, and hits close to home, is the image of Jesus in all his power and glory. Lest I forget and think of him as my "buddy," Revelation is a reminder of just how awe-inspiring the resurrected Christ is. Of course I can't really even imagine what he's like. But it's a safe bet that if I met him like this, my first response wouldn't be to go give him a hug, but to fall to my knees in worship.
Post a Comment