Transition to Revelation

A new series on the final book of the Bible

Dear readers: The world events of the past few weeks have made me even more determined to shift the focus of my Substack to the Book of Revelation.

The past months on the Sermon on the Mount have been eye-opening for me personally as I have faced the astounding words of Jesus once more. Putting them in writing has been a challenge and a treat.

And to you who have faithfully tracked my thoughts about the Sermon, I am very grateful that you have given attention to my words (and to you who have a paid subscription I hope I have met your expectations).

My desire is to continue with solid and maybe even inspiring biblical interpretation that doesn’t follow the status quo, but does treat the Bible as the inspired Word of God. Thank you again.

In Plain Sight is a subscriber supported publication. If you appreciate the content and insights of this Substack, please consider a paid subscription. Subscribers receive additional material at the end of most posts with more subscriber only material to come.

The Book of Revelation

So today I turn to the final book of the New Testament and the Bible, the book of Revelation (aka the Apocalypse). 

Revelation (no “s” on the end!) is a book that scares many, is misunderstood by many—maybe most—and perhaps the book most in need of understanding in our day.

John was not only a prophet, but an author under divine inspiration who saw the world for what is, was, and always will be until the return of Jesus Christ.

I have been a student of Revelation for over three decades now, and I’ve been affected by interpretations of Revelation for fifty years.

When I was a teen in the early 70’s, the Revelation-based movie “A Thief in the Night” came out about the rapture. I think it was meant to scare the crap out of teenagers and get them to make a commitment to Jesus. I had already done so, but the movie scared the crap out of me anyway. 

The question now is, was the message in that movie true? Was that movie and the ones to follow, and the Left Behind movies after that, an accurate or even resembling an accurate interpretation of Revelation.

I would answer, “No.”

Since the 80s I have studied Revelation and also observed the over-hyped sensationalism of the “Left Behind” books and movies and so much other fear-mongering about the end of the world.

For some reason, what the end-times preachers were saying just didn’t make sense to me and nothing they said ever came true like they said.

It took me years to figure out why, but I think I’ve gotten it.

I am not the only one that gets it, but I am writing so you will get it.

I absolutely acknowledge the fact that Revelation is one of the most debated books in the Bible. Sincere interpreters come to different views based on different contexts and presuppositions. I certainly have my own and I prayerfully give it my best shot.

So here goes …

In the days and months ahead you will discover that my view is far from the popular premillennial, pre-tribulation rapture approach to Revelation. 

If anything, the events of the current day would suggest that we are already in tribulation, and forces of evil continue to make martyrs of Christians (and others). 

The book of Revelation is about now, not the future, and that has been the case since it was written. 

Revelation is about the future too, but as it relates to final judgment and salvation. 

The bulk of Revelation is about the world we live in, Satan’s role in the world, the collapse of evil upon itself, God’s sovereign view of the world, Christ’s victorious work on the cross to redeem his own from the world, and about the necessity of Christians to remain patient and trusting even to death.

For those who would study and listen deeply, John’s visions in Revelation give the follower of Jesus absolute hope in God’s gracious work—there is no need for fear, even though none of us are spared from tribulation and suffering. 

Our only task is to respond to whatever tribulation that comes with firm faith, trust, and resolve that God has our back. 

Evil will be annihilated.

God’s sealed saints will persevere and enter the new heavens and new earth.

Welcome to the series, The Book of Revelation.

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A word about free and paid subscriptions.

If you have found In Plain Sight to be insightful and useful to you, please consider upgrading to a paid subscription. As a self-employed individual, I depend on every penny that comes in from my various writing, teaching and woodworking gigs, including income from this Substack. And again, thank you to you who have done so.

As with the Sermon on the Mount, much of what I publish here on Revelation will be available for all—I want as many people as possible to understand Revelation. 

But for paid subscribers I will not only continue with substantive comments on the Greek text of Revelation, but add more information on various approaches to Revelation, for instance, millennial views or views on the rapture. I also plan to give background material on apocalyptic literature and other New Testament text that speak to the same ideas as Revelation. Some of these will come in separate posts.

As to frequency, for months I have largely followed a once a week schedule. I hope to get out posts more frequently, but at least once a week apart from unforeseen circumstances.

Finally, there are some passages in the Sermon on the Mount that I still want to address from Matthew 6 and 7—the Lord’s Prayer for instance (which relates to Revelation in some amazing ways). I’ll occasionally intersperse those with Revelation (and maybe other random posts, especially travel).

As always, please feel free to comment on any post. I love to debate too!