Alright, folks, buckle up—we’re kicking off a new series called Revelation Monday, where we’re diving into the wild, weird, and wonderful book of Revelation. Starting this Monday, August 11, 2025, I’ll be breaking down this book week by week, drawing on what I learned from Dr. Andy Johnson during my Master of Arts in Theological Studies at Nazarene Theological Seminary. Dr. Johnson’s a heavy hitter—author of books like Holiness and Ecclesiology in the New Testament, 1 and 2 Thessalonians in the Two Horizons Commentary, Holiness and the Missio Dei, and Cruciform Scripture (Johnson et al. 2021; Johnson 2017). He’s the Willard H. Taylor – Roger L. Hahn Chair in Biblical Theology, and I’m lucky to still ping him with questions five years after leaving his classroom. This series will lean on his wisdom, plus insights from scholars like David DeSilva and Richard Bauckham, to clear up the mess people make of Revelation. No academic jargon here—just straight talk to help you see this book’s hope, not fear. Let’s dig into what Revelation is, how its symbols work, and why it’s not the doomsday puzzle you might think.
What Kind of Book Is Revelation?
First things first: Revelation isn’t a sci-fi thriller or a secret code for the end times. Its Greek title, Apokalypsis of John (Revelation 1:1, ESV), doesn’t mean “end of the world.” It means “unveiling” or “revealing” of hidden spiritual truths (BDAG 2000, s.v. “ἀποκάλυψις”). Think of it like pulling back the curtain on what’s happening in the spiritual realm, not a literal play-by-play of future events. Revelation 1:1 (ESV) sets the stage: “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place.” It’s about showing God’s victory through Jesus, not scaring us with monsters.
Revelation is apocalyptic literature, full of symbols and allegories (sēmeion, signs; BDAG 2000, s.v. “σημεῖον”). These made perfect sense to its first-century Christian readers but can leave us scratching our heads. Popular books like The Late Great Planet Earth or Are We Living in the End Times? miss the mark by trying to tie Revelation’s symbols to today’s headlines—barcodes, microchips, you name it. That approach, called correlationism, obsesses over human history instead of the book’s spiritual message. Revelation’s not a crystal ball; it’s a call to faithfulness in a world that tempts us to compromise.
How Symbols Work in Revelation
You can’t read Revelation literally—it’s not that kind of book. Take Revelation 5:5–6 (ESV):
“Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah… has conquered… And I saw… a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain.”
Lion and Lamb? Both are Jesus, not literal animals. The Lion symbolizes His power (Judah’s king, Genesis 49:10); the Lamb, His sacrifice (John 1:29). These images spoke loud and clear to early Christians facing persecution. Think of it like Darth Vader’s black mask and cape—without watching Star Wars, you still get “evil” from his vibe. Fun fact: his look was inspired by Nazi SS uniforms, layering on more symbolic weight (Lucas 1977). Revelation’s symbols—beasts, horns, numbers—worked the same way for its original audience, pointing to spiritual realities, not literal monsters or microchips.
Trying to read Revelation as a literal checklist leads to bad theology. For example, people obsess over “666” (Revelation 13:18) as a barcode or chip, but it likely pointed to Nero Caesar, a first-century tyrant (Bauckham 2010, 132–34). The “mark of the beast” wasn’t a tattoo—it was about loyalty to Rome’s pagan system over God. Revelation’s imagery calls us to resist worldly pressures, not hunt for secret codes.
Understanding the Original Audience
Revelation’s symbols hit home for its first-century readers, living under Rome’s thumb. Back then, emperors like Domitian demanded worship as gods, and everyday life—trade, guilds, festivals—was tied to pagan rituals. Christians who said “no” faced harassment, job loss, even death (DeSilva 2018, 65–67). The book’s beasts and dragons symbolized Rome’s oppressive empire, not some far-off apocalypse. It urged believers to stay faithful, no matter the cost.
Think of it like regional slang. In West Virginia, where I’m from, we’ve got sayings that make sense to us but might confuse an outsider. Same with Pittsburgh’s “Yinzer” dialect—call a soda “pop” there, and you’re golden. Revelation’s symbols were crystal-clear to its audience, like saying “Father, I cannot tell a lie” to an American who gets the George Washington cherry tree vibe (Ewert and Hatton 2012, 23). Misreading Revelation through modern eyes—like assuming it’s about 2025 politics—misses the point. As Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes notes, our cultural lens can blind us to the Bible’s original meaning. We’ve got to see it through first-century eyes.
Common Mistakes When Reading Revelation
Here’s a rundown of traps to avoid when tackling Revelation. These come straight from Dr. Johnson’s teaching, and I’m keeping the chart exactly as I planned it:
| Mistake | How to Avoid It |
|---|---|
| Ignoring the apocalyptic nature of the book | Understand Revelation’s function as unveiling hidden spiritual realities |
| Treating Revelation as a modern text | Interpret it as a message to first-century believers |
| Looking for direct, literal fulfillment | Avoid matching symbols to current events arbitrarily |
| Trying to solve Revelation like a puzzle | Read it in context and focus on the bigger picture |
| Focusing on unknowable details | Concentrate on the main themes instead |
| Ignoring broader Christian teachings | Use sound theological guidance |
These mistakes lead to fear-mongering and bad theology. For example, obsessing over the “thousand years” in Revelation 20:4 (ESV) as a literal timeline fuels endless millennialism debates. It’s a symbol of peace, not a calendar date (Bauckham 2010, 105). Revelation’s about hope—Christ’s victory—not a puzzle to solve.
Revelation’s Call: Faithfulness, Not Fear
Revelation isn’t about scaring you into stocking a bunker. It’s about inspiring faithfulness in a world that pushes compromise. First-century Christians faced pressure to join Rome’s pagan system—think trade guilds requiring idol worship or emperor worship to buy and sell (Revelation 13:16–17). Saying “no” meant losing everything. Yet Revelation 14:12 (ESV) cheers those who “keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.” That’s the vibe: stand firm, trust God, even when it’s tough.
The book’s not about “the antichrist” either. Pop culture loves that term, but Revelation never uses it. The “beast” points to systems like Rome, not a single boogeyman (DeSilva 2018, 72). The focus is Jesus—His charis (grace) and victory (BDAG 2000, s.v. “χάρις”). Revelation 1:5 (ESV) calls Him “the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.” That’s the heart of the book, not some end-times horror show.
Non-Linear, Cosmic Story
Revelation’s not a straight-line story. When John says, “and then I saw,” he’s not giving a chronological to-do list. It’s more like a kaleidoscope—different visions of the same spiritual battle, layered and overlapping (Johnson 2017, 45). The seals, trumpets, and bowls (Revelation 6–16) show God’s judgment and victory from multiple angles, not a step-by-step timeline. It’s a cosmic clash—good vs. evil, God vs. empire—urging believers to choose Jesus over the world’s idols.
Closing Thoughts for This Week
As we start Revelation Monday, keep these in mind:
- Don’t Build Theology on One Verse: The “thousand years” (Revelation 20:4) is a symbol, not a literal clock. Let scripture interpret scripture (2 Timothy 3:16–17, ESV).
- No Fear, Just Hope: Revelation’s intense imagery points to Christ’s victory, not despair. It’s meant to spark joy and courage (Revelation 21:4, ESV: “He will wipe away every tear”).
- Focus on Jesus, Not Villains: The book centers on Christ’s triumph, not an antichrist. His charis saves us, no matter the world’s pressures (Ephesians 2:8, ESV).
Next Monday, August 18, 2025, we’ll dig into Revelation’s literary styles—apocalyptic, prophetic, epistolary—and unpack more symbols. It might take a couple posts before we hit the text verse-by-verse, but we’re building a foundation to get it right. Stay tuned, and let’s see Revelation for what it is: a call to hope, not fear.
Bibliography
Bauer, Walter, Frederick W. Danker, William F. Arndt, and F. Wilbur Gingrich. 2000. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. 3rd ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Bauckham, Richard. 2010. Reading Revelation Responsibly: Uncivil Worship and Witness. Eugene, OR: Cascade Books.
DeSilva, David A. 2018. Unholy Allegiances: Heeding Revelation’s Warning. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers.
Ewert, David, and Brandon J. Hatton. 2012. Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes: Removing Cultural Blinders to Better Understand the Bible. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
Johnson, Andy. 2017. Holiness and the Missio Dei. Eugene, OR: Cascade Books.
Johnson, Andy, Kent Brower, Christopher W. Skinner, Nijay K. Gupta, and Drew J. Strait. 2021. Cruciform Scripture: Cross, Participation, and Mission. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
Lucas, George. 1977. Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. Directed by George Lucas. Los Angeles: Lucasfilm.
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