A "Lutheran" Perspective on the Biblical Book of Revelation

A friend asked me what "we Lutherans" teach about the book of Revelation.  I have taught a course on this important book and there are no quick answers to that question.

First a brief reflection from this wandering pastor.  And then an intro and link to an excellent web-site (and Lutheran!) on the Book of Revelation.

The book of Revelation is at its most basic, just that... a revelation to a community of believers. It was written at a time of great turmoil in the early church. This turmoil was NOT as many teach exclusively because of oppression by the hands of the ruling authorities.  There was also strife as the result errant teaching, lack of engagement, too much comfort, etc.  Things that many of our churches still struggle with today!

The author of the book of Revelation wrote this after experiencing a series of visions.  These visions take the reader on a roller-coaster ride of insane measure.  If you read them without feeling like your stomach has risen to your throat, one would have to question how carefully you read the text! But the wild ride has a point.

After being taken head-over-heels into these wild visions of beasts, death, blood to your waist (and that's just for starters!) you are taken to rest onto dry land.  After each and every vision you are washed ashore into the waiting, confidant and steadfast arms of Jesus the Christ...the real king.  After being left confused and desperate when you have searched for power and strength in the hands of weapons, idols, emperors, etc you are left with the one true source of strength-- Jesus the King.

People have attempted to read specific details and symbols into this book throughout the ages.  Each time they have gravely mistaken the power and gift of this book.  Revelation is not a secret code-book only to be revealed in true detail thanks to the United States in the year 2000 (plus, plus).  Revelation is much simpler and much more powerful than that.

The book was first written for a group of seven churches (Rev 1:11) who needed a variety of messages spoken to them.  Some needed a wake-up call.  Some needed comfort for their afflicted.  And others needed to have their comfort afflicted. (I am proud of that line. :) )  Regardless of why the word was sent the end-result is meant to be the same. 

Do you have difficulty, uncertainty, fear for the unknown? Are you concerned for what tomorrow will bring? When all the fears are peeled way, Jesus is at the center opening his arms giving you peace.  (Rev. 1:17 and 21:4)

When things have forgotten how much God has done for you and you have taken things for granted, read Rev. 1:4-5.

When your wealth has gotten the best of you, read chapter 2, verse 8-9.

When you are punished by others for standing up for your faith, read chapter 2, verse 13.

When you feel yourself choosing between standing true to working for compassion for the poor and those in need as compared to giving in to the temptation of the newest toys offered at all those fancy stores in the shopping mall, read chapter 2, verses 20-23.

And that is just the beginning.

After each there is a place we are taken.  There is one place we are left.  There is with one whom we are left.  Jesus Christ the true source of meaning, love and life.

When you read the Book of Revelation, i have two things to say to you:

1. GET OVER YOURSELF!  Stop thinking this only has to do with you in your country at this time and read the whole thing over again (and again, and again...) and see the details of how carefully the author wanted the people of his day to be left with the image of Jesus etched in their minds and on their hearts.

2. STOP THINKING THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU! If you can honestly read the book of Revelation and not be really, really uncomfortable because of how "hit" you feel by its words, then you need to read the whole thing over again (and again, and again...)  You, too, are the recipient of this message, whether to comfort the afflicted or afflict the comfortable (i had to get that in one more time!)  Your choice is as the seven churches was...and the all the believers through time.  

When you are faced with the need for hope or hope for the needy where do you turn? John takes us on a roller-coaster, and after turning us over and over until our once digested lunch is barfed on the floor in front of us we are faced with the one who takes our face gently in his hands and leaves us shaking but restored to new life. 

He said to me, "It is done.  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.  To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life." (Rev. 21:6)

They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.  There will be no more night.  They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. (Rev. 22:4-5) 

In closing, i do so with final words of the book itself.  When you are asked what the book of Revelation is about...when you seek to read into its wild and crazy visions a secret code for a select nation at a certain time, consider these words as the final and true summation of them all:

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen! (Rev, 22:21)

Darin G.E. Elvemo 

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And some other well-founded thoughts can be found on this website from St. Andrew's Lutheran Church (ELCA):

http://www.standrewsames.org/bible/revelation/

Here is the intro and a good place to start.


I. Steps in Understanding the Revelation
For many people, the Revelation is a confusing book. Once readers step into chapter 4, they become bewildered by the wild & wonderful visions, the bright & graphic symbols. And so, by the end of chapter 5, readers begin to feel they've lost their footing and give up in frustration. It is my hope that this "companion" will help you read and understand the Revelation.
A. The Title -- 2 common mistakes
Mistake #1... the book is not entitled, "Revelations ". The correct title is the Revelation to St. John or "The Revelation of Jesus Christ".
Mistake #2... The book is not primarily intended to be a manual of secret information to enable us to predict the when & how of end time events. Rather, it uses the apocalyptic literary form to reveal who Jesus Christ is.
Remember 3 points as we go along:


a) the cumulative batting average of all the "calendarizers" who claim to know when & how the end time will come is 0.000 (those who fit John's events into today's newspaper)
b) Jesus & Paul reminds us not to spend our time trying to figure out when he'll again (see Acts 1:6-8; Matthew 24:36; Matthew 24:42-44; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-2; 2 Peter 3:8-10). It will come suddenly, unexpectedly. We are to be about witnessing & living the Christian life--not calendarizing.
c) John tells us what the book is about in the very lst verse of chapter 1: "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place".This book is about Jesus Christ -- who he is & what he accomplishes for his people.This verse also refers to what must soon take place. Soon, as in today -- tomorrow -- next week, rather than (2011) years later!