I have a lot to learn...

I'll be honest. I've never read Revelation completely through before. I've read bits and pieces, and always wanted to read it all the way through, but I never did. Biola doesn't offer a class on Revelation (or I just never took it... or forgot about that part in the New Testament class...). I think I was always a little bit intimidated by this book because there's so much meaning behind everything in the book and I didn't know what it all meant. So needless to say I was glad to have a book that could finally help me out!

As I've been reading the book and Revelation 1 every day, I couldn't really understand much of it, I think until Cass and Jenn and I talked about it in our Bible study the other night. Hearing what other people have to say about this book, and in talking to Andy too, has helped so much. So be talking to each other about it too, not just blogging! That's my opinion. There was a lot from chapter 2 of the book that stuck out to me:

p. 35- (referring to apocalyptic literature) "First, it seeks to set the present moment in light of the unseen realities of the future: "He is coming." "Jesus is gonna win." Second, and more importantly, it seeks to set the present moment in light of the unseen realities of the present." "Things are not as they seem."

p. 41- "I want to stress this point: John is not describing some kind of inner mystical experience. He heard a voice as clear and resounding as a trumpet. The voice was behind him."

p. 42- "I know what is happening in and among you. I know your hard work. I know your struggles. I know your fears. I know your pain. I know your emptiness. The risen and living Jesus lives and moves among his churches! He is moving among us right now.

p. 44- "Head and hair... white like wool, like snow." The words declare the agelessness of Jesus Christ. He was there before the beginning; he will be there after the end. He is here in the middle. He has been around to see it all..."

"The words also declare the purity of Jesus Christ, the sinlessness of Jesus Christ. He is perfectly clean, altogether holy."

p. 45- "John is declaring that Jesus Christ is not only pure; he is purifying... The eyes of the glorified Lord not only look at us... they also look through us... Jesus can look right through all my facades- and see all the junk that is ruining my life and burn it away.

p. 46- "When the living Jesus speaks he comes right up to us. He gets real close."

On page 47 I liked the little diagram that talks about the verbal portrait of what John saw. I'd never seen that before- "The first impression is forgiveness; the last, blessing. Two and six are "the organs of relationship," eyes and mouth. Three and five are the parts of the body that express "capability," feet and right hand. All pointing to the voice at the center. It is what Jesus says that finally makes the difference."

I also loved on page 41, to back up a little, how Darrell talks about John sitting on the rocks and having all those mental pictures of Jesus. It seemed so real to me, I pictured myself sitting on those rocks thinking about those things that Jesus did- the book came alive for me like I had never thought of before. I just thought it was so cool! And I love the verse that shows how powerful God is- "Who then is this that even wind and waves obey?"

I feel like we're all starting out on a big adventure, and adventure through Revelation and I can't wait to see what God has in store for us over the next 20 weeks. "Jesus is gonna win."