FAQ’s – Book of Revelation

whoa! this is in the Bible?

Mark your calendars!  Get babysitters!  Schedule your DVR’s!  Fasten your seatbelts! Get your game face on!

On the first four Tuesdays after Easter, Jeff and I will be tag-teaming a Bible study on the book of Revelation.

“Why the book of Revelation?” you ask.  “I don’t want to read about the end of the world, and antichrists, and freaky weird stuff!”

Well, neither do I!  And guess what!  That stuff isn’t in Revelation anyway.

So here are some basic Frequently Asked Questions about the book of Revelation:

Q: Who is the antichrist and why does Revelation spend so much time talking about him/her/it?
A: The word “antichrist” never appears in the book of Revelation.  It only appears in the letters of 1 and 2 John to describe false prophets who are teaching doctrines opposed to Jesus.

Q: In church, our prayers and sermons seem to focus on the gospel lessons.  Does Revelation have any influence on worship?
A: Absolutely!  There are over 150 hymns in the Hymnal 1982 that refer to Revelation.  That means 22% of our hymns are paraphrases, quotations, or references to Revelation.

Q: Wow, that’s a lot.  Is there any popular music out there that refers to Revelation?
A:  The famous “Hallelujah Chorus” by George Frederic Handel is taken directly from Revelation 11:15.  And any good Longhorn will know “…till Gabriel blows his horn” is really a reference to to the seven angels and the seven trumpets in chapters 8, 9, 10, and 11 of Revelation.

Q: You want me to read Revelation?  Not over my dead body!
A: Ha! We might actually read Revelation over your dead body.  Two of the options for the burial service in the 1979 Prayer Book are from the Revelation (7:9-17 and 21:2-7).  Plus, there are multiple references to Revelation throughout the burial service.

Q: Well, if Revelation is so great, why does it talk about devils, beasts, and dragons so much and leaves out Jesus?
A:  Through and through, Revelation is about Jesus Christ, the saints of God, and the Church.  If you like any of these, then you should study Revelation.

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen. – Revelation 22:21