Eastertide
April 25, 2019
Scripture Reading: Revelation 1:4-8
John to the seven churches that are in Asia:
Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. –Revelation 1:4-6
Revelation and I have an interesting relationship. I grew up in a dispensational household, I later attended a seminary class on Revelation and learned to appreciate its literary characteristics while delving into theology that felt truer to my idea of God than that which I had know earlier in my life. The class did teach me to appreciate that there is more than one way to understand scripture and continued study and a willingness to openness is important. I also discovered that how we are taught something may be as important or more important than what we are taught. My personality does not meld well with proclaimed absolutes. I need to search out meaning for myself. Thus, I suggest you take what you want and add it to your understanding when you read anything I write.
Starting a book about wars, famines, and end of time prognostications with the formula words Grace to you and peace seems a little out of place but then it does not. The ultimate message of Revelation is that despite all the terrors of our world, God is still in charge and all is well. At the end Revelation says God will pitch God’s tent among us.
So, from start to finish when reading Revelation, we know the book ends well.
God is working his purpose out,
as year succeeds to year,
God is working his purpose out,
and the time is drawing near;
nearer and nearer draws the time,
the time that shall surely be,
when the earth shall be filled with the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea. *
Prayer: Lord, teach me your ways and open my mind and heart to the understanding of scriptures. Amen
*First verse of the hymn God is Working His Purpose Out by Arthur Campbell Ainger see at https://hymnary.org/text/god_is_working_his_purpose_out#Author
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.