Revelation

This is a vision passed from Jesus to the church in a time of crisis about the end of life as we know it. The word “Apocalypse” comes from here – it’s the Greek word for revelation, but the fact that we associate it with stories of end times shows how strongly the message and imagery from this vision have resonated with our culture, even for people who have never read this directly.

Odd details stand out, and it’s full of drama, mystery and code. But it’s not as strange as it first appears if we recognise the echoes of the big story the whole Bible has been about: God has a plan to defeat evil with good and bring people back into relationship with him.

This is not just a set of events to watch out for when the world ends. It’s guidance for now, perhaps as we face the end of some things we have been used to and look for the “new normal” in our own lives, individually or as a society. In every “end time” we face, what kind of change do you think God wants to bring about? How much can we hope for hurt and injustice to be overcome? Where should we look for strength? And how ready are we for God to call, equip and use us in ways we can’t manage by ourselves?