Scripture Sunday: Revelation

I'm up in Dallas this week to take my final theology class: Eschatology. It means the study of end times. It is also a subject about which I know absolutely nothing, and understand less. Two of my assignments for the class were to read through the book of Revelation in one sitting, and through the book of Daniel in one sitting. Thankfully, I had my beloved Bible Experience CDs, so I listened to first Revelation and then Daniel on the drive up here from Austin.

Man oh man, I have no idea what Revelation is talking about. I counted two verses in the entire book that barely made sense to me; the rest was a blur. There are lots of confusing numbers. There are some pretty messed up animals. There is a dragon that is Satan, a beast I think might also be Satan, and a false prophet guy (who could possibly also be Satan). Super confusing stuff, people. And don't even get me started on the scrolls, trumpets, and bowls. My head hurts just thinking about it. And now I get to read a book entitled, Four Views on the Book of Revelation. Four? Ack.

This week is going to make me feel dumb, definitely, and terrified, probably. And if it's like any of my other theology classes, I will feel so hopelessly overwhelmed that I will give up trying to process anything coherently and will just pray that the Holy Spirit keeps me from any major heresies. (Are you catching on that studying theology is not really my thing?)

But here is what I do know. The end of the world won't be advertised by any Mayan calendarist's decision that 2012 is as far as he needs to calculate. It won't be something where we look around and ask ourselves, "gee, do you think this is the beginning of the apocalypse?" It's not going to be subtle. There will be some crazy stuff going on. Stuff that makes a Michael Bay movie look like an episode of Sesame Street. We will not have to guess or hypothesize.

I don't know if believers get raptured up before all the poo hits the fan (I'm assuming the book Three Views on the Rapture will fill me in there). But I do know we are sealed by God. Our names are in His book. Our eternity is secure. So whether we are around while the crazy dragon-beast-prophet triumvirate are running amok or not, we get to spend forever in a pretty phenomenal shiny happy city in a brand new heaven and earth with God. And that part sounds amazing. =)

There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him; they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever. --Revelation 22:3-5