Few books of the Bible have been as controversial in their interpretation as Revelation. This article is a transcript of various sermons and lectures I’ve given over the years about how I approach the book. I’ve included it here essentially so I can link to it whenever Coffee with the King deals with a text from Revelation –… Continue reading Interpreting Revelation
Category: Revelation
A Very Apocalyptic Christmas – Part Four
On Monday, we began our Christmas week series through Revelation chapter 12. You need to start from the beginning of the week, or this won’t make sense. The unhappy dragon So far, we’ve seen the dragon (Satan) defeated in his attempts to kill the young hero born to a woman. What’s more, he’s been cast… Continue reading A Very Apocalyptic Christmas – Part Four
A Very Apocalyptic Christmas – Part Three
On Monday, we began our Christmas week series through Revelation chapter 12. You need to start from the beginning of the week, or this won’t make sense. So far, we’ve read Revelation 12 and identified the woman as “Mother Zion” – the true mother of the real saviour of the world (not Mother Rome and… Continue reading A Very Apocalyptic Christmas – Part Three
A Very Apocalyptic Christmas – Part One
To end our Revelation series – and to prepare for Christmas on the weekend – we’re going to be looking at everyone’s favourite Christmas-themed passage: Revelation chapter 12. (What could possibly go wrong?) But this is a very different telling of the Christmas story from the ones we’re most familiar with. It’s not the one from… Continue reading A Very Apocalyptic Christmas – Part One
The New Heaven & New Earth (Rev 22)
Today we conclude our look at Revelation’s description of the future that awaits us – a recreated world in which there’s no more evil, in which sin’s curse has been undone, and in which we can see God face-to-face. If you’re just joining us, start with yesterday’s post. Revelation 22:1-2 Then the angel showed me… Continue reading The New Heaven & New Earth (Rev 22)
The New Heaven & New Earth (Rev 21)
Yesterday, we looked at the fate of those who remain opposed to God. Over the next two days, we end on a much brighter note – the future that awaits those who are faithful to God, and worship him only. Revelation 21:1 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven… Continue reading The New Heaven & New Earth (Rev 21)
The Millennium and other miscellany (Rev 20)
Yesterday in our Revelation series, we saw the fate of those who remained true to Jesus, being invited to the great wedding supper of the Lamb. It was contrasted with the fate of those who remained opposed to him and who mistreated his people: the beast and the false prophet were thrown into the fiery… Continue reading The Millennium and other miscellany (Rev 20)
The Rider on the White Horse (Rev 19)
Yesterday in our Revelation series, we saw the prophesied end of the great prostitute (Rome) because of its exploitation of the empire and its persecution of God’s people. Today, we move into the next phase of God setting things right – into our future – when Christ returns. We ended yesterday on a note of triumph –… Continue reading The Rider on the White Horse (Rev 19)
Fallen is Babylon (Rev 17-19)
Over the last two weeks in Revelation, we’ve seen how the beast (the Roman Emperor) set itself up as a rival god to the one, true God – and forced the people of the empire to worship it. Chapter 13 was all about presenting the emperor as he really was, rather than how Rome’s PR department… Continue reading Fallen is Babylon (Rev 17-19)
Overcoming the Beast – Part Four (Rev 14-15)
Last week, we looked at the mark of the beast – going along with the rest of the empire in worshipping the emperor as a god, in place of the one true God. And we saw how we, too, often go along with our world and its idolatry. This week, we’re looking at how Revelation encourages… Continue reading Overcoming the Beast – Part Four (Rev 14-15)