Bluestar

Awe! The vision of Christ among the lampstands shows his awesome, divine, exalted side, to balance his human, down-to-earth side. It evokes: Awe! Fear! Comfort, from the familiar passages and symbols. Reassurance, that God is in control. Joy that He is among us. Love, that He loves us enough to appear to John: he did not abandon us to our own devices. Thank you, God.

Persecution! Christians in many countries are experiencing persecution. I haven't checked sources, but a Google sample indicates that direct, violent attacks are occurring in Egypt, Algeria, Iran, Yemen, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Phillipines, Nigeria, Indonesis, and elsewhere. When we had family in Sumatra, Indonesia the persecution was rather like that of Jews elsewhere: the Christians, often Chinese, tended to have more financial sense than others: jealousy seemed to be at the base of it, with religion giving an excuse. There is also the violence of civil war and communal violence, as in the Sudan, Nigeria, and E. Indonesia. Is there on the Internet a group mapping these incidents, so that one could visualize the extent of the persecution more easily? Revelation comforts and encourages because it points out that this, however bad it is, is temporary: eternally we enjoy the presence of God and other believers in a City that non-believers do not enter. Also, Jesus went this way before us.

Happy Thursday! Alpha and Omega, first and last, beginning and end: God was God at the beginning of our world, and will still be God at its end. Speaking of both in similar terms indicates that Jesus is in a deep sense God, totally one with him. Praise God.

The theme of testimony and witness is important to the theme of strengthening the persecuted, because witnessing that disagrees with the cultural norms of our society or with its powerful often has negative consequences. Jesus was executed for that and went on to glory with the Father. This is encouraging: we, too, can witness to the truth we have experienced and know that earthly consequences are not the last word! In this country (USA) negative consequences for "rocking the boat" may be less than physical death, but still exist.

Grace and peace! My name is Eileen. I'm a Sunday School teacher, retired in SW Florida, and enjoying getting into Revelation in depth again. The first time was in the mid sixties, and then again in the late eighties, but basically just from one viewpoint. (Our denomination does not emphasize this book of the Bible.) The Internet has made such a difference in the resources available, such as this course! I find the questions especially helpful. I'm also enjoying a parallel commentary by Steve Gregg (Revelation: Four Views) which shows in parallel columns how representative historicists, preterists, futurists, and spiritual interpreters have viewed each passage. Our classes have students from different backgrounds: this helps us understand each other. If you have an evaluation of Gregg's book, please share it! Thank you. And on to enjoying the insights of those of you who've gone before in this study . . .