Hope for What’s Coming: Studying Revelation
Dear Hope Church Family,
“Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy…” Revelation 1:3
“Behold, I am making all things new… Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Revelation 21:5
I don’t know about you, but for most of my life when someone suggested that we study Revelation, I would think to myself, “Hmm, meh, maybe there’s a better book of the Bible to study.” There is so much confusion around it, so much speculation, so many different interpretations. I always thought there was probably a better use of our time when it comes to studying the Bible. But, what has occurred to me in recent years is the idea that just maybe God saved the best for last. It is like the perfect ending to any good book. Good wins, evil is defeated, and everything is exactly the way it’s supposed to be, the way God meant for it to be.
When we rightly read the Bible as one big story, we see that what was lost in Eden at the beginning of the story is finally and fully reclaimed and made even better in Revelation. And throughout the book we see how it is all done as it points us to Jesus who did for us what we cannot do for ourselves. Furthermore, I have been convicted of my attitude when I read Rev. 1:3 and 21:5. These verses that come at the beginning and the end of Revelation make it abundantly clear that the Lord wants us to read this book.
This fall everyone at Hope will have the opportunity to study Revelation as Hope’s Women’s Bible study and Men’s Cohorts will be going through it. You are invited, along with all of your friends and family to join us in studying what will surely well up hope in all of us: Whom we hope in and what we hope for. Please register here for Women’s Bible Study and here for the Men’s Cohorts.
All glory to Him who is “making all things new,”
Shannon Burgess