(Photo of person with box by Debby Hudson on Unsplash)
Recently in London, a series of animal graffiti pictures went up in different boroughs. 1 It was soon revealed that artist Banksy was behind these. The hidden meaning? Well, apparently Banksy simply wanted to bring a smile to people’s lives amidst troubled times.
Seems like a simple reveal! Though I guess there will be some looking for other meanings too from these latest works.
The last book of the Bible is Revelation. It has been a source of much debate over the centuries and also stirred all kinds of responses.
What is it trying to reveal?
Friedrich Nietzsche referred to Revelation as “that most obscene of all the written outbursts”.2 By contrast, theologian Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenza subtitles her commentary on Revelation as a ‘Vision of a Just World‘.3 Martin Luther, one of the instigators of the Reformation had serious reservations about whether it should even be in the Bible.4 Meanwhile in the 1960s, his namesake Martin Luther King Junior, referenced Revelation among other parts of the Bible in his struggles to win equal rights for all in the USA.5
So who is right?
Some of my upbringing and connected experience of faith was wrapped up in a certain way of interpreting Revelation. The impact on me was one that was fear inducing, toxic, somewhat weird and certainly not life giving. An honest reading, even as an adult, needs to recognise that there is violence in this book and exotic imagery that can be hard to even begin to decipher. Yet this is also a book is full of vision of who Christ is, of light overcoming darkness, goodness contrasted with evil, persevering amidst tough times as well as hope of a new heaven and new earth to come.
It ia quite a mixture as a book. Wouldn’t it be better to stick away from it?
For a long time I personally have, when it has come to doing a series of talks. I have read Revelation multiple times as well as explored various commentaries/books on it. I have given talks from some verses and chapters. Yet I have never attempted a whole teaching series on Revelation.
Beginning on 1st September, that changes. On various Sundays from then until the end of November and also some other dates in 2025, we will look at various aspects of the book (I make no promise that we will cover everything or that there will be easy answers given). Maybe some others may join me by giving a talk from the book too.
So…
“What’s in the box?” Let’s take a look inside Revelation together and see what it might have to show us about Christ, life, salvation and justice.
In Revelation 21 there are these words:
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.
(Revelation 21:4-5 English Standard Version)
I believe that Revelation gives not only a hope for the future but also is relevant for life now – even amidst turmoil in different parts of the world and global concerns like climate change.
Really, you might ask? Well, I sign off by repeating the question: “What’s in the box?”
Much grace,
Andy
1Banksy art in London: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c623qjpgew4o
2The Geneaology of Morals – Friedrich Nietzsche
3Revelation: Vision for a Just World – Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenza
4Martin Luther on Revelation: https://www.universitylutheran.church/luther-on-revelation.html
5Martin Luther King Junior talk, April 1968: https://www.seemeonline.com/history/mlk-jr-awake.htm