The Book of Revelation
Have you ever been intimidated by the book of Revelation? (Who hasn’t?!) If that’s you, this week’s episode with Jen Wilkin will be a welcome encouragement, as she reminds us of the comfort we can find in this beautiful book. Friend, if reading Revelation leaves you anxious or fearful, you must simply remember that the theme of the book is not condemnation but comfort. Revelation reminds us that at the end of the story, at the consummation of all things, Christ will return for his people to dwell with them in peace for eternity!
In this week’s episode with Jen Wilkin, we talk about the beauty of an oft-misunderstood and feared book of the Bible: Revelation. Jen reminds us that although the book is filled with symbols and images that might first be hard to understand, that it actually pulls from the rest of Scripture and tells us what we already know! That Jesus is coming back to dwell with his people forever. Jen reminds us that the theme of this book is not condemnation, but comfort. We pray this episode leads you to praise as you remember who is seated on the throne of heaven.
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
How long have you been studying the Bible and teaching the Bible to women?
What took you so long to write a study on Revelation?
What do you mean when you say to take a “symbolic” or a “literal” approach to Revelation?
What encouragement do you have for the woman who feels a sense of intimidation or fear in studying a book like Revelation more deeply?
Could you talk a little more about the “look behind” skill you mentioned, and any allusions or illustrations that we might have seen in all of Scripture that were significant to the main point of Revelation.
What’s the value in studying this book in the context of our local churches?
How do we process through the cycles of judgment in Revelation?
How does the book of Revelation help us to persevere in our own present challenges and trials?
How does this book show us what Christ looks like and where he’s at now?
What is the main point of Revelation? How would you summarize this book?
What is the significance of the doxology in the context of Revelation?
What encouragements, tips, or helps do you have for us as we seek to humbly approach this book with the intent of knowing and loving God more?
How did your view on Revelation change as you started studying the book and writing the study? What are your sentiments now?
NOTES & QUOTES
“My perspective is that you should hold a view [on the end times], but it should be informed not just by reading about that one view but by reading about other views as well.”
“None of the symbols that are presented to us in Revelation are new. There is no new information given to us in the book of Revelation.”
“Rather than have a ‘left behind’ approach, I encourage people to have a ‘look behind’ approach.”
“Pay attention to where in the Old Testament these images are coming from. If you do that, it will begin to unlock what is being communicated in the book of Revelation.”
“The book of Revelation was read aloud to seven churches in Asia Minor. It was read aloud to these seven churches and they heard it…and they understood it.”
“If you know the beginning, the end is a lot clearer.”
“The Bible is a full circle story, like all of our favorite stories.”
“We love the full-circle story, and that’s what the Bible delivers in spades. It’s a massive full-circle story. And yet, so many of us don’t want to read the end of the book because it’s been professionalized or you were traumatized by it in your youth.”
“The same tools that we use to study all of the Bible we can use to study Revelation.”
“We have been catechized into a devotional approach of reading the Scriptures. Devotional reading is lovely, but if it’s the only way or the primary way you think about encountering your Bible, when you get to Revelation you’re not going to feel great and close to the Lord.”
“We have to take a long-term approach to the book of Revelation.”
“One of the most simple tools for Bible study I find to be the most useful for Revelation, and that tool is repetitive reading.”
Jen’s suggestions for getting started with Revelation:
- Read Genesis and Exodus
- Read the book of Revelation (and then read it or listen to it again and again)
“All theology is meant to be done in community.”
“Anyone who has suffered a deep injustice or comes from communities who have suffered deep injustices, hears the consummation of the kingdom differently than those of us who perhaps haven’t.”
“[When we read the cycles of judgment or other difficult passages…] We have to keep all of the attributes of God in view.”
“I do think it’s helpful for us to keep reframing God’s holiness and his right to rule in light of what we see in the book of Revelation. That many people who have suffered far more than I have long to see all things made new in a way that I need to learn to long to see.”
“In our comfort-driven culture, we adopt more of an ‘escapist’ mentality around the book of Revelation than an ‘endurance’ mentality… but the book is saying ‘You can endure, you can endure, you can endure.’”
“Do people see me (or my church) as a bearer of light that is life-giving but lends a sense of conviction because we make different choices about how we spend our time or money or how we use our voice?”
“When you’re worried about the future, the secret to stop worrying about the future isn’t to strain your eyes toward the future…it’s to look over your shoulder at the faithfulness of God to all generations.”
“It’s hard right now, but look at all the ways God has been faithful in the past.”
[After explaining the beauty of Rev. 4 and 5…] “At the beginning of a book that is going to show us cycle after cycle of God’s righteous judgment poured out, the children of God are given a reminder that God preserves his people through the flood.”
“The opening of Revelation is saying he is both with us to the end of the age just as he said he would be, and also we are seated with him in heavenly places right now, today.”
What is the main point of Revelation? “Jesus is coming back. Endure.”
“When we join together in expressing worship or praying, we are more tightly knit together as the family of God.”
[Re: the doxology] “We’re singing about the end. This is the song we will be singing for eternity.”
“Allow yourself to not go granular. Stand back and let the cinematic nature of the writing hit you as though you were watching a film. Sometimes we can get so concerned with what one image or word means that we can lose the flow of the whole thing.”
“Give yourself permission to flow through the book instead of getting snagged on something and doing a deep dive. See what patterns emerge.”
“How and when are not as important to me as who and why.”
“What the book of Revelation says over and over again: Jesus is Lord. It’s what they needed to hear. It’s what we need to hear. It’s a timeless reminder.”
“People of every age have either been threatened by or obsessed with those who were seated on earthly thrones, and Revelation will not let you stay there.”
RESOURCES
Revelation - Bible Study Book with Video Access: Eternal King, Everlasting Kingdom by Jen Wilkin
What is God Like? with Jen Wilkin
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Have you ever felt intimidated or fearful of the book of Revelation? How did this episode change your perspective?
How might you apply the “look behind” skill to your reading of Revelation, or any book of the Bible?
Who in your local church might you study the Bible with (whether Revelation or another book)? Maybe take the step right now to text a friend or look up Bible studies available through your church.
How did the reminders in this week’s episode encourage you to persevere in your own challenges and trials?
What might you do or implement based on what you learned in this week’s episode?
RESOURCES FOR BIBLE STUDY
IMPORTANT NOTE
Journeywomen interviews are intended to serve as a springboard for continued study in the context of your local church. While we carefully select guests each week, interviews do not imply Journeywomen's endorsement of all writings and positions of the interviewee or any other resources mentioned.
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