Have you ever read to your kids the “Where’s Waldo” books? (You know, Waldo—the dorky looking guy in nerd glasses that hides out in crowds.) That is how a lot of people approach Revelation. Instead of “Where’s Waldo?” it is, “Where is the Anti-Christ?” Better yet, “Who is the Anti-Christ?”
This approach can be fun. Instead of video games or dungeons and dragons, you can spend your time looking for clues that will allow you to predict the future of the world.
A second approach to Revelation is very basic—prove that those, who practice the first approach, are wrong. Much time and study is spent researching Revelation and history, in order to show that Saddam Hussein is not the Anti-Christ. Of course, the problem with this approach is that often, the agenda is set, not by the text of Revelation, but by those who pursue approach number one.
A third approach to Revelation is done through historical research. The basic assumption is that the letter was written late in the first century and addressed to hearers confronting problems unique to their time. The hard part is applying what you learn to our lives today.
Now, there are advantages to all three approaches. It is important to consider what Scripture says about the Anti-Christ and the end of the world. It is important to hold those who speak on these things accountable. It is important to know about the original audience and its historical context. However, in addition to these, I wish to propose another approach.
Actually, this approach is not original with me. I received it from conversation with others, the most articulate, of which is a work by Eugene Peterson entitled REVERSED THUNDER. (Indeed, I utilize his efforts and words extensively in this post. Many thanks to him for his insight into Revelation. For a complete list of works, with which I have been in conversation, go to http://www.shilohroad.com/Default.aspx?tabid=186)
Another way to approach Revelation is to allow God’s word to expand our view of Him. Revelation affords us the opportunity, yes, Revelation offers us the call, to experience Him on a deeper level.
Revelation it's not simply written to provide us more information on God; it is also written to fire up our imagination about God.
Imagination is not a bad thing. It can be used for bad, like anything good can be, but it is a gift from God. It helps us to see the unseen. Revelation is not only for information, but also for imagination.
We often associate imagination with fiction—with fairy tales. Imagination also traffics in the realm of truth.
Through John’s pen, God wants us to see and feel who Jesus is, what the Kingdom is like, yes, what the future will be like, and, because of all this, what the present is like.
Revelation wakes up our senses. It appeals to our smell, our hearing, our sight, our touch, and even our taste.
Too often, we under-appreciate the gifts that are our senses. Even describing them with pixels and computer screens can evoke bodily sensations. For example, take a break from your computer, grab yourself a shiny, yellow lemon, and take a robust bite. How do you like that taste?
And, I bet while you read those words, your mouth involuntarily secreted more saliva.
What happens when you drive over a part of the highway--by which lays the body of a dead skunk? The kids holler, “Pew, what is that!” Congratulations! You have encountered a dreadful smell that has impacted, perhaps, your entire body. No doubt, though, everyone in the car is experiencing something powerful.
Consider the way the letter of Revelation begins:
1 The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near (Rev. 1:1-3). NIV
These words are to be read aloud and to be heard. John, in verse twelve states, “I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me.” God wants us to see the voice.
Mull over for a moment, how Revelation calls for its readers (hearers!) to engage in the five senses:
1) Hearing.
Forty six times in our NIVs, the text makes a reference to hearing.
2) Touch.
As you might imagine, the sense of touch appears throughout the letter. Let me cite a reference less obvious.
One of the things I did not realize about the ancient world—numbers were an extension of touch. As you might guess, the ancients, like our children today, initially used their fingers and toes to learn how to count. Consequently, numbers became symbolic because they extended the sense of touch.
In Revelation, numbers direct the imagination in such a way to help us understand the totality of what God is saying. John is accounting for things. The numbers direct our thoughts.
For example, in Revelation 7, the number 144,000 evokes the feeling of the touch of God's action, which produces victory in the face of evil. Deep within the fragmentation of the world lies suffering; the numbering of this massive group of souls of God helps one visualize wholeness, in the midst of fragmentation.
3) Smell.
The sense of smell is associated with prayer. In Revelation 8:3–4, the bowls of incense represent the prayers of the Church. Both can be seen and smelled.
In the ancient world, smell permeated a person’s entire being. You could not practice it with detachment.
Any of you guys remember a girl you liked years ago? Do you remember a perfume she wore? Have you present day ever smelled someone wearing that perfume, and been emotionally taken back to those days you liked that girl? That is the power of a great fragrance—and the power of the sense of smell. More is involved than your nose.
It is the same, in Revelation, with prayer and the symbol of incense. Because prayer is invisible, the smell of incense (and the sight) is used to trigger the imagination. The original audience saw, in their mind’s eye, the prayers go up, and the sensation permeated those hearer’s bodies. They experienced it. They experienced God’s presence.
(Right now you might be thinking, “Pff. This is a bunch of 21st century, touchy-feely drivel.” Let me remind you—we are rich and comfortable; we have the luxury of treating Revelation with detachment. However, I assure you, a Christian in China or Sudan will not hear the words of Revelation with such detachment.
Beware, don’t let the blessings of God and your culture make you so prejudice that you prejudge the word of God, harden your heart; thus, not allow those words to penetrate.)
4) Taste.
The sense of taste is an important part of the message. To the seventh church, Laodicea, in Revelation 3:16, Jesus uses strong words. Jesus is talking about the mouth for a reason. Luke-warmness also represents tastelessness.
Yet, in Revelation 10:9-11, you have the little scroll, which tastes sweet in the mouth and bitter in the stomach.
5) Seeing.
Revelation 1:11
-- “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”
Over and over again in Revelation, God calls for his readers to see.
Please understand: I am in no way saying we should not study Revelation. I am the king of study. I have a bias toward study. And there are passages in Revelation that call upon the intellect to engage in analysis. However, I have always, exclusively, studied Revelation. The beauty of God engages our entire being, not just our intellect. And, in Revelation, one thing God wants to do is wake us up to hear his Word.
These are not sentences to be diagrammed, verbs to be conjugated, and words to simply be memorized and kept at arms length. There were plenty of scribes and teachers of the Law, who did this during Jesus’ day. They heard the words of Scripture, but they did not hear the voice of God.
What I am saying is, in the midst of analyzing Revelation, we cannot escape the style of literature that we have here. This is not a logical, unemotional, mathematical document, designed to be fought over and not felt.
We do well to remember, to see to it, that Revelation not only penetrates our minds, but it also penetrates our souls. There are some mysteries, when it comes to God, we cannot fully explain, but in some cases, we can enjoy.
As Eugene Peterson noted, of all people, Albert Einstein once said that imagination is more important than intelligence. What he meant by that was, intelligence did nothing unless the person used his imagination (or her imagination) to project what should be done with that intelligence.
The primary purpose of reading Revelation is not to provide new information we never received. Every time someone studies it for that purpose, they come up with ideas that are scary–(the Pope is the antichrist!) Revelation is to connect more with the imaginative part of the mind, not to the analytical part of the mind, and that connection creates a desire for action--a desire to respond to God.
When we engage the intellect, we are engaging only one part of the person. If we allow a revelation to do so, it engages our senses, that is our total person.
The intent of revelation is to put us on her knees before the One, who saw the beginning, who sees the end, and who carries us in the arms of His history in between.
We bow before God in worship and accept His salvation-shaping words in our lives. We're always trying to use Scripture for our purposes. Maybe, for a change, we should allow scripture to use us.
Five Things I Think I Think (with a nod to Peter King for this idea)
1. In case anyone forgot, I picked Green Bay and the Jets to face each other in the Super Bowl—before the season started.
2. Sunday afternoon was one of the most relaxing I have enjoyed—ever. I think it was because I was prepared to work hard in the office Sunday afternoon, visit some folks, and preach a sermon Sunday night. A beautiful snow forced me to cancel plans and go home to my family for the rest of the day. Geared for effort, I had an enforced excuse to relax with loved ones—a great trade.
3. Evil will always be among us. I was sorry to hear a judge from one political party and a congresswoman from another, were victims of what appears to be pre-conceived violence on Saturday. On top of all of that, people outside of government and political service were hurt and killed as well. My thoughts and prayers go out to all families involved, including that of the perpetrator of this wickedness.
4. Rest in peace, Lesa Landers Monday. You were a friend from my earliest childhood, and I will take with me many fond memories.
5. Thanks to all who said and wrote so many nice things about our oldest daughter, Haleigh, being honored by her peers as her school’s Homecoming Queen. She, and we, are grateful she received this honor. More importantly, we are grateful for the kindness and goodwill so many have blessed us with over the past few days.
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