Final update 2024-11-14: The notes for all six weeks are now available as a single PDF, with two podcasts for each week.
Fascinated, or frightened? What are your feelings about the Bible’s final book?
Can we read it without interpretative methods dividing us into Futurists, Preterists, Historicists, and Idealists? Piecing together John’s visions of Armageddon, Babylon, and the Millennium has tended to divide us.
But asking “When is this book about?” may be the wrong question. Asking “Who is this book about?” may be more productive. If Scripture is the revelation of God, what does the final book reveal about God?
In October/November 2024, we ran twelve sessions over six weeks at Riverview Church. The full notes of these sessions are here: Formed in God’s Story: Book of Revelation (PDF, 19MB), with podcasts and weekly notes below:
- Rev. 1–3: The one who speaks. Notes (week 1). Podcast Rev 1. Podcast Rev 2-3.
- Rev. 4–7: The one who reigns. Notes (week 2). Podcast Rev 4-5. Podcast Rev 6-7.
- Rev. 8–11: The one who overturns rebellion. Notes (week 3). Podcast Rev 8-9. Podcast Rev 10-11.
- Rev. 12–15: The one who saves from slavery. Notes (week 4). Podcast Rev 12-13. Podcast Rev 14-15.
- Rev. 16–19: The one whose leadership lasts. Notes (week 5). Podcast Rev 16-17. Podcast Rev 18-19.
- Rev. 20–22: The one who renews everything. Notes (week 6). Podcast (Rev 20-21). Podcast (Rev 22).
It starts with the Lord and his people (Rev. 1–3), and it ends with the Lord and his people united as God intended in the beginning (Rev. 20–22).
In the middle, John sees the saving drama unfolding in heaven (Rev. 4–11), and the saving drama playing out on earth (Rev. 12–19).
Within that framework, John’s visions arrive in sevens with interludes. The change of camera angle (from heaven to earth) occurs as John is recommissioned at the centre of the book.
The salvation story is the heart of Scripture. What God began with one nation in the Exodus, God is doing for all the peoples of the earth in Christ. In recording his visions, John incorporated phrases from Scripture in almost every sentence so we too could see what he saw: the Law and the Prophets finding fulfilment in God’s Christ, the King of kings.
For those attending in Perth, there’s a follow-up evening (20 November) for questions. There’ll be no notes or podcasts for this session.
The sermons at Riverview Church in October/November 2024 also covered themes from Revelation, accessible through their YouTube channel.
Blessing on all who read the words of this final book from God, on those who hear and take it to heart.
Related posts
Previous courses in this series:
- Formed in God’s Story: Psalms
- Formed in God’s Story: Acts
- Formed in God’s Story: O. T. Prophets
- Formed in God’s Story: Matthew 1–14
- Formed in God’s Story: Matthew 15–28
- Formed in God’s Story: Genesis – Esther
Seeking the kingdom 