Why a Weird and Wacky Ancient Text has a Word of Wisdom for Us Today

How the Book of Revelation invites us to unity and love, instead of division and vitriol.

You know how sometimes you don’t know where to begin? Or, you have something important you want to tell someone, but you can’t find a good segue into the topic? That, is where I find myself with this post. So, since sometimes you just need to “rip off the Band-Aid”, I’ll dive right in by declaring:

The Book of Revelation has a powerfully helpful message for us today—wherever one falls on the religious/nonreligious spectrum.

With that in mind, I’ll start by clearing up a common misconception concerning this ancient work. It is not about specific events that will happen one time in the future, which could—at any point—become “now”. It simply isn’t. It was written at a specific time and place to Christ followers living under the thumb of the Roman Empire, nearly two-thousand years ago, as a word of warning and a message of hope.

That said, The Apocalypse of John’s (another name for the book) message has, and continues to remain relevant to each generation since it was written. Why? Because it reveals to us two competing ways of believing and behaving that have long been a part of the human condition.

I think here of when cartoons depict a character—like Tom or Jerry—with an angel on one shoulder, and a demon on the other. Revelation advises us not to give in to the alluring temptations of the “demon”; but, to heed the typically harder, but always more life-giving and loving way of the “angel”.

Along those lines, the first key to understanding a book, is knowing its genre(s). Overall, Revelation falls squarely in the category of apocalypse. This means, much like today’s Marvel comic books, it uses fantastical creatures, imagery, and scenes, to reveal truths about our literal reality. For decades, the tales of superheroes in our comics have preached against racism, classism, sexism, discrimination, ablism, and many of the other ills that plague our society. They are like modern day parables or Aesop’s fables, in that they use not literally true tales, to teach us how to literally be better humans. Revelation is much the same.

What, then, is the message of The Apocalypse of John? The key that unlocks the content comes in chapter 5. Now to set the stage, it’s vital to remember this was written to people living in the Roman Empire; because, Rome preached that might makes right, and power brings peace. The empire had a long history of conquering and taking from other nations and peoples, to enrich itself. With that in mind, at this point in Revelation’s story, the good guys are in big trouble. It appears as if any hope of defeating the bad guys is gone. They need someone worthy to open a scroll and save the day (please note I’m simplifying for effect), and it seems like nobody can. As the author begins weeping with despair, though, an elder tells him to look because the Lion of Judah has come to the rescue. Yet, when John looks, what does he see? A little lamb, as if it had been slaughtered … and the crowd goes wild, breaking into song. The point here is:

Although the world teaches us that power, wealth, might, status, and violence (aka Lion Energy) is what life is all about; Spirit shows us that compassion, humility, and a loving-kindness that will—in big and small ways—give its life for others (aka Lamb Energy) is truly where heaven is at.

I think that’s a pretty timeless, and timely, message. What about you?

This points us toward perhaps the main theme of book: Beware governments that mix with, or take on the character of religion. Part of what made the Roman Empire so successful was the Imperial Cult, i.e., emperor worship. Although this may seem irrelevant to today, as a historian, I don’t know that it’s ever been more relevant. You see in the U.S.; the two political sides have effectively become our new religions. They each increasingly demand our loyalty, to the exclusion and demonization of the other side.

What is more, akin to how the Roman Empire used religion to advance its politics, the Republican Party has the Evangelicals firmly under its sway; while the Democratic Party has the more liberal dominations in its pocket.

One need to look no further than the news and social media to see why Revelation warns us against this. The results are in. It leads to division, fighting, finger-pointing, scapegoating, hatred, violence, anger, frustration, despair, and more.

This brings me to the message of hope at the end of the book. When we follow the Lead of Love. When we walk the Path of Peace. When we choose curiosity, understanding, and kindness. When we welcome and include. All nations and all peoples, will live together in harmony as one human family.(Note, another way to say this is, when we follow the Way of Christ.)

Beloved ones, day-by-day may the path to individual, communal, and global wholeness, wellness, unity, and abundance be revealed to us. May the Spirit of Love fill us. May the Sound of Peace heal us. And may we increasingly realize that we all belong to one another.

Hugs & Love,

Lang (aka “Dr. Love”)