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The End: Week 1
Feel free to post replies based on any of the questions listed below or on your own thoughts concerning the message.
The Toughest Question of the Week:
In the video that opened the series, Ryan briefly discussed three common theories concerning the Rapture of the church: Pre-Trib, Mid-Trib, or Post-Trib. While eating at a Mexican restaurant, when do you bless the food? Pre-chip, mid-chip or post-chip?
What is the book of Revelation?
It’s a LETTER: The letter was written to real people in a real time – specifically, 7 churches in Asia.
1. If the book of Revelation was written in a specific time for specific people, how does this impact the way you read it and other books of the bible written to another audience?
2. What relevance do you think this letter has for the church today?
It’s a PROPHECY: Ryan mentioned a book he read in 1988 on the 88 Reasons the Rapture Could Happen in 1988. As a young teenager, he was convinced the writer was correct and he just waited for Jesus to come back and paid little attention to his responsibilities of the day. Of course the writer’s predictions were wrong and Ryan had to get back to his homework.
1. What is the risk to an impressionable person, like Ryan was in 1988, when they buy-in to someone’s incorrect theories?
2. Do you think Jesus wants us to know the specifics of his return in advance? Who or why not?
3. When a preacher, teacher, writer or prophet claims to have specific knowledge of the end, how should you react to the news?
It’s a work of LITERATURE: Jewish Apocalyptic Literature was a style of writing during the time of John. It is defined by grand imagery, supernatural insight, highly symbolic language and often includes a battle of good versus evil. Chronology is less important than the total picture and we should attempt to study the book of Revelation with a general question, “What is this Book saying to me?”
1. With a lack of chronology being evident in apocalyptic writing, how is this similar to how God see’s history?
2. How can we decide what to take literally and when to search for greater meaning?
It’s a Revelation of JESUS CHRIST: By trying to “break the code” or hammer out the timetable we miss the central figure and purpose of the book: the Revelation of Jesus Christ. John used very descriptive language to describe aspects of Jesus’ characteristics and position.
1. Which description of Jesus most spoke to you and why?
2. Did you see the moon walking bear?
The Toughest Question of the Week:
In the video that opened the series, Ryan briefly discussed three common theories concerning the Rapture of the church: Pre-Trib, Mid-Trib, or Post-Trib. While eating at a Mexican restaurant, when do you bless the food? Pre-chip, mid-chip or post-chip?
What is the book of Revelation?
It’s a LETTER: The letter was written to real people in a real time – specifically, 7 churches in Asia.
1. If the book of Revelation was written in a specific time for specific people, how does this impact the way you read it and other books of the bible written to another audience?
2. What relevance do you think this letter has for the church today?
It’s a PROPHECY: Ryan mentioned a book he read in 1988 on the 88 Reasons the Rapture Could Happen in 1988. As a young teenager, he was convinced the writer was correct and he just waited for Jesus to come back and paid little attention to his responsibilities of the day. Of course the writer’s predictions were wrong and Ryan had to get back to his homework.
1. What is the risk to an impressionable person, like Ryan was in 1988, when they buy-in to someone’s incorrect theories?
2. Do you think Jesus wants us to know the specifics of his return in advance? Who or why not?
3. When a preacher, teacher, writer or prophet claims to have specific knowledge of the end, how should you react to the news?
It’s a work of LITERATURE: Jewish Apocalyptic Literature was a style of writing during the time of John. It is defined by grand imagery, supernatural insight, highly symbolic language and often includes a battle of good versus evil. Chronology is less important than the total picture and we should attempt to study the book of Revelation with a general question, “What is this Book saying to me?”
1. With a lack of chronology being evident in apocalyptic writing, how is this similar to how God see’s history?
2. How can we decide what to take literally and when to search for greater meaning?
It’s a Revelation of JESUS CHRIST: By trying to “break the code” or hammer out the timetable we miss the central figure and purpose of the book: the Revelation of Jesus Christ. John used very descriptive language to describe aspects of Jesus’ characteristics and position.
1. Which description of Jesus most spoke to you and why?
2. Did you see the moon walking bear?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mitzi Talley on -
Thanks Ryan for giving us a Revelation message that made sense! I've never thought about the book in context to the writing style and who it was written to. Mostly, I just avoided it because it FREAKS ME OUT!
Am I pre-trib, mid-trib or post-trib? I don't know...but do I know I'm post chip!
And...I did NOT see the bear!
The description that spoke most to me yesterday was "and his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves". One of the things I struggle with is moving aside and letting Him work. I want to be proactive and get right in there to get the job done...most times I will analyze every possible angle to figure out a solution often going through weeks of struggle before surrendering. Why do I put myself through this when clearly with just His voice he can remove every obstacle!
One more thing I was wondering...
Isn't the number 7 also the number of completion? And if so could possibly the 7 lampstands be for the complete body of Christ as well?
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Permalink Reply by Ryan May on -
Mitzi - Yes! I believe in some sense it in the complete body of Christ! Thanks for sharing your thoughts - glad you came away with something. Hope it continues through the rest of the series! By the way... I'm a post-chipper, too!
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Permalink Reply by Rebecca Potts on -
What a great message Ryan. Revelation is something I've been too afraid of to tackle. You brought such a refreshing perspective. It doesn't have to be overwhelming, as long as we keep our eyes focused on Jesus.
It's so interesting to think that John was writing to these churches in a way that we aren't expected to really get, yet so many of us put emphasis on the smallest details that he wrote. I loved the imagery of the round room and the murals on the walls. Now, if we can just change our entire way of thinking...
It's amazing how some of the smartest people can be sucked into theories of the "end of times." They spend so much time working on theories and trying to tie in current events to Revelation. I think it can vbe ery detrimental to someone who puts so much faith in theories. They could get lucky and "guess" the right day, but I don't think it would be insight that Jesus bestowed on them. I don't think he wants us to know. The best gifts are the ones we never see coming.
The description of Jesus that spoke most to me was of Him standing in the middle of seven lampstands. The word that came to mind was 'presence.' I need to be reminded that Jesus is always present. He's there for me in every aspect of my life, and I need to reply on Him much more so than I do.
I am definitely a mid-chipper and I did not see the moon walking bear. Was it really there the first time around?
Have a great week!
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Permalink Reply by Keith Underwood on -
By the time I finish with the chips I am usually spotted with salsa. That being said, I've always challenged anyone who thinks they have the answer. I was in a church service in the 80's with a pastor teaching on the "end times" and he even named the antichrist (the leader of a world wide Christian church). I was fairly young and didn't know anything about attractional churches, but I asked the pastor afterwards how he thought vistors to the church might perceive his theories. He basically didn't care about any offense or confusion he caused.
I think anyone who has too much specificity in their opinions on Christ's return is more interested in the attention they garner than actually preaching Christ. As believers, we know that Jesus will return. It will not matter whether we are alive or in the ground; our destination is the same no matter what. I liked how Ryan used the root word "reveal". If we really believe in Jesus' return, then we need to reveal Him to non-believers instead of exposing our own wacko theories.
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