You’re Reading Revelation All Wrong with Scot McKnight
Jan 3, 2024
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Scott McKnight discusses the purpose and misconceptions of the book of Revelation, emphasizing its metaphorical representation of Babylon and urging Christians to resist its infiltration in the church.
The book of Revelation calls believers to have the wisdom to discern the presence of Babylon in the world and the prophetic hope that God will bring justice, emphasizing the relevance of these themes in navigating the complexities of the world today.
The concept of Babylon in the book of Revelation highlights the need for believers to discern the presence of Babylon in both the world and the church and to resist its influence, challenging them to live in Babylon without compromising their faith.
Deep dives
The Message of Revelation: Wisdom, Witness, and Worship
The podcast explores the main message of the book of Revelation. The speaker highlights three key themes: wisdom, witness, and worship. The book of Revelation calls believers to have the wisdom to discern the presence of Babylon in the world and the prophetic hope that God will bring justice. It also emphasizes the importance of being witnesses, sharing personal stories of faith in Jesus Christ, and living in a way that reflects the values of God's kingdom. Lastly, the book of Revelation teaches the subversive power of worship, acknowledging that Jesus is on the throne and challenging the dominance of earthly powers. The podcast emphasizes the relevance of these themes in navigating the complexities of the world today.
Babylon as a Metaphor for Opposition to the Kingdom of God
The podcast discusses the concept of Babylon in the book of Revelation. Babylon is presented as an image of a kingdom that opposes God's kingdom. It is characterized by anti-God idolatry, opulence, violence, militarism, arrogance, and economic exploitation. The speaker explains that Babylon can infiltrate the church and corrupt its values. The podcast emphasizes the need for believers to discern the presence of Babylon in both the world and the church and to resist its influence. It also points out the challenge of living in Babylon while seeking peace and prosperity without compromising one's faith.
Navigating the Relationship with Babylon: Different Approaches
The podcast explores different approaches to navigating the relationship with Babylon mentioned in the book of Revelation. It highlights that the New Testament presents varied viewpoints depending on the context and the specific challenges believers face. The speaker mentions examples such as Jesus' response regarding paying taxes, Peter's instruction to live in a socially respectable manner, and the book of Revelation's all-out resistance to Babylon. The podcast emphasizes the need for Christians to understand that different circumstances may require different responses, and there is room for diverse approaches within the body of Christ.
Living as Dissident Disciples: Following Jesus in a Complex World
The podcast encourages listeners to embrace their identity as dissident disciples, following Jesus in a complex world. It emphasizes the importance of discerning how to resist the sins of Babylon while operating within the culture and government context. The speaker emphasizes that dissident discipleship calls for wisdom, witness, and worship. This involves discerning the truth, sharing personal stories of faith as witnesses, and engaging in worship that challenges the dominant powers in the world. The podcast encourages listeners to navigate the complexities of the world by following Jesus and seeking to bring glory to God in how they live.
End Times, the mark of the beast, and the Antichrist. Oh, my! Were these your takeaways from reading Revelation? You’re not alone! Today’s guest, Scot McKnight, author of Revelation for the Rest of Us, also grew up viewing this book as a prediction of End Times events. But what’s wrong with reading Revelation as a predictive prophecy? What’s the real purpose of this apocalyptic literature? In this fascinating episode, McKnight explains how John designed his Book of Revelation to disciple readers into dissidents of the ways of the world and empire, or "Babylon." Learn how the Bible repeatedly uses Babylon as imagery, how Babylon finds its way into the church, and how Christians can learn to live in Babylon without being contaminated by it. We hope you leave this episode experiencing the real wisdom, witness, and worship lessons Revelation was meant to offer. Listen now!
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