Unveiling the Apocalypse: Beasts, Blood Moons, and Bad Predictions
What if Revelation isn’t a coded prediction of the end times but an apocalypse—an unveiling. Join us as Robyn Elliott launches this series where we’ll unpack the vivid imagery and bizarre symbols and awaken hope, pointing to victory in Jesus. The real question of Revelation isn’t about the how and the when of the future, but the Who. Who will win? Who will reign?
Questions:
1. When you think about the end of all things, do you picture a God of compassion, violence, rescue, punishment, renewal, distance, or love? How much of that picture comes from Jesus Christ, and how much comes from culture, fear, or religious messaging?
2. Why do predictions, timelines, and insider knowledge feel more appealing than the slow work of repentance, trust, justice, forgiveness, and daily faithfulness? Where do you see that tendency in yourself?
3. If Revelation is meant to unveil what is really happening beneath the surface of the world, what is being revealed in our world right now?
What systems, idols, powers, illusions, or loyalties are shaping people without them realizing it? How do those same forces shape you?
4. The sermon suggested we must read Revelation through the lens of Jesus. What if we have sometimes used Revelation to reinterpret Jesus instead?
How does the life of Jesus—His enemies-love, humility, suffering, mercy, and cross—challenge common images of power, judgment, and victory?
5. Revelation ends not with escape, but with renewal: God dwelling with humanity and making all things new. How would your life change if your deepest Christian hope was not leaving this world, but joining God in its healing? What would that mean for how you treat people, use money, pursue justice, endure suffering, or face death?
6. Can fear produce genuine love, maturity, and discipleship—or only compliance? Have you ever followed God more out of fear than love? What was the fruit of that?
7. The sermon ended with the picture of God wiping tears and making all things new. Why do you think hope is the final message rather than fear? What would change in your life if you truly believed renewal is where the story is heading?
Resources:
BOOKS:
Bauckham, Richard, The Theology of the Book of Revelation
Duncan, Jeremy, Upside Down Apocalypse
Gorman, Michael, Reading Revelation Responsibly
McKnight, Scot, Revelation for the Rest of Us
Peterson, Eugene, Reversed Thunder
Sprinkle, Preston, Exiles
Whitaker, Robyn, Revelation for Normal People
Wood, Shane, Thinning the Veil
Zahnd, Brian, Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God
Zahnd, Brian, The Wood Between the Worlds
PODCASTS & LECTURES
Boyd, Greg, Woodland Hills Church sermon series beginning 2023 09 17
Whitaker, Robyn, Bible for Normal People podcast, Ep 259
Witherington, Ben III, Seven Minute Seminary series, Youtube
Wood, Shane, Ozark Christian College Lectures https://www.shanejwood.com/the-book-of-revelation/
Wright, N. T., Youtube Lectures