The Book of Revelation was written to prepare you

A vision of a throne. A sea of glass. Four living creatures covered in eyes. A scroll sealed with seven seals. A lamb who was slain. A dragon with seven heads. A beast from the sea. A beast from the earth. A woman clothed with the sun. A city descending from heaven. The book of Revelation is strange, frightening, and often misunderstood. But it was not written to confuse you. It was written to prepare you.In this episode, I uncover the message of Revelation that most readers miss. The book was written to seven churches in Asia Minor who were facing persecution from the Roman Empire. The symbols that seem bizarre to modern readers were clear to the original audience. The beast was Rome. The mark of the beast was the imperial cult. The number 666 was a coded reference to Nero. Revelation was not a prediction of the distant future. It was a message of hope for people who were suffering in the present.The message of Revelation is not about timelines and tribulation. It is about worship. The book contrasts the worship of God with the worship of empire. It calls believers to remain faithful even when faithfulness leads to suffering. It promises that the empire will fall. It promises that God will win. The book of Revelation was written to prepare you for a choice. Will you worship the beast? Or will you worship the lamb?Turn down the lights, put on your headphones, and press play because the book of Revelation is not a puzzle to be solved. It is a warning to be heeded.