Happy Easter, y’all!!! No, it’s not only a day, but it is a season in the Church year that lasts 50 days which then takes us to Pentecost.
During the Season of Easter, the Revised Common Lectionary takes us through some highlights of John’s letter of Revelation. Revelation is a wacky book filled with divine intervention, angels, demons, multi-headed beasts, trumpets, violence, and horses. And in several instances in this pastoral letter, John has these Holy Spirit-induced trances that give him unique visions.
But, most importantly, John is angry. He’s very angry. He’s angry that he’s a prisoner. He’s angry with the Roman Empire because they are the ones who are mistreating Christians who will not worship the emperor. He’s angry that some Christians are renouncing Christ. And while John is indeed angry and this letter is written in anger, he offers hope!
This hope that while Christians were in the struggle between two opposing other-worldly forces of good and evil, God will win. God has won, through Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection. You see, John is encouraging the Christians to hold fast and continue to proclaim and bear witness to the world that Christ is LORD, even defying imperial or evil spiritual forces.
I’m looking forward to going through some highlights from Revelation for the next six weeks with you!
Christ’s Peace,
Pastor T. Wes