Reading Revelation Responsibly: Uncivil Worship and Witness: Followingthe Lamb into the New Creation

by Michael J. Gorman

How one reads, teaches, and preaches Revelation can have a powerful impact on one’s own—and other people’s—emotional, spiritual, and even physical and economic well-being.

Responsible engagement with Revelation ultimately pays attention to Revelation’s theological message as a word from God for the twenty-first century that is analogous to what its message was for the first century.

Revelation is not about the antichrist, but about the living Christ. It is not about a rapture out of this world but about faithful discipleship in this world. That is, like every other New Testament book, Revelation is about Jesus Christ—“A revelation of Jesus Christ” (Rev 1:1)—and about following him in obedience and love. “If anyone asks, ‘Why read the Apocalypse?’, the unhesitating answer must be, ‘To know Christ better.’”

In this last book of the Christian Bible, Jesus is portrayed especially as 1. the Faithful Witness, who remained true to God despite tribulation; 2. the Present One, who walks among the communities of his followers, speaking words of comfort and challenge through the Spirit; 3. the Lamb that was slain and now reigns with God the Creator, sharing in the devotion and worship due God alone; and 4. the Coming One, who will bring God’s purpose to fulfillment and reign with God among the people of God in the new heaven and earth.

Revelation is therefore also about being true to God and heeding the Spirit by following Jesus, specifically in 5. faithful witness and resistance; 6. attentive listening; 7. liturgica...