WHATCHU TALKIN BOUT WILLIS?

I grew up when Diff'rent Strokes was a popular television show. That's no big deal unless your last name is Willis. To this day I still hear those famous words popularized by Arnold: "Whatchu talkin bout Willis?" Usually they are uttered by someone looking at me as though I may have never heard it before. Yeah, right! Well this blog is what I (Willis) am talkin bout...my thoughts, observations & opinions. Enjoy...



Monday, February 16, 2009

REVELATION...finally getting it!


The New Testament book of Revelation (not Revelations) has to be the most misunderstood book of the 66 that make up the Bible. Admittedly, I am a novice at handling this profound book. I "studied" it in college. I also have tried another study or two over the years. And, yes, I'm still an amateur at understanding and/or explaining it. I used to enjoy listening to it on cassette tapes (younger readers should google for more on these antiquated audio dinosaurs or ask grandma for more info). Revelation was proabaly the second book I attempted to read after becoming a Christian. I wanted to get to the end of the story. It's also a big attendance draw whenever a lesson series, sermon series or seminar is offered on this mysterious book. Recently, while preaching through the New Testament I was forced to address my ineptitude in handling Revelation. In the process I discovered a most helpful book - Revelation's Rhapsody: Listening to the Lyrics of the Lamb: How to Read the Book of Revelation by Dr. Robert Lowery of Lincoln Christian Seminary. It was not at all what I was looking for but exactly what I needed. In Dr. Lowery I finally discovered someone who seemed to get and was able to help me GET IT TOO! His work is not about fanciful ever-changing modern interpretations (and misuses) of the last book in the Canon.

Craig Blomberg of Denver Seminary wrote, "Popular level guides to the Book of Revelation abound, but most of them either insist that the last book of the Bible is a road map of current events or a source for reconstructing first-century history only. Lowery avoids both of these pitfalls and deftly leads the lay person or college undergraduate down a safe path to interpretive sanity. Enjoyably written and peppered with personal illustrations, this is a welcome addition to a crowded field, and one which clearly stands out from the crowd!"

Perhaps you are an eschatalogical wiz... but if you are not, I recommend you check out Dr Robert Lowery's excellent work.

1 comment:

Gerrard Fess said...

I need to pick it up!