Revelation and Advent: Waiting and Working

I would like to argue that Revelation is more then just profitable, it offers the very paradigm that guides the Christian life. “Revelation” shows us the key pattern that guides God’s initiative in the world. The Missio Dei constitutes eternity crashing into history, past, present, and future.

This theme is all over the whole book, but just read the last five chapters and see what I mean.

1. Chapter 18 starts with an Angel coming down from heaven, and illuminates the whole earth with his Glory. Although we are light bearers in this world, our light is from above.
2. Later in chapter 18 babylon is judged by a voice from heaven. God alone has the vantage point and the power to cast down kingdoms in truth and righteousness, as the multitude declare in 19:2, God’s eternal position is hope for justice we can’t find in the world.
3. Chapter 19 points us to the life of the church in eternity, that is made present for us today. Verse 9 declares that those who are called to the marriage supper of the lamb are blessed. I am reminded that today we live that blessing together as we gather around the table of the Lord’s supper. The sacraments are one way that God crashes eternity into our present.
4. Much debate has gone into when and how the Millennium, in chapter 20, will take place. However one thing is sure this passage demonstrates that God is not bound by time, but rather has the keys (verse 1) to bind and loose (verse 7) it.
5. Few images in scripture move me as much as the Bride/City descending to earth in verses 2-3 of chapter 21 and the declaration “Now the Dwelling of God is with Man.” Not only does it powerfully show the “endgame,” if you will, of all creation, it also shows the nature of the Missio Dei today. The images used for the dwelling of God with man are none other then those used of the church (Heb. 11:10, Ephesians 5:22-33) in fact the city is made up of the Tribes of Israel (verse 12) and the Apostles (verse 14). The church is, in a sense, the way God has chosen to bring his dwelling on earth today too.
6. In chapter 22 we see paradise restored. For me this final image in the scriptures not only gives me hope, but calls me. This is what the Missio Dei is already at work doing. God has come into this world and begun the work of restoration. 

In this season of Advent we must both be both waiting, and working. God has already begun to make eternity near, through us, his people in Christ.

I need this reminder all the time. I so often get caught up trying to bring people to the kingdom of God that I forget that Jesus’ prayer was to have the kingdom come here on earth. This is why I love the traditional liturgies. They look like revelation, incense, saints, alters, and the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. This reminds me that we are truly living the apocalypse now.