Let's talk about the rapture. A word or concept found nowhere in the Bible. Yet, many believe and wait for the moment when all christians will be caught up in the air to meet Jesus and leave behind all non-Christians. Which leads us to some questions, where did the concept come from? Does Revelation even hint at it? And who cares if people believe in a rapture? Why does it even matter?

This week we visit the spiritual collective @ Laodicea. You know the one? They are lukewarm and getting spewed out of God's mouth. Does that ring a bell? It is a strong image. But what is behind it? Turns out John is serious about those who have gotten too comfortable inside the empire. John calls them to open their blind eyes to the reality of the empire.

John begins his specific address to the seven spiritual collectives in Asia Minor. The collective at Ephesus is praised for their willingness to accept the cost of calling out those who have willingly aligned with the empire. But he also pleads with them to make sure their work of justice is centered and grounded in love.

To know what the text means you have to first know what the text meant. Let’s go deep into the historical context of Revelation. Then let's go deep into the literary context John is using. What do we discover? Not simply history but our own stories inside of this first century story.

Today we begin our series on Revelation with a simple yet profound truth.

Revelation is not a prediction about the end of the world. Revelation is about the uncovering of things that were hidden. Revelation is not written to us in 2025. Revelation was written to people in the first century living under the boot of the Roman Empire. It is in this context, we discover EVERYTHING REVEALED.

In Romans, Paul arms us with weapons of peace. He invites us to consider overcoming evil with good. The result? We will “heap burning coals on their heads.” What does that mean? I believe the answer can best be summed up in what Dr. King called, “A Double Victory.”

The Book of Romans has become a domesticated letter about individualistic salvation and personal righteousness. But Paul isn’t writing systematic theology here. Romans is indeed about salvation, but it is salvation from real forces of evil. Paul outlines very tangible ways that his community can be a peacemaker in the face of evil. What are we supposed to do with all this evil? What do I do when treated unjustly? How to behave in the face of injustice? How do we overcome evil?

Can conflict be healthy? Can conflict be a doorway to transformation? Today, we explore how the collective at Ephesus found themselves in some serious conflict which leads to a major disruption. But it’s in the midst of the conflict and disruption that something is birthed. The author calls it, ONE NEW HUMANITY.