Today you should read: Revelation 1:9-20
Back in my teenage years, a mentor of mine helped me process the idea of prophetic literature in the Bible. No, he didn’t tell me exactly how to interpret it (literal or figurative). But he did make me think of the big picture. Here’s what he said to me:
“In the Word, when God gives us glimpses of the future, it is always meant to inspire worship and obedience in the present.”
This struck quite chord with me. I had always been so caught up in what was going to happen when, that I never stopped to think about that idea. God wants us to see Him as Lord, sovereign over all things, fulfilling all things in Christ more than He wants us to figure out how every second of the end times plays out. I’d encourage you to espouse this idea in your own reading. Sure, you can dig deep and try to reconcile a timeline of how things will go, and you can try to determine which millennial view you most closely align with, but do not miss the forest for the trees. Let the grandeur of the book of Revelation cause your view of God and worship of Him to increase.
And as you read today’s passage, that’s exactly what you’ll find: John was struck with absolute awe by what he saw.
How have you viewed apocalyptic literature in the Bible? How can you view it differently in light of these thoughts?
By: Todd Thomas — Worship & College Pastor
JumpstartCPC.com 
I love in verses 9-10 John is exiled to an island being persecuted for preaching the gospel and what is he doing? Praising the Lord! He was being obedient and worshiping ready for what God was about to show him. Thanks Todd!
I am notorious for having strong opinions, and for trying to dive TOO deep in scripture at times. My end time views are like Erik said yesterday, different, but I can tell you that I haven’t ever stopped and worshiped God in the moment. I have tried so hard to be studious and Spiritual that missing the forest for the trees is commonplace for me.
Thanks for a great reminder Todd. I will read this book differently now.