Friday, January 6, 2006

Good Morning!

 

Our email system is down this morning, so this is probably getting to you late.

 

Our books came in yesterday, so I will have those on Sunday.  Let me know if you can't be there on Sunday to pick up a book, and I will be more than happy to drop one in your mailbox.

 

I think for the class reading, we will be starting with the Introduction section of the book, which has a lot of good background information.  One of the sections is the idea that there is a difference between prophecy and apocalyptic writing.  In a technical sense, Revelation is not a prophetic book, but an apocalyptic book.

 

Barclay outlines the difference in two dimensions.

 

-- Prophets thought in terms of the present world.  Their call was for justice (political, economic, etc.) and call to serve God in this place and time.  Prophets were generally optimistic, for they generally had the opinion if people heeded their call, the current world could be saved and reformed.  Also, prophets generally delivered their message in spoken form (though what they spoke was written down)

 

-- Apocalyptic writers thought of the world to come -- the current world could not be saved, and it had to be destroyed to make way for new world where things can be made right.  Also, apocalyptic messages were always written, not spoken -- primarily because the apocalyptic messages are generally written in symbolism and obscure references -- if they were spoken, no one would understand them -- they have to be on paper for people to read them and revisit them to get the meaning of the book.

 

Which is where we are with Revelation.  We'll start on Sunday.

Today's Scripture

At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in an cloud with power and great glory.  When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.

Luke 21:27-28

Today's prayer request:       The mining families of Tallmansville, West Virginia

 

It is a small community where this mining accident happened, and they have had their lives and their faith shaken to the core by the way this event has played out.  We need to remember all of them beginning today, as today will have the first of the 12 funerals to be held in that small town.

 

 

Today's class member prayer:

Brandon Herring

Have a great day.

Jay