What do you imagine the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet are meant to evoke? It is clear that numbers are very important to the author in this letter. Is there importance to this threefold threat?
The portrayal of God and God’s forces seem to be more like the God written about in Exodus than the God described by Jesus. How does Revelation challenge modern readers’ claim that there is a “wrathful God” and a “gentle God” differentiated by the two testaments?
The author is cleverly comparing Rome to Babylon through the vibrant imagery provided in chapter 17. What does this comparison mean to the readers of this letter?
Applying the Text:
Revelation was written long before our modern awareness of the ecological crisis, but in his vision John of Patmos warns us of the possibility of the reversal of creation, the virtual destruction of heaven and earth. Does his insistence on the judgment of God and the hope for repentance shed any light on our anxiety about the future of the earth and its resources?
We tend to think of evil deeds, evil decisions and even evil people. What we do not often talk about in many of our American churches is the idea that Evil is larger and stronger than particular evils—like a ravening beast. Is this just a childish notion best discarded, or might it point to a truth about the extent and endurance of evil?