"Have An Apocalyptic Day.": Chapter 1: Shalom and Grace

It's a little weird to say this as a mainline Protestant clergy person, but I absolutely love the Book of Revelation. Yes, it's weird. Yes, it contains a lot of pain and violence. And most importantly, YES, it has been abused and misused by charlatans and mentally unstable zealots more times than can be counted.

 Still, woven through the layers of symbolic language is a fairly straightforward word of hope for a people--two thousand years ago, and today--who already feel as though their world is ending. Jesus, who sacrificed himself for the world like a Passover Lamb, lives and reigns at the heart of creation, both now and into eternity. And his intent is to make all things new.

A few months back, I decided to interpret Revelation into poetry. Sonnets, in fact. I enjoyed the challenge of a set rhyme scheme, and of boiling down the concepts found in the book into short phrases. 

The Greek word apocalypse does NOT mean the end of the world. It means "revealing." Apocalypses were a common form of writing two thousand years ago, usually featuring an earthly traveler having a transformative vision with the help of a divine guide.   

John's vision of Christ gives him insights into "what is and what will take place after this" (1:9). I see in John's vision a kind of "heaven's eye view" of earthly events, and how history often repeats itself: how oppression often plants the seeds of its own demise, and patient faithfulness conquers by enduring. 

My Poetic Take on REVELATION 1

1. Shalom and grace to you, from One who was

Who is, and is to come, and from the throne

And seven more supporters of the cause

And Jesus, who from death is born alone.

I, brother John, who share with you the pain

The Reign of God, within the holy wait,

In Spirit, on the Lord’s Day, was ordained 

On Patmos, sev’n lampstands to contemplate 

In gold and white and bronze, the Human Son

With voice that sounds like ev’ry ocean’s rage

The first and last, the dead yet living one

With each lampstand a topic did engage

Now write for them what is and is to be

The faithful and the patient shall be free.