While literal idolatry—the worship of pagan gods and their physical images—is less common today than in the first century, spiritual idolatry—manifest in excessive love for and ultimate trust in created things rather than in God, whether wealth, pleasure, science, technology, governments, institutions, celebrities, or leaders—is stronger than ever.

that the Spirit is the way in which the exalted Christ is present and active in the world

listened

It is therefore wise both to do our best to discern what is happening around us in the light of biblical prophecy and to respond faithfully, while at the same time remaining modest about our understanding of exactly how God will accomplish his purposes.

Revelation links the idolatrous materialistic culture of the Roman Empire with Babylon. For those with eyes to see, the consumerist, sexually immoral, and murderous (if we consider abortion and euthanasia) secular culture of the twenty-first century bears many of the same traits. In every age Christians must discern the manifestations of these evil

Typology recognizes that God works in recognizable patterns throughout history and that those who oppose God follow predictable patterns.

Revelation reminds Christians today, as it did its original readers, that despite appearances, Jesus Christ is Lord. God is seated on his throne, directing history toward the goal he intends.

Twenty centuries after Revelation was written, we know that the consummation of all things may or may not be “soon” in the time frame of our world, but a response to the gospel is nevertheless urgent in the life of every person and society. Revelation reminds us that our ultimate hope is not merely to die and go to heaven, but rather to see the

While the New Testament urges attention to the signs of the times and promotes awareness that the end is near, it does so not to satisfy our curiosity or to titillate us with insider knowledge but to exhort one and all to conduct our lives in light of ultimate realities.