Worthy Is the Lamb
The Book of Revelation as a Drama
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
Revelation is Christian prophesy, with many similarities to the Hebrew prophets of the Old Testament. It’s a prophetic message for believers in the first-century AD. Prophesy may foretell the future, but it may also tell forth (or explain) the meaning of events occurring during the prophet’s lifetime. The author writes about what must soon take place (1:1) and says the time is near (1:3). He writes from an understanding of a first-century worldview that divides time into two ages: this age and the age to come. He tells forth the meaning of events occurring during his own lifetime as he looks ahead to the expected age to come. Revelation’s larger message speaks to all churches throughout history and remains vitally important to us today.
Revelation is also apocalyptic literature. Apocalypse is the English form of the Greek word translated as Revelation. It means the unveiling of what is hidden. This book’s purpose is to unveil Jesus Christ and, through Christ, to reveal God (John 14:7–10). This apocalyptic style was popular with Jewish and Christian writers in the centuries before and after Christ. Apocalyptic literature is known for symbolism and imagery in portraying cataclysmic events and epic battles between good and evil.
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
Worthy is the Lamb describes the Book of Revelation as a carefully fashioned drama, a power packed presentation of an age-old battle between good and evil, truth and falsehood. It is a call to faith-based resistance on matters of life and death. The Lamb stands at the center of this war of the worlds, a cosmic drama taking place in the choices that ordinary people make daily. Who has ears to hear? Who will hold fast to faith in the face of suffering and death? Who are the evil threesome? What is the big lie? This message of Revelation continues to be as relevant today as 2000 years ago. The drama sounds its urgent call to resist the evil around us all; to resist the beast that feeds on lies and on all the latest conspiracies.
About the Author
Pastor Roland England has led United Church of Christ congregations for 45 years. He is the founding pastor of Christian Community Church in Northern Loudoun County, Virginia. He and his wife, Nancy have been married nearly 54 years and have three sons, James, Michael and Nathan. As a community pastor, Roland’s ministry extends well beyond his church family. He is also active in Celebrate Recovery and the Credo Retreat ministry. He is employed part-time as a Security Guard and is an accomplished stained-glass artist. Roland has a BA from Eastern Mennonite University and a MDiv from Union Presbyterian Seminary.