Discipleship Essentials Day 76: End times Revelation 21:1-5

·30 min·3 clips

A church staffer admits he doesn't like studying the end times—why does he find it so difficult?

This episode is part of the Essentials Pathway, a year-long discipleship program for college juniors at New Vision Baptist Church. Host Cloud and guest Ben Curtis focus on the module about eschatology, or the end times. Cloud opens by confessing he doesn't enjoy eschatology because it's loaded with debate and misconceptions, and he notes that even church staff may have different viewpoints. Ben outlines what the pathway covers: defining eschatology, Jesus's return as a conquering hero, the unknown timing, life after death, the new creation, hell, and the book of Revelation. They discuss why college students should care about the end times, emphasizing that it strengthens trust in God and provides hope amid anxiety. Ben gives an introduction to Revelation, explaining it was written by John on Patmos during Domitian's reign around AD 80-96 to help God's people remain faithful. He highlights that Revelation is apocalyptic literature, using symbols and imagination, and was intended for ordinary believers, not just scholars. The conversation touches on genre, noting it mixes prophecy, letters, and vision. Ben suggests reading hacks: approach with a posture of worship, keep Jesus central, and use the Old Testament as a map for symbols. He explains that Revelation often recapitulates history from different angles, like camera views, and uses the number seven to signify completeness. They address two types of people: those who avoid Revelation and those who are overly focused on charts and predictions. Ben urges humility, citing scholar Tom Schreiner's changing views, and warns that obsession with timelines can hurt the church's evangelistic mission. The episode concludes with an encouragement to read Revelation for hope, focusing on the new heavens and new earth.

As heard by us

Revelation as formation, not fear.

Revelation is treated here less as a fear machine than as a call to stay steady, and the focus stays on who believers become while they wait for Jesus' return.

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Need a steady guide through Revelation?

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