Discipleship On The Edge

Johnson, Darrell, W. Discipleship On The Edge. An expository journey through the book of Revelation.

Regent College Publishing. 2004.

(Darrell Johnson is an associate professor of pastoral theology at Regent College in Vancouver.)

Johnson takes the view that the book of Revelation is really a ‘blueprint for discipleship’ rather than what it seems many people think it is, i.e. a’crystal ball’ to help us look into the future. As a commentary on Revelation this book is an excellent resource for study and sermon preparation or a handbook for small group bible study. My review will be focused on highlighting ideas that are either new to me or expressed in a way that I felt added to my appreciation of this popular last book of the Bible.

(Our pastor is completing an interesting series on the book of Revelation. To listen to his messages check out our web site Willow Park Church.

“There is more to life than we can know with our unaided senses and intellect and emotions.” (19) The fundamental issue addressed in Revelation is still the issue in our time, i.e. whom do we worship. The message of the book is embodied in images. The historical and literary setting is explained. “The primary exhortation of Revelation is- listen and look.” (27)

We are challenged with the reality that is way beyond the comprehension of our senses. Imagery helps us with this challenge. The communications that John received were not just concepts that developed in his head, they were outside of himself, e.g. he turned to see the voice he heard behind him, etc. John’s first vision is none other than Jesus himself, revealed in his ‘cosmic’ splendor.

Although there were far more than seven churches, seven churches each received a message and these messages are for all the churches. These messages are to still to be heeded by churches today. We are taken through an expositional journey of these messages. The messages are for the church of Jesus Christ, past, present and future.

When looking at the apocalyptic literature of John we must remember, “Things are not as they seem”. (129) John describes his vision of the throne room and all the activities surrounding the throne as determined by the one on the throne. The significance of the slain Lamb is explained.

The passage of the seven seals is difficult. The vision of chapter seven is a welcome interlude in the devastation of the seven seals. “In the sounding of the seven trumpets (ch. 8-11) is an inescapable fact of history.” (190) It is a new way of saying what has already been said in the inspired Word. Numbers in Revelation are to be viewed as symbols rather than statistics.

The issues relating to the question, “Whose disciple are you?” (267) are spelled out. The Lord’s disciples are clearly described. The wrath of God, a topic that can be traced throughout scripture, becomes a theme of chapters 15 and 16. It is directed at sin in judgment. Babylon personifies this sin.

As we come to the end of the book we are introduced to the grand topic of the marriage supper of the Lamb. When it comes to the millennialism that arises from the reference to the thousand years in chapter 20 we need to remember that numbers are to be treated as symbols not statistics. Another reminder is in order regarding apocalyptic literature: “things are not as they seem”. (369) The relevance of John’s revelation is illustrated by the profound phrase in chapter 22:10. “The time is near.” We live in that time of fulfillment of what John was writing about.