A reflection on Revelation 14:1–20

To listen to the unabridged audio subscribe to the podcast: Following the Lamb: Hope, Harvest, and the Gospel in Revelation 14

One of the easiest traps to fall into when reading Revelation is forgetting that we are reading symbols. It happens subtly — we encounter a passage that seems straightforward, one that aligns neatly with our expectations, and we quietly decide that this part must be literal. But Revelation doesn’t give us that option. John is telling us throughout: these are images. These are symbols. A principled reading of the text means we stay consistent, even when a passage seems to confirm what we already believe.

With that in mind, let’s walk through Revelation 14.

An Introduction to Amos A sermon series on the Prophet Amos — Week 1

To listen to the full unabridged audio of this message: Mandate of Mishpat - When God Turns the Mirror Around

Let me be honest with you: the minor prophets get a bad rap.

It’s right there in the name — minor — as if Amos and Hosea and Micah were somehow second-tier voices. But the only reason they’re called minor is because they were concise. They didn’t ramble on like Isaiah or Jeremiah. My seminary professors taught me that to be concise is to be skilled. So maybe we have it backwards. Maybe the minor prophets are the real majors.

And if that’s true, Amos deserves to be at the top of the list.

A Study in Revelation 13

You can listen to the full unabridged audio here: Dragons, Monsters, and the Powers Behind the Curtain

We’re deep in dragon-and-monster territory now. If you’ve been following along in Revelation, you know we’re not exactly in cheerful, Hallmark-card Christianity. And that’s precisely the point.

Before we dive into the text itself, a quick note on Bible navigation: all those chapter and verse numbers? They weren’t in the original. They were added later to help people find their place — and the running joke among Bible scholars is that the divisions were made by a monk on horseback, because the breaks don’t always make sense. Case in point: N.T. Wright ends chapter 12 where the NIV begins chapter 13. If you want to experience Scripture fresh, try copying a passage into a plain document, stripping out the chapter and verse numbers, and reading it without those interpretive interruptions.

Now, on to the monsters.

If you would like to listen to the unabridged message listen here: The Stories Are True

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb.

She wasn’t expecting a miracle. She was expecting a body.

That detail matters more than we usually let it.

You can listen to the full unabridged audio here: Revelation 8 - Behind the Cosmic Curtain

We are moving further up and further into the book of Revelation, specifically entering the “third cycle” of the vision in chapter 12. If you were making a TV show about the apocalypse but wanted to keep the source material a secret, this is where you would start. It’s mysterious, cosmic, and feels like a “behind the curtain” look at the universe.

However, for many readers, this is the point where the “brain on drugs” effect kicks in. The imagery is wild: a woman clothed in the sun, a seven-headed red dragon, and a cosmic war. But John is actually incredibly helpful here. He gives us a specific clue right at the start: “A great sign.”

You can listen to the unabridged post here: Glory Upside Down

Today is Palm Sunday—our annual reminder that the Kingdom of God doesn’t break into the world through tanks, armies, or military might. It doesn’t arrive with a show of force. Instead, it shows up on the back of a donkey, carried by a King who knows He is going to die.

Palm Sunday is a day of deep irony. We call it “Palm Sunday” because the crowds waved branches and shouted “Hosanna!” as Jesus entered Jerusalem. They treated Him like a conquering hero, but He wasn’t the kind of hero they wanted. In just a few days, those same crowds would turn on Him because He didn’t overthrow Rome. He didn’t play their game.

Because that’s not how the Kingdom comes. The Kingdom of God comes through a crucified Savior who reconciles all things by giving Himself away.

A Rule of Life isn’t about rigid structure or spiritual perfection—it’s about creating a simple, sustainable way of life that keeps you rooted in grace.

In this episode, we bring together everything from Season 1—attention, strength, flexibility, and recovery—and shape it into a rhythm you can actually live. Not an ideal life. Your real one.