Iowa City Church Podcast Tom Steele

The book of Revelation (notice there is no "s" on the end) is one of the most misunderstood books of the Bible. It is not a book that describes how the world is going to end nor is it written scare people (though there are some scary images).

Revelation is a book written to give hope and encouragement to Christians who were facing hardship and persecution in first century Asia Minor. The main message of the book is to remain faithful to King Jesus and don't compromise no matter what the cost.

The reason this message is often lost on most readers is because it was written in a unique, yet common style of writing called Apocalyptic literature. The genre is described this way by Tim Mackie from Bible Project:

"Apocalyptic literature is a prophet's symbolic dreams and visions that reveal God's Heavenly perspective on history and current events so that the present could be viewed in light of history's final outcome." 

With this definition in hand, what we have in the book of Revelation is God's "Big Picture" plan of how history, and real time events are working to lead to the realization of God's Kingdom coming to fulfillment in a New Heaven and a New Earth. 
At the center of God's plan to bring about this fulfillment is Jesus. In Revelation there are three distinct images of Jesus given: a high priest, a slain lamb, and a king on a white horse. These three descriptions are essential in reminding the readers as to who Jesus is, the roles that he plays in our lives and why he is worthy of our allegiance and worship.
Give a listen to the conclusion of our Big Picture sermon series by taking a closer look at who Jesus is and why devoting our lives to him leads us to the destination our hearts desire.

One can't have a discussion regarding The Big Picture of the Bible without talking about God's Kingdom. From Genesis to Revelation, God's Kingdom pops up (though subtle at times) everywhere. Then, when Jesus arrives on the scene it literally becomes his main preaching point through out his ministry:

"The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!" ~ Mark 1:15

This gospel message from Jesus was a call for people to leave their old kingdoms and join God's Kingdom. Jesus pushes this idea even further when he says our prayers should include a request that God's Kingdom would advance on earth. We are to pray:

"your kingdom come your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." ~ Matthew 6:10

The Kingdom of God was a big deal to Jesus. The question we must answer is this: Is the Kingdom of God a big deal for us?
We all are a part of a kingdom, be it our personal kingdoms, the kingdom of politics, or any kingdom of power in the world today. The problem with these kingdoms is that while they seemingly appear to offers us something, in reality they take, divide, and ultimately use...only to cast us away.

On the other hand, Jesus tells us that in God's Kingdom the last are first, that those who mourn will be comforted, that those who are meek will inherit the earth, and that those who are peacemakers will be called children of God. What a dramatically different description then what we see in the kingdoms of our world. 

In this latest installment of the Big Picture we discover why it is worth pledging our allegiance God's Kingdom.

A woman in Sunderland, England nearly leapt to her death in 2018 from Wearmouth Bridge, very well known as a place where people come to end their lives. She now returns to that site regularly to post messages encouraging others who are having a rough time to get help.
Paige Hunter, now 21, says that when she was a teenager suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, she found herself standing at the edge of the bridge, thinking about ending it all. That’s when a pair of Good Samaritans approached Hunter, telling her “You are worth so much more than this.”
That not only stopped her from jumping, but changed her life. The next day, Hunter wrote those eight words that were told to her on several pieces of paper and posted them all over the bridge where she had her epiphany. That’s where her campaign, Notes of Hope, began.
Since then, Hunter said she’s left over 1,000 laminated, handwritten messages on the Wearmouth Bridge encouraging others struggling with mental health issues to seek help. She’s received lots of feedback and thinks she’s saved dozens of lives through her efforts—and even improved her own. Hunter said, “It’s definitely therapeutic for me to write these messages.”
25-year-old Callum Doggrell said his life was saved by Hunter’s efforts. “I was going through a really rough patch, and I was at a point in my life where I didn’t want to be here anymore,” he said. That was in early 2019. He thought about his one-year-old son and other loved ones and decided to push past his trouble and carry on. He and Hunter are now in contact.
We can't talk about The Big Picture of the Bible without spending some time with it's most famous verse: 

"16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." ~ John 3:16

We learn that God so loves his creation that he is willing to give his son to save people and generously provide them with eternal life. In a truly stunning move, God demonstrates the value of people; they are worth the sacrifice of his son.

This amazing news means everything to those who believe in Jesus. To find ourselves in a place of despair and hopelessness only to discover there is a savior who can change the narrative forever! It reminds me of Paige Hunter's story and how words of hope can change everything.

Paige took those words of hope and found a mission to help others. What about followers of Jesus? Do we not carry the same type of mission?

There is a shift that occurs when a person chooses to follow Jesus. Before following Jesus we live as if the world revolves around us. However, in following Jesus we move into second place...the place where King Jesus and his mission takes first place in our lives. If our savior humbled himself to save us, shouldn't that be our posture as well?

Check out part eight of The Big Picture and learn how to live a life of "second place" and take up the mission of Jesus.

The fine-tuning of the universe is shown in the precise strengths of four basic forces. Gravity is the best known of these forces, and the weakest, with a relative strength of 1.

Next comes the weak nuclear force that holds neutrons together inside an atom. It is 1034 times stronger than gravity but works only at subatomic distances.

Electromagnetism is 1,000 times stronger than the weak nuclear force.

The strong nuclear force—which keeps protons together in the nucleus of an atom—is 100 times stronger yet. If even one of these forces had a slightly different strength, the life-sustaining universe we know would be impossible.
If gravity were slightly stronger, all stars would be large, like the ones that produce iron and other heavier elements, but they would burn out too rapidly for the development of life. On the other hand, if gravity were weaker, the stars would endure, but none would produce the heavier elements necessary to form planets.
The weak nuclear force controls the decay of neutrons. If it were stronger, neutrons would decay more rapidly, and there would be nothing in the universe but hydrogen. However, if this force were weaker, all the hydrogen would turn into helium and other elements.
The electromagnetic force binds atoms to one another to form molecules. If it were either weaker or stronger, no chemical bonds would form, so no life could exist.
Finally, the strong nuclear force overcomes the electromagnetic force and allows the atomic nucleus to exist. Like the weak nuclear force, changing it would produce a universe with only hydrogen or with no hydrogen.
In sum, without planets, hydrogen, and chemical bonds, there would be no life as we know it. Besides these four factors, there are at least twenty-five others that require pinpoint precision to produce a universe that contains life. Getting each of them exactly right suggests the presence of an Intelligent Designer.
Source: Charles Edward White, "God by the Numbers," Christianity Today (March 2006)
Every day we go about our lives, moving from one project to the next, not even stopping to marvel at how fortunate we are to even exist. To pause and consider that every little detail, from gravity to electromagnetic force, is precisely fine tuned for us to live and move about on this planet is truly remarkable. It's even more remarkable when you realize who made it happen.

The apostle Paul writes:
"For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities,; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." ~ Colossians 1:16-17

If Christ Jesus is the one who created gravity, and if he is the one who rules over all powers and authorities, and if in him all things hold together, what could he do with your life of chaos?

To consider what a life with Jesus at the center looks like, check out part seven of the Big Picture! 

Listen to guest preacher David McCoy continue with part six of our sermon series, The Big Picture. 

Evan Osgood, the student ministry pastor from Antioch Christian Church continues our sermon series in part five of The Big Picture.