by Katherine Harms

Created on: April 08, 2009

The apocalypse is a cosmic battle between God and Satan. In the book of Revelation, there is a description of such a battle in a place called Armageddon. If people believe that the book of Revelation is like a day planner for the end of the world, then they might be able to calculate the time when that battle will occur. Jesus, however, said that we cannot know such things. He said that detail about the end of the time-space continuum is in the hands of God, completely out of reach to anyone living in time and space.

In fact, the book of Revelation is not a calendar or a day planner or a project timeline. It is a revelation that enlightens us about both the present and the future. Anyone who reads through the book will notice that the time references are not sequential. The book actually runs through the continuum of time twice, each time with a different focus. Each time the symbolism is different. The usefulness of Revelation, however, is not the timeline but the point of view.

The viewpoint of Revelation toggles between time and eternity. In eternity, Satan has already been defeated, and the Lamb of God sits at the right hand of the throne of God, slain since before the creation of the earth. In heaven, angels and saints eternally worship God. In time, there is a parade of disastrous events. Disaster follows disaster as Satan assaults human beings. In heaven, there is an expectation that humans will turn to God when they are under assault by Satan, but very few do.

There is, however, hope for humanity. In Revelation 8 we read that the action stops as the prayers of the saints rise up like incense before the throne of God. Revelation 7 has already described worship on earth and in heaven, the testimony of the faithful, which holds Satan at bay. This scene is much more important than the apocalypse. This scene shows us how to survive and thrive in a world of chaos. We who claim the name of Christ must be faithful in worship, testimony and prayer. That is our defense against Satan. It is a beautiful image, re-enacted every time a congregation gathers for worship, or every time two or three gather together in the name of Christ.

The apocalypse does not rate much attention in the book of Revelation. It is listed and passed over and left behind in the run to the new heaven and the new earth. The last blow that ends Satan's work in finite time is simply a prelude to the end of time and space, followed by the beginning of an eternity in which God comes down to dwell

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