Eusebeia with Josh Kruger

"Minor" Prophets - an Introduction

The "minor" prophets aren't younger than 18.  And they aren't playing triple-A ball hoping to get called up to the major leagues.  Rather they've been called that in church history simply because their biblical books are shorter than the likes of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel.  I was asked to sub for a teacher at our church and will be teaching on the "minor" prophets soon.  So for the podcast audience, I thought I'd share with you this teaching as well.  It's an introduction to the "minor" prophets.

Reading Revelation 6:8-11 (RR15)

Death.  The final "horseman of the apocalypse."  Kings, war, famine, and now...  death.  And Hades close behind.  The judgments of God on a sinful humankind.  Why will God bring death?  For His faithful followers have themselves been killed.  War has been waged against God's people.  So God brings war against those who destroy His people.  The witnesses who were loyal to the bitter end cry out to God for justice.  When will God act?  When will God make things right?  The persecuted church cries out.

Reading Revelation 5:10-6:7 (RR14)

The vision of the heavenly throne room and temple scene comes to a close with some powerful revelations.  Then a pivot to focusing on the Lamb who opens the sealed scroll.  The revealing - the prophesying - of judgment to come!  Like Daniel and Zechariah and Isaiah of old, John also is positioned between competing powers.  God will have the final judgment and final victory.  It begins to unfold as we continue to explore apocalypse.

Exodus - an Introduction

The book of Exodus.  I will be teaching on this at my church.  So why not also share with the podcast community?  A brief pause from our journey through "Reading Revelation."  The book of Exodus - an introduction.  Enjoy!

Reading Revelation 5:6-9 (RR13)

The heavenly throne room and temple scene continues.  The focus is on the Lamb who is worthy to open the scroll.  Is this a literal Lamb?  Discover how John actually uses creatures/animals as part of his symbolism and metaphor in this Apocalypse.  John reminds the seven churches (and us) about who is worthy of worship.  This will be important going forward as we run into counter claims of worship worthiness and other creatures that might not be very heavenly at all.  Check it out.

Reading Revelation 4:10-5:5 (RR12)

The heavenly throne room and temple scene continues with Revelation 4 and 5.  In today's episode we are reminded to worship the Creator and look to the Lion of Judah, the Root of David and Jesse.  Not created things and the human rulers in our lives.  A powerful reminder that will set up a huge contrast in the rest of the scroll to come.

Reading Revelation 4:6-9 (RR11)

The worship scene in the heavenly throne room and temple continues.  Here in 4:6-9 John sees a very similar vision to what Ezekiel and Isaiah saw.  John here will also quote the prophet Daniel as well.  Three prophets who lived under oppressive empires hundreds of years before John.  And now he's living in a similar situation.  Is Rome invincible?  Will Rome last forever?  Is Rome and Rome's gods and values worthy of worship?  In this episode the prophet and elder John give us a resounding answer.

Reading Revelation 4:1-5 (RR10)

John's writing and focus shifts.  From the letters to the churches (chapters 2-3) to now a heavenly vision!  John is granted the same kind of access as Ezekiel, Daniel, Isaiah, and Moses.  God's presence!  In both a throne room and a temple!  Where I AM, the God of Jesus, reigns as both King and God.  Where it is God, not Caesar, who is glorified, honored, worshipped, obeyed.  Where Jesus reigns as King of kings.  Not the emperor of Rome.  John speaks a powerful vision here to the churches to whom he writes, many of which are under the thumb of persecution.  And in this podcast episode we too will be challenged to think in these ways and how to walk in the seven spirits of God.  Check it out.

Reading Revelation 3:14-22 (RR9)

The final of the seven churches - Laodikea.  The unveiling/revealing/apocalypse continues.  Revealing to the congregation in Laodikea that though they thought they were rich and well clothed and doing great, they were actually poor and naked and caught up in loving prosperity instead of the God who graciously provided that prosperity in the first place.  Sound like a culture you live in?  Check it out.

Reading Revelation 3:1-13 (RR8)

The Christian prophet John continues to write to two more churches.  They feel the weight and persecution of empire.  They face the temptations of the world.  Yet if they overcome those worldly powers, then awesome rewards lie ahead.  There is hope!  See how John uses Isaiah and Ezekiel to help us form a lens for understanding this hope... thru apocalypse!