Revelation: Heresy?

It's not a typo. The book is really called Revelation - not revelationS. It's just one revelation.

Anyway.

I heard an excellent point about heresy. Often, we only think of it as teaching incorrect things. However, heresy also includes not teaching all there is to teach. I encounter this a lot when teaching kids about Bible stories. We never tell them David cut off Goliath's head. And David slept with a married woman. You never Cain and Abel in kid's Bibles.

I understand age appropriateness.

But sadly, this is also true of a lot of adults. We leave bits and pieces out of our stories. We don't want to scare people, offend people, or look crazy so we water it down. I have heard many people admit to never reading Revelation because it is too scary. They can't believe our God of love and grace would shower down the bowls and trumpets of judgement on earth. So, we avoid that part of the Bible all together.

I admit, it is a hard read. You feel an overwhelming sense of grief and compassion for those who will experience the end times, and an overwhelming peacefulness if you are marked and sealed by God. Because it says clearly harm will not come upon those with God's seal on their forehead (see previous post "sealed by God").

After reading through the beginning of Revelation (up to chapter 10 so far), I see God in a whole new light. It has expanded my understanding of His grace, tolerance, and wrath. It has made me love Him more. And the book even STARTS by saying blessed are those who read this and hear it. Blessed!

So, consider learning the full Gospel story. You'll be a lot less surprised at the end of days if you know how it ends. There should be a spoiler alert at the beginning of Revelation, for sure.