"For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”- Revelation 7:17
This often quoted scripture is a funeral favorite. Promises of no more pain, suffering, no tears left to cry - what grieving family or friends would not want this reassurance and words of comfort?
Another popular place where this scripture is quoted - at the beginning of the much beloved Kirk Franklin song “Revolution.” Legendary Grammy Award winner Kirk Franklin opens this song by singing the words of John in Revelation. Mr. Franklin goes on to address the ways in which we as Christians can bring these promises of peace to Earth, today. He discusses a wide range of topics from murder and absent parents, to racism and pollution.
Growing up, I always thought of Revelation to be prophecy and it was meant to be read through this lens only. This is similar to how other scripture is sometimes (wrongly) taught to be read through literal lenses (Genesis) or poetical lenses (Song of Solomon).
But what if we read these verses as a call to a revolution instead of a prophetical revelation? What if we took seriously the words of Jesus and prayed for our enemies, flipped over the tables of injustice, embraced those we disagree with, and allowed peace to reign? Imagine a life without daily gun violence, the end of environmental tragedies through climate change, the end of endless wars due to power hungry nations, and the end of poverty because of corporate greed.
This can happen in our lifetimes. Sure, it’s going to take a ton of work to get there. It’s going to take more than thoughts, prayers, and middle of the road towing. But I think we can do it, together.
Are you ready for the revolution?
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