This morning, I began reading the book of Revelation. As the world considers yet another war – a war with global implications – its words seem appropriate for this time in history.

One hindrance to understanding what John wrote is the systematic forms of theology and eschatology we have created to understand this book and other related Scripture. We use our systems of belief to approach and interpret the book, forcing our understanding of what we think will happen to align with our predispositions.

No system of eschatology is perfect. Only Jesus can meet such measures of authority and perfection, “He is the faithful witness to these things, the first to rise from the dead, and the ruler of all the kings of the world” (Revelation 1:5).

The Lord told John, “Write down what you have seen—both the things that are now happening and the things that will happen” (vs. 19). Revelation and its truth can be mysterious. It is a revelation of what has happened in the past and what will happen in the future. Only the Spirit can bring such a revelation.

As I read the letters to the seven churches, I read them as a composite word to the entire Church. Jesus said, “I am the one who searches out the thoughts and intentions of every person” (2:23).

We all have thoughts and intentions. Our thoughts, no matter how well-educated and composed they sound, should not be what we should stand upon when the world takes a dark turn. An intention is what we use to aim at something or plan our future course of action. Our thoughts and intentions will fail when truly biblical events occur, and dismay covers the Earth. Only a mind fixed upon the Lord will endure such unsettling events.

Jesus promised us something, “Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have so that no one will take away your crown. 3:10-11). God’s protection is where we should place our trust, not in our thoughts or intentions.

Our most powerful understanding of the unsettling events of the present and what will happen in the future is trusting God when our current understanding of eschatology fails. Trusting God only comes from our intimacy with Him. That intimacy will keep us close to the Lord when our systems of eschatology are dismantled by events that do not fit with our current understanding of both present and future events.

A repeated theme was spoken to the seven churches, “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.”