We have premodernists, modernists, and postmodernists all tryingto read the book of Revelation at the same time in the same room. In this essay I will identify five challenges or opportunitiesfacing pastors at the end of the second millennium. I see three aspects of understanding your people in the light of the gospel. First, eschatology is a powerfulforce and we would do well to understand why. I find this glee troubling.
Christians todayhave a responsibility to avoid the temptation of survivalism.
The Ministry of Understanding the Book of Revelation Pastors have a wonderful opportunity to learn about and to teach the book of Revelation as the new millenniumdawns. This book is a wonderful resource for congregational life. Revelation contains more hymns and scenes of worship than any other book of the New Testament. The deconstructive and reconstructive rhetorical power of its worship scenes should not be underestimated. These hymns and worship scenes are constantly at work to create in the believing community a new and empowering visionof God and of what is going on in the world today.