If you’re looking for a straightforward explanation of God’s grand plan and your role in it, my book Your Life and What Comes After might be just right for you.
This book isn’t written for scholars or theologians. It’s written for ordinary people who are curious about life, about God, and about what the Bible actually says about the future.
You don’t need a religious background or special training to follow along. The goal here is simple: to walk through the Bible’s big story in clear, everyday language.
The book is divided into three parts.
Part One explains the big picture of God’s plan and how people throughout the Bible connected their lives to that plan.
Part Two explores what the Bible says about heaven, hell, the end of the world, and what comes after this life.
Part Three focuses on the most practical question of all: how do you and I plug into God’s forever plan right now in everyday life?
Saturday, June 6, was the 82nd anniversary of D-Day.
Those who stormed the beaches and carried out that momentous military operation were actual heroes, not self‑proclaimed, phony “resistance heroes.”
They sacrificed life and limb fighting and defeating actual fascism and real tyrants “over there.” They weren’t performing for clicks on TikTok, pretending to fight make‑believe “fascism” and imaginary kings “over here.”
Many of them were about the same age as today’s graduating seniors when they descended into the hell of places like Normandy.
Never forget the deeds of the Greatest Generation, and never take for granted the unparalleled freedom they purchased for us with their blood and lives.
Last week I listed a bunch of questions that a lot of folks ask about the Book of Revelation. This week we start looking at some answers.
Before we dive in though, let’s clear up something that always comes up – the last book of the Bible is NOT “Revelations,” plural; it’s “Revelation,” singular.
What Does “Revelation” Mean?
The Greek word translated as “Revelation” is apokalypsis, from which we get the English word “apocalypse.”
Apokalypsis doesn’t mean destruction or “the end of the world”. It literally and simply means “an unveiling,” “a revealing,” or “a disclosure.” Like pulling a curtain back so you can finally see what’s really going on.
The first verse says: “The Revelation of Jesus Christ…” (Revelation 1:1)
It’s important to understand that the book isn’t mainly about the Antichrist, beasts, dragons, 666, or end-times speculation. It’s about Jesus Christ being revealed.
When most people hear “Revelation,” they think zombies, world war, meteors, and that one weird guy on the internet with 47 prophecy charts. Nope. Forget about the movies, novels, and heavy metal imagery as we start answering the basic questions.
Who Wrote Revelation?
The author identifies himself simply as John (Revelation 1:1, 1:4, 1:9). Most early Christians believed this was John the Apostle—one of Jesus’ closest friends and the same John connected with the Gospel of John. But it may have been someone else writing as “John”, so I call the author of Revelation “John the Revelator.” Either way, the source is the same — a vision from God through Jesus Christ.
At the time, John the Revelator had been exiled to a small rocky island called Patmos for his faith in Christ. Not exactly a luxury vacation destination for sure. While there, he received a series of visions and wrote them down.
When Was Revelation Written?
Most scholars place the writing of Revelation around A.D. 95–96 during the reign of the Roman Emperor Domitian. That means the book was written nearly 2,000 years ago when believers were facing pressure, persecution, and uncertainty about the future.
They wondered about some of the same things many believers all over the world wonder about in our own time:
Is evil winning?
Does God care?
How does this story end?
Revelation was written to answer those questions.
So What?
Revelation isn’t a horror movie script or a puzzle designed to confuse people. It’s a book written by John the Revelator around A.D. 95 that unveils who Jesus is, who ultimately wins, and how human history repeats itself, pitting empires and tyrants against God’s people.
So, read Revelation chapter 1 for yourself. You might discover the book is far less weird—and far more hopeful—than you’ve been told.
Over the weekend, Israel and Iran exchanged direct military strikes once again, raising fears that the region could slide into a broader war. Reports indicate Iranian missile attacks were followed by Israeli strikes on military targets inside Iran before both sides signaled a temporary pause. The ceasefire remains fragile, and tensions continue across Lebanon and the wider Middle East.
For Christians, moments like this create a temptation: either panic or obsession.
Some people treat every missile launch like it came with a free copy of Revelation attached. Others ignore the situation completely. The Bible calls us to neither extreme.
Jesus warned that there would be “wars and rumours of wars,” but He also said, “See that ye be not troubled” (Matthew 24:6). Notice that. He didn’t say the conflicts wouldn’t happen. He said His followers should not be ruled by fear.
Whether today’s headlines are directly connected to end-times prophecy or simply another chapter in humanity’s long history of conflict, they remind us of one thing: this world is not our ultimate hope. Christ is.
Spend five minutes today praying for peace in the Middle East, protection for civilians, and courage for Christians living in the region. Then turn off the doom-scrolling and spend ten minutes in God’s Word. One of those feeds your anxiety. The other feeds your soul.
Researchers are tracking a rise in nihilistic, grievance-driven extremism among young people. – American University
And new data shows America’s religious landscape is shifting rapidly in conflicting directions. – WiFiTalents
At first glance, these stories seem unrelated. They’re not.
When people lose confidence that life has a Creator, a purpose, and a moral foundation, they don’t stop searching for meaning. They simply start looking elsewhere. Some chase politics. Some chase pleasure. Some chase outrage. And some eventually conclude that nothing really matters at all.
That’s the dark promise of nihilism: if there is no ultimate truth, there is no ultimate purpose. But the human heart was never built to live on a diet of meaninglessness. It’s like trying to run a pickup truck on maple syrup. Creative? Yes. Effective? Not so much.
Scripture offers a very different vision:
“For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.” (Romans 11:36)
The Bible says your life is not an accident. You were created on purpose, for a purpose, by a God who knows your name. The growing confusion around us isn’t ultimately a political crisis or a cultural crisis. It’s a meaning crisis.
Take ten minutes today and write down your answer to this question: What am I living for? Then compare your answer to Romans 11:36 and see where the two differ.
Make sure you’re not putting maple syrup in your tank.
Iran says its attack on Kuwait was self-defense. Negotiations with the United States have now been suspended. Independent
Israeli strikes in Lebanon continue. Politicians blame politicians. Generals blame generals. Everybody promises a solution. Military.com
And yet the Middle East remains what it has been for thousands of years: a place searching for peace and rarely finding it.
Every generation believes the right leader, the right government, the right treaty, or the right movement will finally fix the world. We keep looking for a political messiah.
The Bible says that longing is real—but we’ve been looking in the wrong place.
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given… and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” — Isaiah 9:6 (KJV)
Notice that Jesus is called the Prince of Peace, not the Negotiator of Peace. Real peace won’t be accomplished at a conference table. Real peace will only be realized when Jesus Christ returns in power and glory to establish God’s kingdom on earth.
That’s why every human peace plan eventually cracks. You can sign agreements on paper, but you can’t legislate away sin.
The headlines remind us that humanity’s deepest problem has never changed. Neither has God’s solution.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
This is the second installment of the Armchair Apocalypse series.
Once again, my goal in this series is not to do a verse-by-verse commentary or a scholarly study of Revelation, but rather to try to answer the common questions that come up about Revelation, the Apocalypse. I will try to answer those questions in simple, plain language that makes sense to everyday folks.
Let’s look at the questions and topics we will be answering and discussing in this ongoing Armchair Apocalypse series, which will appear every Wednesday here on Bible Rebel.
What Is Revelation Really About?
Who Wrote Revelation, and When Was it Written?
Can We Understand Revelation?
Literal or Symbolic?
Is Revelation Being Fulfilled Right Now?
Does Modern Israel Play a Role in Prophecy?
What do the Seven Churches Represent?
Why Does God Allow Such Terrible Judgments?
The Seven Seals
The Seven Trumpets
The Seven Bowls
The Four Horsemen
The Antichrist
The Mark of the Beast
The Great Tribulation
The Rapture Debate
The 144,000
The Two Witnesses
Armageddon
The Millennium
The Final Judgment
The New Heaven and New Earth
Why Revelation Is Ultimately a Book of Hope
We have a lot to get to, so plan on joining me every Wednesday for this exciting ride.
For years, we’ve been told the story was simple: Christianity is declining, churches are emptying, and faith is becoming irrelevant. All certainly true enough.
But maybe there’s some light starting to show at the end of this tunnel.
A recent Gallup poll found that young men are becoming more interested in religion, with significantly more men ages 18–29 saying faith is important in their lives and attending religious services than just a few years ago. At the same time, reports from churches around the country describe growing numbers of Gen Z men looking for community, purpose, and meaning.
Why?
Because endless scrolling isn’t a substitute for purpose, online influencers can’t answer life’s toughest questions, and because human beings were created for something bigger than themselves.
And maybe some folks are starting to get a better understanding of priorities.
“Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness…” (Matthew 6:33)
Notice what these young men aren’t looking for: more entertainment, more apps, or more self-help slogans. They’re looking for meaning, purpose, and the Big Picture
So What?
Try this: Read Matthew 5–7 and ask God to show you where you’re seeking meaning in the wrong places. The answer may be closer than you think.
