Hi Family.

This week our attention has been drawn to the big things.
The “Ever Given”, a container ship longer than the Eiffel Tower, ran aground in the southern part of the Suez canal in Egypt, leaving dozens of vessels gridlocked as they attempt to transit between the Red Sea and Mediterranean.

This week we have heard that famous Peter Montgomery line, ” the America's Cup is now New Zealand's cup!” generating great memories of David overcoming Goliath as us “Kiwi’s” had beaten the American’s in 1995. Even though we seem to be leading the technological advances in this year’s 2021 victory! The past is not forgotten and is often linked to the now.
Roger became a grandad this week and I am sure there has been a mention of the echoes of the Kendrew features in little Eden Rose.
All through our coming and goings we see the ‘past’ as echoes in our now whether it be habits, experiences or behaviours. Revelation is rich in those echoes of the Old Testament throughout the entirety of the book.
Revelation speaks of God’s past behaviour: Genesis, Exodus, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel. Above all the death and resurrection of Christ. The past inspires. It gives courage for the now. And hope for the future.
The amount of Old Testament material subtly and skilfully threaded into the Revelation narrative is amazing. God’s past behaviour points to his future conduct. For God’s people that is Good News.

Revelation – Week#4 – Repetition
This week has been a bit of a shake up for some and a release to freedom for others. Covid Alert level changes and a Tsunami warning all in a matter of a day has seen our news agencies on overdrive. The messages where coming thick and fast on Friday as we drove from Kuripapango to Hastings listening to the radio having been out of internet range at our overnight campsite by a cliff.
Over and over again. We heard the message. Go to higher ground. Do not go near the coast. The words were repeated over and over again. Then the government officials gave their media conference and each person repeated the same message as the previous speaker.
That’s how we communicate, orally, because repetition gets the message across.
And that is the same for Revelation. Throughout the entire book of Revelation we see the pattern of repetition, because Revelation was written in a time when oral communication was the main form of getting the message passed on. Just look at chapter 4 & 5 which focus on God and Christ respectively. Both are worthy to receive glory, honour and power.
Read through the entire book of revelation with this lens of repetition on and see if you are reading different scenes or the same scene from a different view point as you notice the repetition of words, themes and outcome. You might just be surprized at what the message is John is trying to get across.

Revelation 3

Revelation 2