I was waiting for an important document to finish today, so I read St. John's Revelation out loud to myself.
Revelation is heavy with Gospel proclamations, and I think they should shine even more obviously because they are so glowingly powerful about the Son of God, the Trinity, and the evil ones. People ruin the balance when they pick out ideas that seem odd or quirky.
Try reading Luke 21 - a miniature Revelation - on the threatening side.
My Waterloo Lutheran Seminarians of the 1970s have gone to their rewards (judge for yourselves). Their beautiful chapel hosts Doggie Day Care on cushions, and the seminary itself is sectarian for a future graduating class of 3 or 4. Likewise, the two giant Lutheran churches of the 1970s are 1) a motellette, and 2) another motellette.
The most important ingredient of this world - as Luther taught - is grace through faith, but it is the buried beneath the glory of Revelation gory.
22 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
