What is Reclaiming Revelation?
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"Rapture" theology (otherwise known as premillennial dispensationalism) is one of the most prominent understandings in America today regarding the end-times. At its core, the idea of the "rapture" and the rest of dispensationalist theology relies on escapism, where faithful Christians will be "raptured" or taken from the earth prior to a seven year time of tribulation that will come upon the whole world.
Due to its obscure imagery and unfamiliar style of writing, many churches and denominations have shied away from attempting to interpret the message of Revelation and allowed this understanding to capture and dominate the modern American imagination. It tries to create a roadmap of events that we can predict and observe that will usher in Christ's return. However, upon closer examination and Biblical study, such an interpretation lacks solid Christian basis, and is in fact a violent betrayal of core of Christian beliefs, promoting an ideology that celebrates death and destruction of both our neighbors and the earth itself while teaching the Christian desire is to flee the earth and any suffering that comes along with faithful witness. Through a six-session video series and accompanying in-depth study guide, Reclaiming Revelation seeks to challenge this understanding and reclaim Revelation's prophetic voice of warning and promise—a visionary work of faith that calls the people of the earth to repentance, and offers a vision of what community that is in relationship with God looks like. Rooted heavily in the promises of the Old Testament brought to fruition by Christ, Revelation takes us on a journey that helps both expose the pitfalls and dangers of compromising with the forces of Empire, while simultaneously offering us hope that God intends to dwell with his people and "wipe every tear." Why does it matter?Many shrug off worrying about the "end times" or how we understand Revelation's evocative message as inconsequential to our daily faith lives. What happens will happen and does arguing over its meaning really accomplish anything?
On a lot of theological issues, Christians can agree to disagree. The problem with not taking a stand on what our understanding is of this enigmatic book is that if we choose to say and do nothing while dispensationalists dominate the popular understanding, we are by default condoning certain international policies and activities that upon further examination one may discover are not consistent with Christian ideals. It becomes important when we realize that lives are at stake, particularly in the Middle East, regarding how we perceive and understand much of what this book has to say—or doesn't say. |
Watch a free sample session!
Session 1: Leaving the Rapture Behind 
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Contributing Scholars
Dr. Matthew L. Skinner, Professor of New Testament - Luther Seminary
Matthew L. Skinner is currently a Professor of New Testament at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. He earned his graduate degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary, where he also served as a teaching fellow and visiting lecturer prior to accepting a call to Luther Seminary. He received the A.B. degree magna cum laude, with a concentration in philosophy, from Brown University, his M.Div. and Ph.D. degree in Biblical Studies from Princeton Theological Seminary. He has done advanced research at the Center of Theological Inquiry, where he was a member-in-residence during academic year 2008-2009 and a writing fellow during summer 2010.
Dr. Skinner is author of "The Trial Narratives: Conflict, Power, and Identity in the New Testament" (Westminster John Knox Press), which examines the trials of Jesus, Paul, and other New Testament figures, and of "Intrusive God, Disruptive Gospel: Encountering the Divine in the Book of Acts" (Brazos Press, 2015). He is also co-editor of the book "Shaping the Scriptural Imagination: Truth, Meaning, and the Theological Interpretation of the Bible," by Donald H. Juel (Baylor University Press). He has contributed to various print resources for preachers and others interested in the Bible's relevance for faith and life, including The New Interpreter's Bible One Volume Commentary (Abingdon Press), Theological Bible Commentary (Westminster John Knox Press), Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary (Westminster John Knox Press), and The New Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible (Abingdon Press).
To read his full biography, click here.
Matthew L. Skinner is currently a Professor of New Testament at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. He earned his graduate degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary, where he also served as a teaching fellow and visiting lecturer prior to accepting a call to Luther Seminary. He received the A.B. degree magna cum laude, with a concentration in philosophy, from Brown University, his M.Div. and Ph.D. degree in Biblical Studies from Princeton Theological Seminary. He has done advanced research at the Center of Theological Inquiry, where he was a member-in-residence during academic year 2008-2009 and a writing fellow during summer 2010.
Dr. Skinner is author of "The Trial Narratives: Conflict, Power, and Identity in the New Testament" (Westminster John Knox Press), which examines the trials of Jesus, Paul, and other New Testament figures, and of "Intrusive God, Disruptive Gospel: Encountering the Divine in the Book of Acts" (Brazos Press, 2015). He is also co-editor of the book "Shaping the Scriptural Imagination: Truth, Meaning, and the Theological Interpretation of the Bible," by Donald H. Juel (Baylor University Press). He has contributed to various print resources for preachers and others interested in the Bible's relevance for faith and life, including The New Interpreter's Bible One Volume Commentary (Abingdon Press), Theological Bible Commentary (Westminster John Knox Press), Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary (Westminster John Knox Press), and The New Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible (Abingdon Press).
To read his full biography, click here.
Dr. Karoline Lewis, Professor and Marbury E. Anderson Chair of Biblical Preaching - Luther Seminary
Karoline M. Lewis is currently a Professor of Biblical Preaching and the Marbury E. Anderson Chair of Biblical Preaching at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. She has held adjunct faculty positions at Augsburg College in Minneapolis, Candler School of Theology in Atlanta and Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Ga. She was also adjunct faculty in the Bible division at Luther Seminary from 1994 to 1995 and in 2006. She is a member of the American Academy of Religion, Academy of Homiletics and the Society of Biblical Literature, for which she also serves as president for the Upper Midwest Region. She has served as associate editor for the journal Word & World and is in her second term as the chair of the leadership division at Luther Seminary.
A graduate of Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., Lewis received a Master of Divinity from Luther Seminary and a Doctor of Philosophy in New Testament studies from Emory University in Atlanta. Lewis is the author of "Rereading the 'Shepherd Discourse:' Restoring the Integrity of John 9:39-10:21" (Peter Lang Publishing, 2008), "John," A Fortress Biblical Preaching Commentary (Fortress Press, 2014); "SHE: Five Keys to Unlock the Power of Women in Ministry" (Abingdon Press, 2016); the introduction and study notes for the Gospel of John in the Lutheran Study Bible (Augsburg Fortress, 2009) and co-author of "New Proclamation: Year B, 2009, Easter through Christ the King" (Fortress Press, 2009). She has authored articles for The Christian Century, Feasting on the Word, Lutheran Forum and Word & World. She is a contributing writer to WorkingPreacher.org and co-host of the site's weekly podcast, Sermon Brainwave. She also coordinates the annual "Festival of Homiletics" held every spring at various locations each year.
To read her full biography, click here.
Karoline M. Lewis is currently a Professor of Biblical Preaching and the Marbury E. Anderson Chair of Biblical Preaching at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. She has held adjunct faculty positions at Augsburg College in Minneapolis, Candler School of Theology in Atlanta and Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Ga. She was also adjunct faculty in the Bible division at Luther Seminary from 1994 to 1995 and in 2006. She is a member of the American Academy of Religion, Academy of Homiletics and the Society of Biblical Literature, for which she also serves as president for the Upper Midwest Region. She has served as associate editor for the journal Word & World and is in her second term as the chair of the leadership division at Luther Seminary.
A graduate of Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., Lewis received a Master of Divinity from Luther Seminary and a Doctor of Philosophy in New Testament studies from Emory University in Atlanta. Lewis is the author of "Rereading the 'Shepherd Discourse:' Restoring the Integrity of John 9:39-10:21" (Peter Lang Publishing, 2008), "John," A Fortress Biblical Preaching Commentary (Fortress Press, 2014); "SHE: Five Keys to Unlock the Power of Women in Ministry" (Abingdon Press, 2016); the introduction and study notes for the Gospel of John in the Lutheran Study Bible (Augsburg Fortress, 2009) and co-author of "New Proclamation: Year B, 2009, Easter through Christ the King" (Fortress Press, 2009). She has authored articles for The Christian Century, Feasting on the Word, Lutheran Forum and Word & World. She is a contributing writer to WorkingPreacher.org and co-host of the site's weekly podcast, Sermon Brainwave. She also coordinates the annual "Festival of Homiletics" held every spring at various locations each year.
To read her full biography, click here.
About the Creator of Reclaiming Revelation
Pastor Rebecca Craig is a Pastor currently serving in Palm City, FL and earned her M.Div degree from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. Prior to ministry, Rebecca graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in journalism with an emphasis in broadcasting. She then moved to Burbank, California where she worked for several independent producers and a non-profit organization called Women in Film, where she helped produce live awards shows that celebrated and honored outstanding women in the film and television industry. In 1997 she went to work for Walt Disney Feature Animation in their Story Development Department. After that she was a marketing director in Pasadena, California for several years before answering the call to ministry, where she served nearly 7 years in Kearney, NE and now resides and works in Palm City, FL.
Pastor Rebecca Craig is a Pastor currently serving in Palm City, FL and earned her M.Div degree from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. Prior to ministry, Rebecca graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in journalism with an emphasis in broadcasting. She then moved to Burbank, California where she worked for several independent producers and a non-profit organization called Women in Film, where she helped produce live awards shows that celebrated and honored outstanding women in the film and television industry. In 1997 she went to work for Walt Disney Feature Animation in their Story Development Department. After that she was a marketing director in Pasadena, California for several years before answering the call to ministry, where she served nearly 7 years in Kearney, NE and now resides and works in Palm City, FL.
