In this episode, I want to try to understand what it felt like to live as a Christian in Asia Minor at the end of the first century. We will cover the Roman Imperial Cult and how local Trade Guilds supported it, and put Christians into an impossible situation.
(00:00) Introduction
(7:30) The Fall of the Republic
(20:35) Neokoros
(43:23) Gratitude & Devotion
(50:55) Cult Escalation through the Emperors
(59:19) Caligula
(1:03:05) Nero
(1:15:35) Domitian
(1:35:40) Summary
(1:48:42) The Problem with the Guilds
(2:04:21) So, what is Revelation about?
5 May 2026
What Is Revelation About?
This conversation is normally listed as the Date and Purpose of Revelation. But when someone asks what the date of Revelation is, they are not ultimately asking about a calendar entry. The date of Revelation is a conversation about what Revelation is about. In this episode, we will review five options with some of their pros and cons.
(00:00) Introduction
(14:30) The Early Date
(20:40) 1. Soon means soon
(22:27) 2. Rev. 6:9-10: Christian Persecution
(34:49) 3. Rev. 11:1-2: Measuring the temple
(37:19) 4. Rev. 13:16-18: 666
(45:46) 5. Rev. 14:19-20: 1600 stadia
(48:16) 6. Rev. 17:8-11: 7 kings
(55:52) 7. Matt. 24
(1:00:03) The Late Date
(1:04:18) 1. The Roman Imperial Cult
(1:08:29) 2. External arguments
(1:13:16) 3. Internal arguments
(1:20:15) The historicist perspective
(1:30:35) The futurist perspective
(1:33:57) The idealist perspective
(1:44:03) Structure: Recapitulation
(1:49:43) Critiques of the idealist perspective
(1:54:47) Conclusion
25 Apr 2026
Rev. 1:1-3: The Prologue
In this episode, we will discuss almost every word in Rev. 1:1-3 to guide a special introduction of the rest of the book.
(00:00) Introduction
(4:29) The Revelation
(14:25) of Jesus Christ
(19:28) Chain of Transmission
(21:46) To Servants from Servants
(24:57) Seeing the Revelation
(33:57) Things That Must Soon Take Place
(39:11) Revelation as Symbols
(45:39) Beatitudes in Revelation
(52:23) Conclusion
22 Apr 2026
Engage the Word Podcast Introduction
In this episode, I'll tell you about what I'm doing and why I'm doing it.
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