The book of Revelation depicts a compelling picture of God’s sovereign rule over heaven and earth. The author paints pictures with words, using symbols and images to carry and embody God’s message to suffering churches under Rome’s thumb. Yet John’s artistic style can feel obscure to us today. The first readers would have readily understood the significance and weight of John’s imagery because they shared a common cultural and political context. This workshop will explore many of Revelation’s images and allusions using the historical and cultural lenses of the Roman Empire in the first century.
