John was silenced by the Romans with banishment to the island of Patmos.

From God’s perspective, however, this is a time that will bless future generations by write him a book (Revelation 1:11,19).

Jesus reveals to the disciple John what is about to happen (Revelation 1:1). The Greek word for soon can also mean quickly or suddenly. So when everything gets rolling, it’s going to happen in quick succession. It is important that we do not lose heart, because the message is:

I have everything under control and will fulfill and complete everything.

Many blames God for not intervening enough in world affairs. But when God intervenes as described in Revelation, it is sobering to see people rebelling against God. To the end, many people decide against God.

Yet God carries out His plan by meeting the needs of all who receive Him.

The view of heaven through revelation encourages not to lose hope in the current situation and to hold on to God.

The book of Revelation is difficult to understand by reading first time. In fact, over time, we keep discovering new connections and clues.

The first impression is, there is much judgment and suffering. But on a closer view, we discover a loving God who wants to encourage people to turn around by several ways and save them from final destruction.

But the people do not want to get involved with God and gets more and more trapped in his rebellion against God.

At Easter, Christians remember that Jesus overcame death.

According to what is probably the earliest Christian creed, Jesus was raised from the dead on “the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-6): “Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas (Peter), then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.”

A whole series of facts indicate that the resurrection of Jesus really took place.

1. The empty Tomb: The Jewish High Council and the Romans could not shown the body of Jesus, although they would have liked to do.

2. Paul refers to more than 500 persons to whom the risen Christ appeared in the flesh (1 Corinthians 15:6). Many are still alive at the time of the statement.

3. The “absurdity” of the message. At first the disciples themselves did not believe in the resurrection. Since they cover the resurrection, they could easily have been refuted had the body and its tomb been known, as with other prophets.

4. Only when they met the risen Christ did the disciples stop being afraid of the threatened death. Many of them paid for it with their lives – including Jesus’ brother (as reported by the non-Christian Josephus). Who would do that for a story of their own making?

5. An extremely dynamic movement that began directly on the spot and at the time of the event, which after 30 years was put into the shoes of Rome, which after 300 years had conquered the entire Mediterranean area against massive resistance and forced the Roman emperor to make Christianity the state religion.

6. Of course you can question everything. So you can question every person in the story and claim that a circle of people just made up these stories. This applies to all prophets, founders of religions and philosophers. Are there detailed reports from these people, as is repeatedly demanded of Christians? Jesus and his movement are mentioned in the Talmud as well as in other books.

7. Apart from that, Jesus keeps appearing to people all over the world.

Art history professor Erika López Prater was fired because she showed an Islamic image of the prophet Mohammed with the angel Gabriel in a class.

For many Muslims, images of their prophet are considered “blasphemy”. After class, a Muslim student filed a complaint with the administration about this. Other Muslim students who were not present at the lecture supported her in this.

The incident at Hamline Private University in Minnesota (USA) is making waves. Continue reading Islam before academic freedom →

People filled with the Holy Spirit rejoice about God and in their neighbours.

It is not effective ignoring challenges and difficulties for finding joy.

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22).

Tuesday, January 10 – Impulse 3 for Allianz Week of Joy

“For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord” (Luke 1:44-45).

Monday, January 9 – Impulse 2 for Allianz Week of Joy

Joy comes from God. Humanity is lost without God.

Paul says to the unbelievers in Lystra: “Yet he (God) did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness“ (Acts 14, 17).

Sunday, January 8 – Impulse 1 for Allianz Week of Joy

In the biblical context, the serpent is always a symbol of evil. However, evil only has as much power as God allows.

Even though man can imitate evil, it is limited by God. God puts an end when he wants.

From the stick of Moses we know that the serpent could only work until Moses took it again. In Exodus 7:15 we see that the same thing happened to Aaron’s stick and the serpent became the stick again.

The message to Pharaoh in Exodus 7:12 and to all who want to understand it is clear: God has the power to set limits. God intervenes when things get too much out of order.